The Salève: The Balcony of Geneva
Auvergne-Rhône-Alpes, France
Badge Unlock
Balcony of Geneva
Complete this challenge to add this badge to your collection.
225
XP
+100 France
= 325 total
1 day
The Salève: The Balcony of Geneva
225 + 100 XP
The Salève, which rises to 1,379 m at the Grand Piton, is a mountain entirely in France, but the Swiss border runs along the foot of the cliffs at its northern end, and it is known as the balcony of Geneva. From 1892 to 1935 it was served by the chemin de fer du Salève, the first electric rack railway in the world: one line from Étrembières through Monnetier to Les Treize Arbres, and from 1894 a far steeper direct line up from Veyrier to Monnetier. A cable car took over in 1932, rebuilt in 1983, with an upper station at 1,100 m by the Swiss architect Maurice Braillard. From up here the view takes in Geneva and its lake, the southern slope of the Jura, the Pre-Alps, the lake of Annecy and Mont Blanc.
Required Activities
1
of 5
Ride the cable car up from Étrembières, opened in 1932 and rebuilt in 1983, and look back down the line at the limestone quarry it passes over — 57 hectares and 250 m of vertical, the scar on the mountain that is visible from Geneva
2
of 5
From the edge at Les Treize Arbres, pick out the Jet d'Eau and the line of the lake, then trace where the Swiss border must run — it passes along the foot of the cliffs directly below you, so everything in the middle distance is in another country
3
of 5
Find the three geological tables on the ridge and use them to name the Alpine summits in front of you, Mont Blanc included, rather than guessing which white one it is
4
of 5
Walk the ridge south to the tour des Pitons at 1,379 m, built in 1820 on the site of a watch post that had stood there since the 14th century, and hunt across the lapiaz around it for the names cut into the limestone — Lamartine's and Byron's are among them
5
of 5
Spot the huge cross painted on the white slab of La Corraterie, the rock face laid bare by a storm in 1942, and work out which flag is on it today — it went up as a Swiss cross in May 1967, was repainted as a Savoyard one, and anonymous hands have been swapping it back and forth ever since
Ride the cable car up from Étrembières, opened in 1932 and rebuilt in 1983, and look back down the line at the limestone quarry it passes over — 57 hectares and 250 m of vertical, the scar on the mountain that is visible from Geneva
From the edge at Les Treize Arbres, pick out the Jet d'Eau and the line of the lake, then trace where the Swiss border must run — it passes along the foot of the cliffs directly below you, so everything in the middle distance is in another country
Find the three geological tables on the ridge and use them to name the Alpine summits in front of you, Mont Blanc included, rather than guessing which white one it is
Walk the ridge south to the tour des Pitons at 1,379 m, built in 1820 on the site of a watch post that had stood there since the 14th century, and hunt across the lapiaz around it for the names cut into the limestone — Lamartine's and Byron's are among them
Spot the huge cross painted on the white slab of La Corraterie, the rock face laid bare by a storm in 1942, and work out which flag is on it today — it went up as a Swiss cross in May 1967, was repainted as a Savoyard one, and anonymous hands have been swapping it back and forth ever since
Before you go
The cable car shuts for maintenance between the end of the summer season on 1 November and the middle of January. Do not plan this for late autumn or the Christmas holidays without checking the operator's timetable.
In the winter season it runs on Wednesdays, Fridays, Saturdays and Sundays only, with the last ascent at 16:30 and the last descent at 16:45.
The alternative is the road up from Monnetier-Mornex to La Croisette along the ridge — narrow, with tight hairpins, and not a road to take a long motorhome up in winter conditions.
The top is a cliff edge over Geneva with unfenced drops in places. Keep children away from the lip, especially in wind.
The Salève cable car shuts for about two and a half months after the start of November for its annual maintenance and periodic inspection: the operator publishes a summer season to 1 November and a winter season starting 17 January, with nothing in between. Through the winter season to 31 March it runs on Wednesdays, Fridays, Saturdays and Sundays only, last car up at 4.30pm. There is a road to Les Treize Arbres if the cable car is not running, but the summit can be in cloud when Geneva below is clear, and the Mont Blanc view the challenge asks for needs a clear day.
Finding nearby campsites...
About Auvergne-Rhône-Alpes
Loading region info…
Explore more about Auvergne-Rhône-Alpes:
Challenge Location
XP Breakdown
Challenge XP
225 XP
France country bonus
+100 XP
Potential total
325 XP
Country bonus earned on completion of your first challenge in France.
More challenges nearby
within 100km
Geneva Watchmaking Heritage Tour
Switzerland · Lake Geneva Region
cultural
easy
2d
7 km away
Geneva Green Spaces and Parks Tour
Switzerland · Lake Geneva Region
nature
easy
2d
8 km away
Geneva International Organizations Tour
Switzerland · Lake Geneva Region
cultural
easy
2d
9 km away
The Crêt de la Neige: The Top of the Jura Above Geneva
France · Auvergne-Rhône-Alpes
adventure
medium
1d
24 km away
Mieussy: The Birthplace of Paragliding
France · Auvergne-Rhône-Alpes
sports
medium
1d
25 km away
Yvoire and Excenevex: The Medieval Port, the Five Senses Garden and the Only Sand Beach in Haute-Savoie
France · Auvergne-Rhône-Alpes
cultural
easy
1d
26 km away