At an altitude of 800 metres, in the heart of the Vallée Verte, Villard lies in a small valley with gentle slopes. Church history and works of art give the village a distinct cultural profile; the pilgrimage to Pointe de Miribel and a direct-sales outlet for regional cheeses add landscape and local produce to the picture.
Valley and natural environment
Villard lies in the Léman Alps, halfway between Thonon and Annemasse. The village covers 742 hectares; the Menoge and the 1,581-metre-high Pointe de Miribel mark its boundaries.
The Plateau de Plaine-Joux lies partly in Villard and partly in Bogève, Onnion, Saint-Jeoire and Viuz-en-Sallaz. As a remarkable natural area, it is included in the département’s Espaces Naturels Sensibles scheme. Its distribution across five municipalities illustrates its regional scope: Plaine-Joux is a natural area shared by several municipalities, not one belonging solely to Villard.
Church, art and stonework
The first chapel was built in 1302 on the site of today’s Saint-Jean-Baptiste Church. The original 16th-century Sardinian church was rebuilt after the Revolution and is designed in the Neoclassical style. The church also houses the 18th-century painting “Adoration des Mages.” It has been listed as a protected object since 18 April 1983.
In the village centre, Joseph Marie Félisaz, known as “le Miton,” created the Croix de la Veillaz Derrière in 1803; it is classified as a historic monument. Félisaz was a stonemason from the hamlet of Bourgeau. At the Calvaire de Miribel, he worked on 17 blocks of pink limestone on site in 1804. The two dates place his work in two consecutive years.
Pilgrimage and hikes to Pointe de Miribel
Pointe de Miribel became a pilgrimage destination in 1774, after an oak cross was erected there. The pilgrimage associated with the Pointe takes place every year on the Sunday after 15 August. The date therefore depends on the day of the week, rather than falling on a fixed calendar date.
The “La pointe de Miribel, depuis Villard” hiking trail starts at the town hall square. The “Le tour de Miribel” hike follows an uphill path to the Pointe, where it offers 360-degree views over Haute-Savoie, the Vallée Verte and Mont Blanc. The descriptions emphasize different aspects: the starting point is specified for the first trail, while the second focuses on the climb and the panorama.
Cinema and regional cheeses
Villard has had the “La Trace” cinema since 1992. It is classified as Art et Essai and run with several partners, including an association of volunteer film projectionists. Alongside its architectural heritage, the village also offers film culture.
GAEC de Combasseron offers Abondance AOP, Reblochon, milk, raclette with caraway, pepper or smoky flavouring, Tomme, mountain Tomme, garlic Tomme, caraway Tomme, and fresh cheese in the Faisselle format for direct sale. Sales take place from a vending van opposite Villard town hall. If you plan to visit the van, check its opening hours in advance.
Discover more destinations: Le Praz De Lys, Viuz-La-Chiésaz, Doussard, Nâves-Parmelan, Cordon, Saint-Eusèbe, Thénésol, Scionzier.
For the broader travel overview: Haute-Savoie.
