Discover Grilly

Grilly brings together historic buildings, the landscape of the Versoix, and distinctive culinary offerings. Several themes can therefore guide your trip planning: the history of castles and bridges, wetlands and panoramic views, and cheese and homemade dishes. If you are looking for a hotel for a trip to Grilly, these features can help you choose a destination that matches your interests.

Buildings and history

The Château de Grilly is a former castle dating from the 13th century and was the center of the Lordship of Grilly until 1789. The Château de la Tour de Grilly is a fortified house dating from the 15th century, restored in the 18th and 21st centuries. Its façades and roofs, along with the two fireplaces on the first floor, have been partially protected as historic monuments since February 18, 1971.

The Church of Saint-Benoît is also associated with a particular work of art: its right-hand side chapel contains the painting “Saint Blaise guérissant un enfant.” It is an oil painting on canvas in a wooden frame.

The Pont de Grilly, also known as the Pont Bugnon, is a stone bridge over the Versoix on the French-Swiss border between Grilly and Chavannes-des-Bois. A wooden predecessor to the Pont de Grilly connected Gex to the port of Coppet; this earlier crossing is documented from 1564.

Wetlands, views, and trails

The Espace Naturel Sensible Marais de la Versoix is on the French side, in the municipalities of Divonne-les-Bains and Grilly. The area encompasses three wetlands connected to springs and the River Divonne. The Marais de la Versoix are home to rich wetland biodiversity, as well as notable species and habitats.

At 755 m, Mont Mourex offers 360-degree views across the Lake Geneva basin, Geneva, and the Alps, including Mont Blanc, as well as the High Jura range. At the summit is a stone circle with a circumference of 145 m and a diameter of 47 m. The stone circle may once have been associated with sun worship. The viewpoint on Mont Mourex is accessible from Grilly.

The two nature experiences offer different highlights: the Marais are about wetlands, springs, and biodiversity, while Mont Mourex is about elevation and far-reaching views. On sections around Grilly, pedestrians, including those with dogs, and cyclists share the Gex–Divonne greenway.

Cheese, cuisine, and concerts

The Fromagerie de Grilly is a traditional cheese shop offering advice on 350 varieties of cheese. The Restaurant des Bergers serves homemade cuisine, including fondues, Malakoff, and other cheese specialties. A farmers’ brunch is served there every Sunday.

The Bar l’Échappée Belle in Grilly hosts live concerts. If you plan to include Sunday brunch or a concert in your trip, check the latest brunch information and specific concert dates in advance.

More destinations

Discover more destinations: Cessy, Cleyzieu, Valeins, Villebois, Champfromier, Montmerle-Sur-Saône, Chevillard, Montagnat

For the main travel overview: Ain.