Get Inspired

If you're looking to get away from it all for a weekend or just to enjoy your vacation, Môle & Brasses Tourisme is the perfect destination. Môle & Brasses tourism is the perfect destination to surprise you! A mountain territory with unspoilt nature, unforgettable landscapes and a wealth of activities.

You must see

Original, adventurous, family-friendly, gourmet... we promise that any trip to Môle & Brasses Tourisme will have its share of adventures! But to get your stay off to a good start, here's our to-do list of must-sees that you shouldn't miss under any circumstances!

Fishing
Môle Lake

It is important to read the information signs at the lake entrance carefully, as fishing is regulated. Night fishing is prohibited (except for carp fishing ; for more information contact the Haute-Savoie Fishing Federation or the Tourist Office). You may only fish with a maximum of four lines mounted on fishing rods and equipped with two hooks or three artificial flies.

Walk
Walk around the Mole's Lake

The Lac du Môle is a plain lake located between the communes of Ville-en-Sallaz and La Tour, in the department of Haute Savoie (74), in the Massif des Alpes, Auvergne-Rhône-Alpes region. Located in the Mont Blanc region, with an area of 11 hectares, in an idyllic, wild and protected setting, it is a paradise for nature lovers, hikers and fishermen. It has a remarkable fauna and flora with plants endemic to this mountainous region used for phytotherapy. The banks are lined with water lilies and provide a generous home for fish, frogs and herons. It offers a good density of carnivorous fish (pike, perch, black bass), white fish (bream, roach) and common carp.

Hiking
Hiking trail - Le Môle from Chez Béroud

At the summit, a 360° panorama offers a splendid view of the Mont Blanc, the Aravis, the Arve Valley, the Chablais region, and Lake Geneva. At the summit, a 360° panorama offers a splendid view of Mont Blanc, the Aravis, the Arve Valley, the Chablais region, and Lake Geneva. The hike to climb it does not present any particular difficulties. The ascent takes 2 hours and 10 minutes for a total hiking time of 3 hours and 35 minutes. It was from the summit of the Môle in 1775 that the Englishman Schuckburgh estimated the height of Mont Blanc to be 4,804 m (the official altitude being 4,810 m). Walkthrough available by clicking on the printer icon.

#hiking
Walk
Walking tour - Around Lake Môle and the Calvary Chapel

Lake Môle is an artificial lake created in 1969 by digging out a former marsh. It is located between the municipalities of Ville-en-Sallaz and La Tour, in the Mont Blanc region. Covering an area of 10 hectares in an idyllic, wild, and protected setting, it is a paradise for nature lovers, hikers, and fishermen. It has remarkable flora and fauna, including endemic plants to this mountainous region that are used in herbal medicine. Numerous water lilies line its banks and provide a generous habitat for fish, frogs, and herons. It also offers a high density of fish, including predators (pike, perch, black bass), white fish (bream, roach), and common carp. As for the Calvary Chapel, it is important to note that the Calvary hill was originally grassy and had nothing at its summit, not even a few fir trees (planted in 1901). Its name changed over time:b Petit Môle, La Forteresse, Le Pain de Sucre, and even Tour du Guidon. Based on an idea by the parish priest of Bonnaz, a chapel dedicated to Our Lady of Seven Sorrows was built there in a neo-Gothic style and inaugurated on September 15, 1889, approximately one year after the completion of the Way of the Cross. On the fourteenth station of the Way of the Cross, a clearly visible date indicates that the work was completed in 1878. While three stations were built thanks to donations from parishioners, the other eleven were built by families from the region. Thus, every year on the third Sunday in September, a pilgrimage took place up to the chapel. Its construction required materials to be transported by donkeys. Over the years, the chapel underwent several phases of repairs, the first of them took place in 1910-1911. For its 50th anniversary, the bell tower was renovated and the roof was covered with slate in 1971. Step-by-step directions are available by clicking on the printer icon.

Hiking
Hiking trail - The summit of Les Brasses from Les Lavouets

The climb is visible, so there is no difficulty in reaching the summit except for the final climb, which is a little steeper. Step-by-step guide available by clicking on the printer icon.

