Bluffy offers two very different scales for an active stay: the short Chemin de halage and a roughly seven-hour stage of the GR de Pays “Tour du lac d’Annecy”. There is also a natural climbing area with its own access rules, as well as the local church and the Oratoire de La Salette as cultural points of interest. If you are looking for accommodation in Bluffy, choosing between a walk, a longer hiking stage and climbing can shape the focus of your trip.
The Chemin de halage: a walk with views
The Chemin de halage à Bluffy is a very easy, 3 km walking trail that starts in Bluffy. It is listed as having 154 m of ascent and a duration of 1 hour and 15 minutes. The route passes through the villages of Bluffy and Alex and offers views of Lac d’Annecy and the cliffs of Parmelan. Its theme also gives the walk a distinctive character: it features philosophical reflections by Saint-François-de-Sales and other writers, thinkers and philosophers. This makes the route a combination of measurable trail information, landscape views and philosophical content. Choosing this walk is therefore not just about the stated walking time, but also about the trail’s distinctive thematic focus.
The sixth stage of the GR de Pays
The sixth stage of the GR de Pays “Tour du lac d’Annecy” is on a different scale. It runs from the Refuge de Pré Vérel to the Col de Bluffy over 12.5 km, with 750 m of ascent and 1,360 m of descent. Walking time is approximately seven hours. It is therefore considerably longer than the Chemin de halage; the ascent and descent are also important separate factors when planning your day. The descent exceeds the ascent by 610 m, so both elevation figures should be taken into account when assessing the stage. The approximate walking time gives an indication of the time required, but does not prescribe a fixed schedule. As seasonal access and accommodation availability can change, check these conditions for your travel dates.
Climbing: access and regulations
The natural climbing area in Bluffy requires separate preparation. Marked access paths lead from the Béchet car park to the area; avoid shortcuts and entering private property. Anyone who does not belong to the Bureau des Guides d’Annecy needs a permit before using the climbing routes. These visitors must also familiarise themselves with the local regulations and provide proof of insurance or a climbing licence. An agreement dated 16 September 2022 states that the municipality retains responsibility for the area, while the Bureau des Guides d’Annecy maintains and manages it together with the ONF. Check the current conditions and regulations before climbing.
Church and Oratoire de La Salette
The local church in Bluffy is documented in texts from the 11th century. A local description from 2008 places the Oratoire de La Salette at the edge of Bluffy, a few hundred metres from the church in the direction of Talloires. If you would like to visit the Oratoire, check access locally. The church and Oratoire add two specific points of reference in local history to the hiking and climbing themes.
Discover more destinations
Discover more destinations: Vers, Machilly, Saint-Cergues, Fillinges, Scionzier, Le Grand-Bornand, Vacheresse, Sixt-Fer-Ă€-Cheval
Go to the regional travel overview: Haute-Savoie.
