Cycling loop: Circuit du Salève
Direction of travel: clockwise
Landmarks and connections: From Annemasse: common route along the north Plateau des Bornes, 1 km from the river Avre crossing to the RD2/RD15 junction. ; Cruseilles (meets the Plateau des Bornes south route n°21). Train station TER: Annemasse - Annecy information: inhabited for more than 12,000 years, the Salève mountain has been a tourist attraction for more than a century. Since 1893 it was served by the world’s first funicular railway, which has since been replaced by a cable car used often by the people of the Genevois region. The French term “varappe” (meaning rock-climbing) comes from Salève, being the name of a rocky cave found in the cliffs overlooking Geneva. Departing from Annemasse, the RD15 will take you along the mountainside to reach Salève from the south. The direct ascent through Monnetier-Mornex contains a section with a gradient in excess of 17%, and is not advised. Instead, a short and interesting alternative would be to make the ascent directly at the Croisette from Muraz (RD15). From Cruseilles the RD41 will take you to the summit of Salève with many interesting viewpoints along the way. On the recommended route, you will find yourself a stone’s throw away from Grand Piton (1379 metres) which is the summit of Salève. You will then make a short descent onto the Croisette where you will find a panoramic viewpoint. After another short climb, the route ends with a descent down Monnetier-Mornex (very steep!) before arriving back at Annemasse.
