Four visitor experiences at the Grand Parc, trails with different focuses and historic landmarks give Andilly several reasons to visit. You can explore the park, village history and landscape as distinct themes. The main differences to consider when planning are the seasonal park programme, local history and individual heritage sites.
Four visitor experiences at the Grand Parc
The Grand Parc d’Andilly includes the summer park, the Grand Parc de Noël, the Hameau du Père Noël and Les Grandes Médiévales. These four names represent different visitor experiences within the park. Seasonal names and programmes may change, so check the programme for your planned visit before travelling and plan accordingly.
Trails with different focuses
The Andilly heritage trail passes through the municipality’s three hamlets. Along the way, it focuses on village squares, footpaths and the history of local homes. By contrast, the heritage trail in Charly offers open views across the Usses Valley and the Bornes, Bauges, Vanoise, Chartreuse and Jura mountain ranges. The two trails therefore have clearly different themes: one explores hamlets and the history of their homes, while the other offers a wide panorama.
Another option is the marked “Sur les traces des Graniteurs du Mont Sion” trail. It runs for 10 km between Charly, Présilly, the passes of Mont Sion and the Croix-Biche pass. Its length and named locations give you concrete reference points for planning the route. Trail conditions may change; check them before setting out.
Heritage in Charly and Andilly
The Cromlech of Andilly is a prehistoric megalithic monument at Place de la Crèche in Charly. Andilly’s presbytery is now used as an exhibition space and includes a carillon and a medieval garden. These two sites offer different ways to explore history: the megalithic monument dates back to prehistory, while the presbytery, carillon and garden are among Andilly’s cultural attractions.
The Chapelle de Charly, also known as the Chapelle Saint-Jacques, can also be understood through its architectural history. The religious building dates from the 15th century and was commissioned by Jacques Fusier in 1454. After a fire towards the end of the 15th century, it was rebuilt in 1541. Another fire in 1787 preceded the construction of the present onion-shaped bell tower. The bell tower was listed as a historic monument on 12 May 1975.
Traces of work in the past
At the Grand Parc d’Andilly, the built heritage restored by the “Le Petit Pays” association preserves the memory of former mills. Charly’s history also includes food production in the past: its first cheese dairy was established there in 1865 as a cooperative dairy with 57 members. The cheesemaker produced Emmental cheese or butter. These details offer another perspective on local history, alongside chapels, trails and landscape.
A pilgrim’s stop in Charly
The municipal pilgrim information dated 5 February 2024 lists the Way of St James relay in Charly as a place for pilgrims to rest. According to the information, it has three dormitories with room for about ten people. Before travelling, check whether an overnight stay is possible on your chosen date.
Discover more destinations: Jonzier-Épagny, Collonges-sous-Salève, Abondance, Habère-Poche, Seythenex, La Tour, Alby-Sur-Chéran, Machilly.
View the broader travel guide: Haute-Savoie.
