Chézery village 300m from the campsite
Chézery is a charming little village in the Ain department (01) in Auvergne ...
Rhône-Alpes region, crossed by the Valserine river (590m-1750m) and perched in the heart of the Haut-Jura Natural Park mountains.
You can go from the campsite to the village by walking along the Valserine river path.
The village of Chézery is the descendant of the Chézery abbey founded in 1140.
The Count Amédée III and twelve Cistercian monks from Fontenay were said to have founded it.
Nowadays, the village is well-known for Roland abbot who became a Saint and for the miracles of the holy fountain.
Unfortunately, the abbey was destroyed in 1793, some vestiges of the past are still there, such as the Auberge du Relais des Moines, the holy fountain... and the famous Bleu de Gex cheese…
Local shops
Grocery shop Proxi Café des Ours
Benoit and Léonard grocery shop is open every day in the high season.
Bakery le P'tit Chézery
Enjoy breakfast eating butter pastries, such as the famous custard pie, or the P'tit Chézery, a french-style country bread .
Le Relais des Moines restaurant
Formerly an inn for pilgrims and travellers, this old building steeped in history still delights visitors with its dishes.
Site : www.relaisdesmoines.fr
Chez Blanc restaurant
Run by the Blanc family for five generations, it offers fresh traditional food.
Garage Alex Auto
In case of a breakdown or other car problem, you will find the garage in the centre of the village.
There is a 24-hour fuel station as well.
Post
Every morning from 9am to 12pmin the Town Hall (except Sundays), make grandparents happy by sending postcards!
The Valserine river
La Valserine, first wild river in France
The river Valserine is a tributary of the Rhône that flows for 48 kilometres.
It was given the Sensitive Natural Spaces label by the Ain Department as well as the first Wild River in France.
The river made deep gorges in the limestone, giving rise to amazing natural sites. (pont du Diable, pont des Pierres, marmites de Géant, pertes de la Valserine …)
Fario trout fishing
The Valserine is the first river to be awarded "Wild River" in France, followed by the Vézeronce and the Dorches.
Enjoy Fario trout fishing next to the campsite whether you are an expert or a beginner.
Trout fishing is permitted respecting the regulations of the Valserine group.
In order to fish on the Valserine, Semine and Rhône rivers, you need a fishing licence available at the Proxi grocery shop in Chézery or on the federation's website:
Federation fishing card.
Crêt de Chalam
At 1545 meters above the sea level, Crêt de Chalam offers the most beautiful panorama of the Haut-Jura massif, a 360-degree view of the plateaus and ridges but also a part of the Alpine chain and the Mont-Blanc. How to get to Crêt de Chalam
The Voie du Tram
The Tramway, disused in 1940, has been open since 1991 between Bellegarde and Chézer
This gently sloping path gives access to many sites, away from any car traffic.
Fromagerie de l'Abbaye
It is one of the 4 cheese factory that produce the famous Bleu de Gex AOC cheese, but also the Comté and the Tome de l'Ain.
A cooperative enterprise that brings together 8 milk-producing farmers.
Wake up your taste buds with a large choice of local products (raclette cheese, jam, yoghurt, wine ...)
The Chèvrerie de Noire Combe
The Noirecombe organic goat farm offers sweet goat cheeses from organic farming.
Walk along the Valserine river to the heights of Chézery, enjoy the beautiful panorama of the Haut-Jura mountains where Angélique and Johann's goats gambol.
Meet this young and passionate couple who manage their entire farm, from the care of their herd to the production of fresh organic cheeses.
Visits are organised by the campsite in high season
Savonnerie Ferrone
The Ferrone soap factory offers a wide range of natural soaps that you can also find on many artisanal markets.
Go to discover an ancestral manufacturing process by cold saponification process.
Eglise St Roland
Saint Roland Church was a focal point in peoples' lives.
Monks and nuns were very important in the beginnings of agriculture and craftsmanship.
Saint-Roland was the third abbot of the Chésery Cistercian monastery.
Relics of St. Roland are housed in the altar of the parish church of Chézery.
Crêt de Chalam
Crêt de Chalam is a summit of the Jura Mountains that culminates at an altitude of 1,540 m in the Ain department of France.
The shortest and easiest way to get there is from the Borne au Lion in La Pesse, where you can also park your car.
The Crêt de Chalam ascent can only be done on sunny days (minimum 2 hours round-trip)
Itinerary
2 to 4 hours loop walk in the Valserine Valley.
From Bellegarde, take a wide path accessible to pushchairs and explore the geological wonder of Pertes de La Valserine.
Hiking on the mythical Voie du Tram.
This route follows the old tramway route which ran from 1912 to 1937 between Bellegarde-sur-Valserine and Chézery-Forens over 18km. (you can see an old wagon in Chézery)
You can walk the whole trail or only part of it from one village to another.
Itinerary
The first part of the trail is very easy: go on the road from the train station (30min), then, between the parking of the Voie du Tram and the Pont des Pierres (2h), you walk on an easy wide and stony path.
From the Pont des Pierres, go up to the village of Montanges and then Champfromier (2h), after Montanges you walk through wooded areas and dirt tracks.
Last stage from Champfromier to Chézery-Forens (2h), walk near the river then clear views again.
There are several ways to walk this path:
- On foot: discover the interpretation panels which tell you the fabulous history of the tramway
- By mountain bike: experience MTB kickers between Lancrans and Confort
- Running: time your performance thanks to kilometer markers