The best MTB trails around Lac de Vallon

Nice Spot! Absolutely cyclitsapproved 🫵🫰

This chapel, dedicated to Saint Bruno, founder of the Carthusian Order, was built on the remains of the former convent church of the Carthusian monastery of Sainte-Marie de Vallon[1]. In 1543, the Carthusians of Vallon were forced to leave their monastery, which was dismantled[1]. When they regained possession of their property in 1607, they found only ruins of the old charterhouse. Only a few sections of the walls remained standing[1]. After building their fortified house in Génicot[2] on the right bank of the Brevon (now on the lake), they erected a chapel in the part of the old charterhouse, in homage to Saint Bruno and in memory of the monks who preceded them. Since the walls of the choir of their former convent church and those of the sacristy had not collapsed, a nave surmounted by a wooden vault was built in 1651[3]. In 1793, it was sold as national property[3]. Abandoned by its new owners, it then passed to the Gougain family, along with the entire property known as "La chèvre"[1]. In 1833, the Carthusians returned to work repairing the walls and vault, redoing the roof, and installing a bell tower. Bishop Pierre-Joseph Rey inaugurated the renovated chapel during the summer of 1836[3]. It received various donations, including from Converset David François Marie[citation needed]. In 1847, it was finally transferred to the churchyard[1]. Processions would go there to pray for rain or good weather; but Bishop Louis Rendu banned these events in 1852[citation needed]. In 1855, it was burned to the ground. A violent wind blew as the Abbey building burned and burning embers set it alight in turn[1]. Nothing new remained except the walls. M Chappaz undertook a collection throughout the parish and had repairs carried out during 1856: plaster vault, roof, bell tower, gallery, floor, altar[3]. On July 11, 1857, the renovated chapel was blessed.

The lake is 900 m long and covers an area of 15 hectares. The northwest shore is marked by a small peninsula, a sign of the advance of the landslide that created the lake. The eastern and western shores are relatively steep, while the northern and southern shores form gentle slopes. The lake was initially named "Lac de Chauronde"[note 1 by Léon Moret[3] in reference to the town of Chauronde where the landslide blocked the Brevon Valley. The name "Lac de Vallon" was finally defined by Bernard Dussart[2] in reference to the name of the valley, Vallon.

Point d'intersection Chalet Blanc Altitude 1608m

Point d'intersection Ramaz Altitude 1512m

Intersection point Le Marquisat Altitude 875m

The Church of Saint Nicholas is a Catholic place of worship located in the commune of Mégevette in Haute-Savoie. The parish was formerly part of the Aulps Abbey. A first church, dating from the 10th century, was too small and dilapidated, and was replaced by the current one, which was built from 1872 to 1880. With its triple nave, it housed a thousand parishioners at the time. It is placed under the patronage of Saint Nicholas and Saint Theodule. Built in a style that blends "pseudo-Romanesque and Italian Renaissance," it is topped by an onion-domed bell tower. Beneath the church, a crypt—the Fernex family's funerary chapel—housed a 17th-century fresco, of which, unfortunately, almost nothing remains. Between 1975 and 1992, the church was completely restored.

Point d'intersection Chalet Blanc Altitude 1665m