Walking in the Haute Savoie by Janette Norton

Author:Janette Norton
Language: eng
Format: epub
ISBN: 9781783625543
Publisher: Cicerone Press
Published: 2017-08-10T16:00:00+00:00

From Mont d’Hermone there are extended views to the right and left. To the right you look over Lake Geneva with the Jura mountains on the horizon, and to the left, beyond the valley, are the peaks of the Chablais: the Dent d’Oche, Cornettes de Bise, Mont Chauffé, Mont Billiat, Pointe d’Ireuse and Rocher de Nifflon. In the foreground, over to the right, is the Montagne d’Hirmentaz in the Vallée Verte.

The path undulates along the top of the ridge, dropping down through tall pine forest and then up again, to reach a wooden signpost headed ‘les Combes – alt. 1350m’ 1 (1hr 55min). Left goes to the chalets of les Combes, which is 10mins further, and is the path you will take on your return. Keep straight on towards Chapelle d’Hermone, passing a wooden signpost indicating left to le Plansuet/Vailly. Shortly after a windsock for paragliding, the Chapel of Notre Dame d’Hermone is visible on your left and you can go to it directly up a grassy path (2hr 15min). Alternatively you can continue for a few minutes into woodland until you come to a path going sharply up left by the Stations of the Cross, which were put up in 1842. Follow them (the path joins at the tenth station) up to the chapel.

CHAPEL OF NOTRE DAME D’HERMONE

The Chapel of Notre Dame d’Hermone is situated on an open spur at the end of the Mont d’Hermone ridge and has a beautiful uninterrupted view. It has a steeple with a cross, and on top an impressive weather vane in the shape of a cockerel – rather a pagan finish, but typical of many churches in this region. On the roof is an imposing white statue of Our Lady and at the side a more modern cross with ‘1975 Année de la Reconciliation’ marked on it. There is also an outside stone altar, and it is still the custom on Whitsunday, on the Feast of the Assumption (15 August) and on Our Lady’s Birthday (8 September) for people to follow the Stations of the Cross up to the church and then hear open-air mass.

For 500 years a chapel has stood on this spot, although it has been destroyed and rebuilt several times over the centuries. More recently it was renovated in 1979 and the old doors were replaced in 1989, the year of its centenary. Take time to read the two poems attached to the door. The first, entitled ‘Aujourd’hui est à Toi’, reminds you of the importance of making the most of today; the second, entitled ‘Prendre le Temps’, reminds you of the importance of taking time to reflect, to listen, to relax, to love and to pray.

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