What’s New In Pays De Gex This Winter?
The Pays de Gex community is a group of 26 French communes extending from the heart of the Jura Massif mountains to the meadows that line the Swiss border. It offers a natural holiday destination, close to Geneva, with fresh mountain air at an affordable price. Facing Mont Blanc, appreciate stunning views across Lake Geneva. Explore Ferney and its castle: Voltaire the philosopher left his mark here and they even named the town after him: Ferney Voltaire. And science wizards will enjoy the home of the Large Hadron Collider, CERN, is located here.
Where is it? Located in the heart of the beautiful Monts Jura mountain range, Pays de Gex is home to four authentic ski areas. Performance level skiing is found in Lélex-Crozet with a vertical drop of 800 metres, chilled-cruisy slopes are situated in Mijoux-La Faucille, whilst family-friendly slopes are predominantly in Menthières (50 km total of Alpine skiing) and 160 km of cross-country tracks wind through the Domaine de la Vattay. Simply 30 minutes from Geneva airport, skiing will be open from 19 December 2020 to 28 March 2021.
What is so special about this region? The unparalleled view at the top of Lélex-Crozet at 1,720 m overlooking the mesmerising Lake Geneva beyond to the snow-capped peak of Mont Blanc. With one of the most stunning panoramas in Europe, the resorts are characterised by the richness and diversity of their traditional and local heritage. Here, cheese is king. The PDO Morbier and Comté cheeses are a delight, however, the local speciality is above all the Bleu de Gex-Haut Jura PDO.
Why go? No congested ski slopes, outrageous prices (€19 a day lift pass) or endless queues, it is not just about the skiing but the opportunity for a snowy holiday. Snowshoeing and dogsledding are firm family favourites here too.
Covid-FREE label: Skiers will be wondering ‘is it safe to visit?’. The Pays de Gex (and its Monts Jura resort) is the first destination to commit to the Covid-Free label. Why? Because more than ever, trust is the key word for a successful stay. Which is why the Tourist Office has joined forces with Covid-Free, to provide a safety standard and appropriate health protocols for each establishment involved. Together, they have adopted measures of collective vigilance against the spread of Covid-19. To sum it up, it is the first independent label, intended for restaurants, hotels, and more broadly tourism professionals engaged in the fight against the spread of the virus. The purpose of this coalition of professionals, along with volunteer doctors and pharmacists, is to generate trust through a charter and frequent audits. Implementation of the measures, validated by these audits, is an essential factor of distinction when choosing a destination. www.covid-free.fr
Faucille Zip Line
Monts Jura’s great new attraction this year is its giant zip line, the steepest in France. A one-minute descent with a peak at 90 km/hour, time to hurtle down the Faucille at lightning speed. Enjoy the view of the village of Mijoux and the snow-covered fir trees of the Valserine Valley from this line. Rendez-vous at the Col de la Faucille and discover this brand-new activity. Solo descent: €34 pp.12 years and over. www.paysdegex-montsjura.com
Pop up DreamWorks studio in Pays de Gex Spring 2021
What a coup - in collaboration with the Galerie et du Musée Art Ludique in Paris, Château de Voltaire in the Pays de Gex will host a celebration of 25 years of the DreamWorks animation journey from sketch to screen. This exhibition gives audiences a unique chance to explore more than 25 years of the studio’s collaborative and visionary approach to animation, art, technology and storytelling. Audiences are invited to discover beloved family favourites such as Shrek, Madagascar, Kung Fu Panda, How to Train Your Dragon, Trolls, and many more. Featuring rare and never-seen-before original artefacts, 200 plus works, animations, digital experiences – including the immersive 180⁰ Dragon Flight – DreamWorks Animation is perfect for families, fans, students, art lovers and creatives alike. Experience the magic and see how characters and stories transform from sketch to screen. Art Ludique is the first museum in the world dedicated to the contemporary art of video games, animation, film design, comic books and manga. It aims to present the artistic, cultural, educational and job-creating dimensions of the creative industries to a wide and young public.
Time to sleep: With gites to five-star hotels – there is plenty to choose from:
Mountain Chic: The four-star Chalet-Hotel La Mainaz Restaurant & Resort is perched in the hills at an altitude of 1,250 m and is 35 minutes from Geneva Airport in the small mountain village of Gex. This Alpine-inspired hotel and restaurant is a peaceful haven with 22 comfortable rooms and suites decorated down to the tiniest detail. Facing Lake Geneva and Mont-Blanc, the hotel also offers a unique gourmet cuisine in the Haut Jura with its friendly bistro, cosy bar and panoramic terrace. Book a table at the stylish La Table de la Mainaz for a meal with a view. La Table de la Mainaz takes glorious Jurassien produce, including local trout from the lake, cheeses and herbs, and gives it a sophisticated spin. Nestled in the heart of spectacular mountains and idyllic landscapes, skiers will enjoy a range of exciting outdoor activities from the hotel’s doorstep.
