Chézery-Forens: Hiking, cheese and cultural heritage

Chézery-Forens offers several distinct points of interest to help you plan your trip: hiking trails with named destinations, an oratory reachable on foot along the Valserine, and insights into cheesemaking and farming. When planning your hotel stay, you can first decide whether to focus on a route, cultural heritage or a seasonal farm visit.

Hiking trails: destinations, routes and protected areas

The “Sur les traces des passeurs” hiking route starts in Chézery-Forens, follows the Valserine and climbs towards the 1,719 m-high Reculet. Crêt de Chalam reaches 1,545 m and can be reached from Chézery-Forens via a route of about 10 km. The elevations refer to the peaks, while the distance indicates the approximate route to Chalam. This gives you several points of reference when choosing a hike: the route to Reculet is characterised by the course of the river and the climb, while the route to Chalam is described by its distance and summit elevation.

Another route leads from Menthières via Chalet du Sac to Crêt des Frasses. It passes through the Haut-Jura Regional Nature Park and part of the Haute Chaîne du Jura National Nature Reserve. Protected-area rules apply along one section; take them into account when planning this route.

Cultural heritage along the Valserine

The Saint-Roland Oratory, also known as Fontaine-Bénite, dates from the 17th century. A monumental painting of Saint Roland can be seen through its wrought-iron grille. Fontaine-Bénite Oratory is a family outing destination, reachable on foot from a roundabout along the Valserine.

The former Cistercian abbey of Chézery was founded in 1140 and almost completely destroyed after the French Revolution. Its founding year is several centuries earlier than the 17th-century oratory. Together, these dates mark different chapters in Chézery’s religious history.

Cheesemaking and farm visits

A free-to-access visitor gallery at the Fromagerie de l’Abbaye showcases various stages of cheesemaking through the workshops. The Fromagerie offers Bleu de Gex AOP, Comté, cream cheese and other regional products. The Chèvrerie de Noire Combe offers a different insight: during the season, visitors can watch the evening milking by prior reservation. Visitors can meet the farm’s goats, kids and pigs.

The Chèvrerie also makes and sells fresh flavoured and semi-dry goat’s cheeses, cheese preparations, Faisselles, yoghurt and fresh milk. The experiences are different: the visitor gallery focuses on the steps involved in production, while the seasonal farm visit focuses on milking and the animals.

Landscape and products in Menthières

La Fermentière is located at an altitude of 1,000 m in Menthières, a hamlet in the commune of Chézery-Forens. The plateau has extensive natural meadows where the herd is traditionally grazed. La Fermentière offers fresh to dry lactic cheeses, Sérac and goat’s Tommettes aged in a natural cellar. This part of the trip planning therefore combines information about elevation and pastureland with a specific selection of regional cheeses.

Discover more destinations: Jasseron, Bohas-Meyriat-Rignat, Biziat, Châtillon-Sur-Chalaronne, Sainte-Euphémie, Brégnier-Cordon, Vonnas, Francheleins.

For the broader travel overview: Ain.