Arthaz-Pont-Notre-Dame lies between the branches of the Arve and the Menoge. The rivers give the town a clear geographical setting; bridges and La Pierre sourde connect the river landscape with natural and local history. The story of the chapel, traces of earlier farming and a historical connection to the tourist railway on the Salève add to its heritage.
Bridges between the Arve and the Menoge
Two bridges define the town’s relationship with the rivers: the Pont de Trébille over the Menoge was built in 1768 to replace a ford. The Pont Mille pattes over the Arve provides access to Reignier. These bridges represent two different relationships with the rivers: the history of an earlier crossing over the Menoge and the access provided by the bridge over the Arve.
The chapel and its construction history
Today’s chapel in Arthaz stands on the site of the former church of Arthaz. The De Baudry family had the present chapel built on the site of the first church. The church of Arthaz-Pont-Notre-Dame has the ground plan of a Greek cross. A Greek-cross plan has four arms of equal length; the name therefore refers to the shape of the building. The church building was completed, or structurally accepted, on December 31, 1841; in 1854, the church was consecrated and opened for worship. Its location, floor plan and construction history offer different points of connection to the local heritage.
La Pierre sourde: erratic boulder and echo
La Pierre sourde connects the river landscape with a specific geological formation. The large erratic boulder from a glacial moraine was exposed by river erosion in the bed of the Arve, upstream of the Pont Neuf. From the right bank at Arthaz, La Pierre sourde produces a strong echo. The rock thus offers two distinct perspectives: its formation is part of the Arve’s geological history, while the echo is an acoustic feature of the area. Visitors interested in natural phenomena will find here a different way to explore local history than through the chapel and bridges.
Agriculture and technological history
Historical agriculture in Arthaz-Pont-Notre-Dame was based on grain growing, viticulture and dairy farming. The town also supplied cities and tourist resorts with vegetables and flowers, and nurseries with young plants to be transplanted. Local history therefore goes beyond religious and architectural landmarks to include earlier agricultural activities. The Basse-Arve power station is part of the area’s technological history: it began operating in 1892 and supplied the tourist railway on the Salève. This connection adds a perspective on energy supply and tourist rail travel to the history of agriculture.
A more distant past
Prehistoric remains have been found on the Plateau de Loëx, in the vicinity of Arthaz-Pont-Notre-Dame. This find site adds a much earlier time horizon to the history of the bridges and church construction. Together, these different themes show what may make this destination appealing to curious travelers: its river landscape, geological features, architecture and historical uses. If you are looking for a hotel in Arthaz-Pont-Notre-Dame, these highlights can help you decide whether the town matches your interests.
Discover more destinations: Marcellaz-Albanais, Menthon-Saint-Bernard, Taninges, La Chapelle-Rambaud, Armoy, Étrembières, Saint-Gervais-Les-Bains, Cordon.
For the broader travel overview: Haute-Savoie.
