Free
Tour of Abondance Village
Abondance
Very easy 1 h 30 family walk at Abondance: village centre, abbey, Maison du Fromage and a loop along the Dranse. Map available at the Tourist Office.
Free · Open access
Chablais Greenway (Abondance Valley)
Former railway turned greenway in the heart of the Abondance Valley: ~22 km open to walking and cycling for families.
At a glance
Type
Greenway (former railway)
Access
Outdoor · spring-autumn
Price
Free
Duration
Half-day to full day
Best season
April-October
Town
Abondance and neighbouring communes
💶
Price
What is Chablais Greenway (Abondance Valley)
The Chablais greenway, also called the Abondance Valley greenway, follows the former railway linking Évian to the upper Abondance Valley, closed in the 1980s. Its developed section descends from upper Abondance toward Lake Geneva over roughly 22 km, in several segments.
The very gentle profile — inherited from the railway — makes it one of the most family-friendly walks in the Chablais. The surface is partly asphalt, partly stabilised gravel. The greenway crosses villages, low pastures, wooden bridges and old tunnels, follows the Dranse d'Abondance and lets you discover the valley's heritage: Abondance and its abbey, La Chapelle-d'Abondance, Vacheresse, Bonnevaux.
Ideal for cycling (road, hybrid, e-bike rentals available locally), it also suits walking, roller-skating on the asphalt sections and prams. Picnic areas, fountains and benches dot the route. Free access; dogs on a leash welcome.
Activities
What you can do here
Practical
Practical information
Address
Several access points: Abondance, La Chapelle-d'Abondance, Vacheresse, Bonnevaux View on map
Coordinates
46.2792, 6.7253 (Abondance centre)
Phone
Abondance Valley Tourist Office: +33 4 50 73 02 90
Official site
https://www.valdabondance.com
Hours
Open access year-round; upper sections snow-free April-November
Booking
None; book bike/e-bike rentals in the valley
Duration
1h to a full day depending on the segment
Parking
Free public car parks in Abondance, La Chapelle, Vacheresse, Bonnevaux
Accessibility
Very gentle, asphalt/stabilised: strollers and wheelchairs on most sections; some less smooth stretches
Audience
Families, cyclists, walkers, roller-skaters, seniors, schools
Languages
Mostly French documentation; FR/EN at the tourist office
Access
How to get there
By car
From Annecy: A41 + A40 to Annemasse, then D1005 to Thonon, then D902 to Abondance, about 1h30. From Geneva: D1005 along Lake Geneva then D902, about 1h15.
Open in MapsPublic transport
Y'BUS / regional lines from Thonon to Abondance and La Chapelle (seasonal; limited outside summer and winter).
Open in MapsBy bike
Connects with ViaRhôna (EV17) along Lake Geneva via Thonon.
Open in MapsWhen to visit
When to visit
April to October for cycling and walking. Beautiful colours in June (flowering pastures) and autumn. Upper sections may be snowy in winter.
Events : Alpine pasture festivals in summer, farmer's markets in Abondance; cycling gatherings in June/September.
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
Photos
Gallery
Been there? Share your photos — we'll add them to this page with credit. Tag #loisirs74 or email photos@loisirs74.fr
FAQ
Frequently asked questions
Is greenway access paid?
No, free along the whole route.
What's the gradient?
Very gentle, inherited from the railway: low and regular, ideal for everyone.
Where to rent an e-bike?
Several rental shops in Abondance and La Chapelle-d'Abondance offer hybrid, MTB and e-bikes. The tourist office can advise.
Stroller-friendly?
Yes on most of the route, on a smooth surface. All-terrain stroller recommended.
Are dogs allowed?
Yes, on a leash.
Water and toilets?
Fountains and public toilets in the villages crossed (Abondance, La Chapelle, Vacheresse).
How long for the whole route?
Plan 2-3 hours of cycling round trip on the main segment, or a full day if you combine village visits.
Sources
Sources & verification
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
Paid
Abondance Cheese House
Abondance
Museum of AOP Abondance cheese: sensory route from alpine pastures to ripening cellars, tasting included. €5.50 adult, DUO Abbey ticket €9.
Free
Saix de Miolène via ferrata
La Chapelle-d'Abondance
900-m cable route, 3 sections (AD+ to TD), soaring views over Abondance Valley. Airy and athletic outing in the heart of Portes du Soleil.
Free
ViaRhôna Haute-Savoie
Saint-Gingolph
145 km from Saint-Gingolph (Lake Geneva) to Seyssel (Rhône) via Évian, Thonon, Cluses and Sallanches. EuroVelo 17, mix of greenways and shared roads.
Free
Arve Valley Cycle Route
Cluses
40 km of greenway from Bonneville to Sallanches via Cluses on the V61 Lake Geneva-Mont-Blanc route. Arve footbridge opened December 2019, smooth asphalt, flat.
Free
Arve Riverside Walk Cluses-Thyez
Cluses
5 km family loop along the Arve between Cluses and Thyez, leading to a leisure lake at the end - flat, wheelchair-accessible greenway in Haute-Savoie.