Chézery-Forens offers several clearly distinct highlights to help you plan your trip: hikes with named destinations, a historic oratory and insights into cheese-making. For the trails, starting points, routes and elevation details help you compare the options. The cheese destinations also differ in their visiting arrangements: the visitor gallery at the Fromagerie de l’Abbaye is freely accessible, while visits to the Chèvrerie to watch the milking are seasonal and available by prior reservation. This lets you choose activities by theme and visiting requirements.
Hiking trails with different landmarks
The “Sur les traces des passeurs” hiking route starts in Chézery-Forens, follows the Valserine and climbs towards the 1,719 m-high Reculet. Its starting point, river route and elevation destination provide concrete landmarks. If you are looking for a trail with a named starting point in the village, you can distinguish it from the other hiking options described here.
The Menthières–Chalet du Sac–Crêt des Frasses route runs through the Haut-Jura Regional Nature Park and part of the Haute Chaîne du Jura National Nature Reserve. Protected-area regulations apply to part of this route. This connection to protected areas is an important feature of the route.
The Crêt de Chalam reaches an elevation of 1,545 m and can be reached from Chézery-Forens via a route of about 10 km. These two figures describe different aspects of the hike: the elevation refers to the summit, while the approximate distance refers to the route. This option can therefore be assessed by its destination elevation and route length, while the other trails mentioned are distinguished primarily by their routes and connection to protected areas.
The oratory and the history of the abbey
The Saint-Roland Oratory, also known as Fontaine-Bénite, dates back to the 17th century. A monumental painting of Saint Roland can be seen through its wrought-iron grille. The view through the grille is a distinctive detail of this historic structure. The Fontaine-Bénite Oratory is also a destination for a family outing and can be reached on foot from a roundabout along the Valserine.
The history of the area also includes the former Cistercian abbey of Chézery. Founded in 1140, it was almost completely destroyed after the French Revolution. These dates provide two distinct points of reference: the abbey’s foundation in the 12th century and the oratory’s origins in the 17th century.
Cheese-making and regional products
The workshops in the freely accessible visitor gallery at the Fromagerie de l’Abbaye demonstrate the various stages of cheese-making. The focus here is on the individual steps in the process. The Fromagerie offers Bleu de Gex AOP, Comté, fresh cheese and other regional products.
At the Chèvrerie de Noire Combe, seasonal visits to watch the evening milking are available by prior reservation. Visitors can meet the farm’s goats, kids and pigs. The farm also makes and sells fresh flavoured and semi-dry goat’s cheeses, cheese preparations, Faisselles, yoghurt and fresh milk. The seasonal visit therefore offers a different insight from the gallery, which shows the steps involved in cheese-making.
La Fermentière is located at an elevation of 1,000 m in Menthières, a hamlet in the municipality of Chézery-Forens. The plateau has extensive natural meadows where the herd is traditionally pastured. Products include fresh to dry lactic cheeses, Sérac and goat’s Tommettes, matured in a natural cellar. These details add the agricultural landscape of Menthières to the region’s cheese-related attractions.
Discover more destinations: Échallon, Lalleyriat, Lompnieu, Saint-Maurice-De-Beynost, Chaneins, Relevant, Saint-Alban, Chavannes-Sur-Suran
For the main travel overview: Ain.
