Bonnevaux lies on the slopes of the Col du Corbier, at the meeting point of the two great Chablais valleys, Vallée d’Aulps and Vallée d’Abondance. Forests, pastures and mountain peaks surround the village. Highlights include the Circuit du Mont Ouzon – Gemet, the Chapelle Notre-Dame-des-Sept-Douleurs, the Bonnevaux hydroelectric power station and sheep farming. If you’re looking for a holiday rental in Bonnevaux, you can plan your trip around a particular interest: hiking, local history or mountain dairy farming.
Hiking the Circuit du Mont Ouzon – Gemet
The Circuit du Mont Ouzon – Gemet starts in the village of Bonnevaux, at the car park by the town hall. A sweeping panorama of the Chablais massif is one of the hike’s defining features. The trail can be hiked daily from 1 June to 15 October, provided snow and weather conditions are favourable. Check the latest access conditions with the tourist office before setting out. When planning, it’s important to distinguish between the fixed period and changing snow and weather conditions: the dates indicate the season, but conditions must also be taken into account.
Hydropower and heritage
The Bonnevaux hydroelectric power station is also known as the usine du Pont de l’Eau Noire and is designated as recognised heritage. It was commissioned in 1909 and is one of three hydroelectric power stations built in stages along the Dranses. This places the site within a wider hydropower system on the Dranses. Occasional tours of the facility are organised under the title « Envoyez les watts! »; check the dates before your trip.
Another historical landmark is the Chapelle Notre-Dame-des-Sept-Douleurs in Plan de la Joux. It was built in 1834 by Father Girod of Bonnevaux. In contrast to the hydroelectric facility, the chapel offers a different historical perspective: its construction date and builder are specifically documented. Together, the two sites offer different insights into Bonnevaux’s history: the chapel’s religious architecture and the hydroelectric power station’s recognised heritage status.
Sheep farming and local produce
Sheep’s cheese is produced and sold on site at the Alpage du Muret. Another offering focuses on a different aspect: during the activity « Visite à la bergerie et traite des brebis », visitors can watch sheep being milked and learn about mountain dairy farming. This offers two different ways to explore sheep farming: cheese as a specific product sold on site, and the chance to watch the milking. Check the activity’s current availability in advance.
Plan your stay around your interests
When choosing a stay, you can distinguish between the attractions by type and planning requirements. The Circuit is the hiking highlight, with a specified seasonal period and weather caveat. The chapel and hydroelectric power station offer insights into local history, tied to specific names and dates. Check the dates for occasional tours of the power station, and ask about current availability for the sheep-milking activity. This way, you can match your interest in the landscape, heritage or mountain farming with the relevant timing requirements.
Discover more destinations: Mieussy, Lathuile, Faucigny, Praz-Sur-Arly, Onnion, Thyez, Cruseilles, Marin
For the broader travel guide: Haute-Savoie.