#hiking
Hiking
Hiking trail - The summit of Les Brasses from La Joux

The La Joux mountain pasture offers wonderful panoramic views of the Arve Valley and the Aravis peaks. Throughout the walk, you can admire the view on your left. Keep an eye out for the many birds of prey flying above the pastures : kestrels, bearded vultures, and more. The highlight of the show is at the summit of Pointe des Brasses (1,503 m), where you can enjoy a spectacular view of Mont Blanc ! Step-by-step guide available by clicking on the printer icon.

Paragliding
Parachute jumping

#sport
History
The millstones of Mont Vouan

Historically, millstones were used to grind rye, barley and other grains into flour. A one-tonne millstone could produce several hundred kilos of flour every day. It should be remembered that our ancestors ate more than a kilo of bread a day ! In the past, a millstone was worth the price of a house, so places were highly sought after. While not everyone was capable of cutting a millstone, finding where to cut it was even more difficult ! Millstones were extracted as follows : The millstone was marked out on the rock face and a groove was dug around it. Fir wedges were driven into the groove and regularly wetted. The swelling of the wood detached the millstone by breaking the stone. The Mont Vouan millstone extraction site was extremely important as it was one of the largest in south-eastern France, producing more than 200,000 millstones from 72 quarries. At the foot of the Vachat millstone lies the Pierre aux Morts marsh, or ‘Gouille aux Morts’, which serves as a reminder of how difficult it was to cut millstones, as the stonecutters often took great risks. The pond was named after the fall of two stonecutters while they were working on a Sunday (the Lord's Day!). Le Vouan, a small mountain range at 978 m, was also crossed by a smugglers' path. The smugglers brought wheat from the Moulin de Pont Morand mill to Geneva and returned with alcohol, tobacco and other goods. Today, you can still see large round holes nearly 2 m high in the rock where the millstones were extracted. They are part of the ancient Meulières à Vachat and Grand'Gueule, classified as a ‘Historic Monument’ since 2009 and a ‘Sensitive Natural Area’ since 2017. PAYSALP offers tours for groups throughout the year. Information and bookings: www.paysalp.fr

#culture #history
Cultural
Viuz, Nid d'Espions - Explor Games

A mix of orienteering and outdoor escape games, Explor Games' ‘Viuz, nid d'espions’ (Viuz, nest of spies) takes you and your family or friends back to Viuz-en-Sallaz in the 1960s. Your mission: solve a spy case where puzzles and challenges await you around every corner. Ready to take on the challenge? Adventure is waiting for you! Monday to Friday (except public holidays) online bookings www.paysalp.fr (two departures per day: 10am and 2.30pm) On Saturdays, book with Môle & Brasses Tourisme on +33 (0)4 50 36 49 18 (two departures per day: 10 a.m. and 2 p.m.) Ages 10 and up - Duration: 2 hours A deposit will be required on site Departure from the PAYSAN Museum in Viuz-en-Sallaz Translated with DeepL.com (free version)

Activity
Yoga hike

MTB
Plaine Joux - Tour de la Pointe de Miribel

There are some nice single-tracks on the course. The ascent to the Pointe de Miribel is a way of the cross and offers a beautiful panorama but is done on foot. Access to the start: Between Bogève and Mégevette, at the car park of the Plaine Joux cross-country skiing centre.

#winter sport
Castle
Vestiges of the Château de Faucigny, a PAYSALP culture and heritage site

Discover the story of this family in an original way during dramatized tours for children's groups (all year round) and PAYSALP events in summer.

#history
Hiking
Hiking trail - The summits of Ecutieux and Môle

Stage 1 : Tête de l'Écutieux (1,627 m) – a wild warm-up : The hike starts from the hamlet of Chez Béroud, in the village of Saint-Jean-de-Tholome. A balcony trail gently leads you through woods, clearings, and pastures. The ascent of Tête de l’Écutieux takes place in a peaceful, shaded setting, with beautiful views of the Arve Valley. Stage 2 : Le Môle (1863m) – the panoramic apotheosis : From the Tête de l'Écutieux, a ridge trail leads to the slopes of Le Môle. The atmosphere gradually changes : the terrain becomes more open, the climb steeper, the horizons wider, and the view increasingly spectacular. The final steeper ascent of Le Môle rewards you with an exceptional 360° panorama of the Alpine massifs : Mont Blanc, Aravis, Chablais, Jura... a veritable natural orientation table ! Step-by-step guide available by clicking on the printer icon.

