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Follow the Fly
"Follow the Fly" village trail at Alby-sur-Chéran: 12 stops along the lanes and the banks of the Chéran, on the trail of the cobblers of Alby. A fun 2 km walk of about 1 h, free year-round.
At a glance
Type
Urban trail - Heritage
Access
Free - No charge
Duration
About 1 h (2 km)
Best season
Year-round
Town
Alby-sur-Chéran
What is Follow the Fly
"Follow the Fly" is a self-guided discovery trail through the village of Alby-sur-Chéran, a former medieval market town famous for its cobblers, 15 km south of Annecy. It runs to 2 km and about 1 hour on foot, walked solo, with family or with friends, starting from the Place du Trophée. Visitors follow the small flies drawn on the ground through 12 stops in the lanes, along the Chéran river and at the foot of the ramparts.
Why a fly? The nail the cobblers used to fix under shoe soles had a head reminiscent of fly wings, and the Chéran is famous for its fly-fishers. At each stop, walkers can answer a question whose answer hides a few paces away. When the Cobblers' Museum (Musée de la Cordonnerie) is open, children can join a hunt for "Saint Crispin's hammer" (patron saint of cobblers).
An audio tour in French and English, narrated by the Chéran itself, is also available on izi.TRAVEL. The trail is free year-round and makes an ideal heritage stop on a tour around Lake Annecy.
Activities
What you can do here
Practical
Practical information
Address
Start: Place du Trophée, 74540 Alby-sur-Chéran View on map
Coordinates
45.816982 N - 6.020539 E
Distance
~2 km - 12 stops
Difficulty
Easy - urban trail
Phone
OT du Lac d'Annecy - 04 50 45 00 33
Official website
lac-annecy.com - mairie-alby-sur-cheran.fr
Hours
Free access year-round, self-guided. izi.TRAVEL audio tour downloadable 24/7.
Prices
Free
Access / Parking
Public car parks near Place du Trophée. 15 km south of Annecy via the A 41, Alby-sur-Chéran exit.
Visit duration
About 1 h
Audience
Families, heritage enthusiasts, tourists stopping over on a Lake Annecy tour
Equipment required
Smartphone for the izi.TRAVEL audio tour (optional).
Access
How to get there
Nearest stops
- CHERAN · SIBRA · 306 m
- LA COMBE · SIBRA · 40, 42 · 465 m
- LES CRETS · SIBRA · 586 m
- SIBRA · Fare : 1,50 € (carte) · 2 € (appli/SMS) · 2,50 € (à bord, 2026) · Official fares & timetables →
Transport data verified on 2026-06-15 · source transport.data.gouv.fr (Licence Etalab 2.0)
Winter
Winter season
Winter access window
Not specified
Winter infrastructure
Not specified
Snow panorama
Not specified
Equipment mandated
Loi Montagne II — winter tyres or chains required (1 Nov – 31 Mar)
Nearby
Where to eat, drink, stay
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Gallery
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FAQ
Frequently asked questions
Where does the Follow the Fly trail in Alby-sur-Chéran start?
The Follow the Fly trail starts from Place du Trophée, in the heart of the village of Alby-sur-Chéran. It forms a 2 km loop with 12 stops through the lanes and along the Chéran.
How long does the Follow the Fly trail take?
Allow about 1 hour to walk the 2 km Follow the Fly trail in Alby-sur-Chéran at a leisurely pace, stopping at each stage.
Is the Follow the Fly trail free?
Yes. The Follow the Fly trail has free access year-round. The izi.TRAVEL audio tour is also free.
Why is the trail called "Follow the Fly"?
The Follow the Fly trail takes its name from the nail the cobblers of Alby-sur-Chéran fixed under shoe soles, whose head looked like fly wings, and from the many fly-fishers on the Chéran. Flies drawn on the ground mark out the route.
Is the Follow the Fly trail suitable for children?
Yes. The Follow the Fly trail is very family-friendly: short route, riddles at each stop, and during the Cobblers' Museum opening hours, a children's hunt for Saint Crispin's hammer.
Is there an audio version of the Follow the Fly trail?
Yes. An audio tour in French and English accompanies the Follow the Fly trail, downloadable free from the izi.TRAVEL app - the Chéran itself guides your steps through Alby's history.
Sources
Sources & verification
- OT du Lac d'Annecy — fiche officielle Suivez la mouche
- Mairie d'Alby-sur-Chéran — tourisme
- izi.TRAVEL — visite audio « Le Chéran vous conte la visite ! »
Multi-source verification at publication. Information may change — confirm with the official operator before travelling.
Nearby
Nearby
Other places to explore in the area and in the same category
Free
Shoemaking Museum
Alby-sur-Chéran
In the heart of Alby-sur-Chéran's medieval village, the Shoemaking Museum traces 300 years of cobblers' tradition. Free entry, open June-August.
Paid
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GR® de Pays Tour du Lac d'Annecy
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FFR 80 km walking loop around Lake Annecy via Semnoz, Roc des Bœufs and La Tournette. 5,140 m climb, 5–7 days. Walking counterpart to the greenway.
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Reedbed Trail
Saint-Jorioz
Lakeside wooden walkway through the reedbeds of Lake Annecy at Saint-Jorioz: 1 km loop, free access, interpretation panels, ideal for families.
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Bout du Lac d'Annecy Discovery Trail
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Discovery trail at Doussard through the National Nature Reserve at the south end of Lake Annecy: 1.6 km wheelchair-accessible loop and a longer 7 km loop.