Church history and walks reflect two very different sides of Lovagny. The construction phases of the church and Château de Montrottier tell stories spanning different centuries; Montagne d’Age is predominantly forested with deciduous trees. The times given for two walks make it easier to compare the walking time available.

Church and Château: History in Several Construction Phases

The choir is the oldest part of the church in Lovagny. It belongs to the “new” church, which was established around the year 1000 and built in the 11th and 12th centuries. Early written records also refer to the church: it is documented in a cartulary dated 1029 or 1040 and mentioned in a papal bull from 1107. The building history and written references thus provide different chronological markers. The choir offers a tangible point of reference for the construction sequence, while the cartulary and bull place the church in early written records.

The construction history of Château de Montrottier spans the 13th to the 15th century. The Tour des Religieuses is the oldest part and dates from the 13th century. The Logis des Chevaliers, the Logis des Comtes and the salle des Gardes were built in the 14th century; the donjon followed in the 15th century. This sequence shows that the château consists of buildings from different centuries, rather than belonging to a single construction phase.

The château also has a cabinet of curiosities, with collections from every era and from different parts of the world. Its themes range from music and games to clothing and furniture, as well as the art of war and dining culture; leisure and childhood are also represented. This breadth sets the cabinet apart from a collection devoted to just one area of life.

Montagne d’Age: Forest and Walking Trails

Montagne d’Age reaches 672 metres and is predominantly forested with deciduous trees, including beech, oak and chestnut. The natural area covers 250 hectares and extends across Lovagny, Nonglard, Poisy and Sillingy. Its features include noteworthy habitats, interesting flora and rare fauna worthy of protection. Montagne d’Age can be reached on foot from Lovagny. It offers easy and varied walking opportunities in every season.

There are different details to consider when choosing a route. The Circuit des Dromettes is a roughly one-hour circular walk in the lower part of Lovagny. It passes through woodland, with its upper section running through fields. The Chemin des Châteaux starts in Lovagny, is 2.3 kilometres long and has an elevation gain of 60 metres. Its stated duration is 1 hour and 15 minutes, and its difficulty level is “very easy”. This allows you to compare the roughly one-hour circuit with the longer stated time for the Chemin des Châteaux, while keeping the other route features in mind.

Golf and a Gorge for More Experiences

At Golf de Montrottier, there is a practice facility, three holes and a mini-golf course near the clubhouse. If you plan to use these facilities, check before your trip whether they are currently open.

The Gorges du Fier offer a different kind of landscape: you can cross the gorge on a walkway fixed to the rock face, 25 metres above the river. This is a clearly defined route feature—a walkway along the rock face with the river below—and differs from walks through forests and fields.

Discover more destinations: Verchaix, Cuvat, Le Biot, Reignier-Esery, Armoy, Les Gets, La Tour, Montriond.

For the broader travel overview: Haute-Savoie.