Hiking
Hiking trail - Le Petit Môle from Chez Béroud

To climb up to Petit Môle (1534m) from the parking lot, go towards the wide alpine trail that starts in the forest. The route is well indicated. Indeed, you always stay on the main trail until you reach the orientation table and the alpine chalets. From there, you can enjoy the panorama of the Arve Valley, the Bargy chain, the Aravis chain and Mont Blanc. The return is then done by the same route. Possibility to extend the ascent to the top of the Môle to discover a panorama at 360 ° C (see ''Hiking trail - Le Môle from Chez Béroud'' for a complete description.) Walkthrough available by clicking on the printer icon.

Our best hikes

Something for everyone! Easy or difficult hikes, in the woods or on the ridges, here's a selection of our best walks.

Cultural activities

Môle & Brasses Toursime is also an area full of stories and secrets just waiting to be discovered! Dive into the heart of our past through several centuries of history, where objects and anecdotes are waiting to be discovered.

Cuisine and local produce

Discover our cuisine and the land that makes us proud!

The Epougnes

Epougnes are a leavened dough-based speciality which, enhanced with butter, eggs and sugar, resembles a sourdough brioche, often worked into a crown. Traditionally, epougnes were baked every year in February for the Saint-Blaise fair, patron saint of the Viuz-en-Sallaz church.
Each family has its own personalized version of the recipe...

Les bescoins

Savoyard brioches, spiced up with green anise and colored with saffron, gourmet and original. It's such a deep-rooted local tradition that La Maison des Douceurs, the bakery in Onnion, bequeathed the bescoins recipe along with the bakery walls when it changed hands.
Traditionally eaten for breakfast, here we prefer to vary the pleasures. For example, it's eaten on toast with goat's cheese and honey. If you're more of a traditionalist, then the custom is to leave the bescoin to stale, before eating it buttered or spread with jam and dipped in a hot drink.

Rissoles

If you haven't tried them yet, you've at least heard of rissoles, or "rézules" in French dialect, these little turnovers filled with pear or apple compote, jam, or sometimes even a savory filling. Delicious, melt-in-your-mouth and comforting, rissoles can be eaten all year round, but are a real must-have for the end-of-year festivities throughout Haute Savoie.
Rissole tastings often grace Christmas markets. A "r'zules competition" was even organized for the first time at Viuz-en-Sallaz in 2021.

Tom'Ly® to melt your heart!

Inspired by the traditional reblochons en croûte from Haute-Savoie, the Tom'Ly is a fuller, even more gourmet version, made in Viuz-en-Sallaz! It's a pure invention of the chef's, born on a day of confinement! Forced to close his restaurant during long months of confinement, Yoann Boiteux, chef of La Table d'Emilie, found himself working as a home cook for his wife and 2 children. To satisfy his most demanding customers, he has to innovate.
Prepared in the style of a pie, he wraps a delicious, melting heart of farmhouse reblochon, potatoes, grilled onions, country bacon and cured mountain ham in a gourmet puff pastry... all sprinkled with a touch of perlimpinpin powder and BIM, you've got the Tom'Ly®!
The little extra that makes all the difference: all the products used come from local producers, including Reblochon from the Jourdil farm in Bogève. Thanks to its success, it's now a registered trademark, and it's only in Viuz-en-Sallaz!

Our region

Before becoming a tourist destination, Môle & Brasses Tourisme was a mid-mountain living area where peasant farming still flourishes.
Boosted by its proximity to Switzerland, it is known and recognized for its 3 emblematic sites: the Les Brasses resort, the Plaine Joux plateau and the start of Le Môle, which each year welcome beginners to downhill skiing, cross-country skiing, hiking and trail running. The range of activities is as varied in winter as it is in summer, but also in spring and autumn, with a multiplicity of service providers offering original activities: yoga hikes, bivouac hikes, stag belling, caving, ice-water swimming...

The destination's little plus? Little-known sites such as Mont Vouan, whose famous millstones are listed as a historic monument. The region has the unique ability to abound in "little hidden treasures", as we say here.

As a local destination, the challenge is not just to attract visitors from outside the region or to attract new travellers. It's also about offering a tourism proposal to the local target group: helping the people who live in Môle & Brasses Tourisme to discover or rediscover the area. Let everyone meet once again the unspoilt nature and local producers that make the area so attractive.

Our towns

Môle et Brasses is also about local life ...

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