Located between Thônes and Lake Annecy on the road to the Col de Bluffy , Alex is a small rural village that has maintained a strong agricultural tradition and benefits from a vast forest. Surrounded by meadows carpeted with daffodils in season, Alex can be visited and enjoyed year-round. The Fier plain at the foot of the village of Alex offers opportunities for family walks and hikes.
At the foot of the Dents de Lanfon and the Dent du Cruet
An authentic village
As you stroll through the streets of the village and its various hamlets, you will be delighted to discover its rich architectural and cultural heritage: the Church of the Nativity of Mary, fountains, oratory, old wash houses, old farms... and its castle, the Château d'Arenthon (closed to the public) which housed the Salomon contemporary art foundation until 2014.
On the banks of the Fier
The Nant d'Alex stream, which flows through the village, empties into the nearby Fier River. You can enjoy the dedicated cycle path alongside it for rollerblading or cycling towards Thônes or Annecy . Mountain bikers can ride the trails that run along the banks of the Fier, where families often come to picnic and enjoy the water. Fly fishermen also gather here to fish for magnificent native wild brown trout.
The Fier plain , a beautiful Sensitive Natural Area, will not fail to seduce you with its array of possible activities while respecting biodiversity!
A tour on the trails
Numerous hiking trails start from the village center or from Villards-Dessus. Short routes are suitable for families, such as the Crêt des Rats circuit, which allows you to discover the village via a 1.5-hour loop , or the Montviard waterfall circuit, a 2-hour loop that takes place mainly in the undergrowth, ideal for finding some coolness in the hot season.
Other, more challenging hikes, either loops or out-and-back, allow you to explore mountain chalets and their alpine pastures : the Chalet de la Rochette near the Dent du Cruet or the Chalet de l'Aulp Riant Dessous at the foot of the Dents de Lanfon. From the Chalets de la Rochette Dessous and Dessus, you can continue on and join the GR96 and GR de Pays Tournette-Aravis trails by passing through the Trou de la Chapelle, a natural cave about a hundred meters long that cuts right through the Dent du Cruet: this route is reserved for experienced hikers!
In the land of white gold
In winter, with snowshoes on your feet, the Aulp Riant area offers some beautiful routes starting from Villards-Dessus. After the Aulp Riant Dessous chalet, you can reach the Col des Frêtes, and for the more experienced, the Roche Murraz or the Pointe de Talamarche. But be careful to leave safely by calling on a mountain professional.
And of course, the Aravis resorts , Saint-Jean-de-Sixt, Manigod, La Clusaz and Le Grand-Bornand offer all their winter activities within 20 km!
To make a break
On the church square, Alex's inn is a friendly place to eat or have a drink after a hike. You will find traditional cuisine for all tastes!
Not to be missed
Alex's Cross , located in the church square, is a stone-carved cross dating from the 16th century. It is listed as a Historical Monument.
revelry
Every year, on the last weekend of September, Alex organizes the gastronomy festival. A gourmet market brings together local producers, tableware and takeaway dishes. Open from 10 a.m.
A note of history
In 1943, it was in Alex that the first armed maquis in the Thônes region was born: the Lanfon maquis.
