Cran-Gévrier: Culture and industrial history along the Thiou

Those looking for a hotel in Cran-Gévrier can get a sense of the place from its offerings along the Thiou and the industrial history visible there. There are also science and cultural venues offering different ways to explore the area: a riverside path, historic sites, a science centre and cultural institutions. This makes it easy to shape your stay around walks, industrial history or cultural activities.

The Thiou: riverside promenade and industrial history

The riverside path along the Thiou is 3.5 kilometres long and extends to Cran-Gévrier. The promenade is open year-round. Visitor activities along the Thiou include individual and group visits, as well as guided, educational and themed tours. There are therefore several options, from a riverside walk to different types of guided visit.

The walking trail “Au fil du Thiou industriel” runs from Île Saint-Joseph in Annecy to the former site of the Forges de Cran. The trail explores the ancient, modern and contemporary history of the Thiou. It thus combines a specific route with a look at the river’s history through different eras.

Traces of craftsmanship and hydropower

At the Tissage à Cran site, cotton yarn was turned into fabric on mechanised looms. The machines were powered by hydropower harnessed through a single waterwheel. Tissage à Cran is a stop on the “Le Thiou industriel” heritage trail.

The Forges et Fonderies de Cran are also a stop on this trail. Their buildings and waterfall can be seen from the Cran Bridge. Île aux vannes preserves the memory of craft and industrial activities that followed one another from the 18th century until the 1930s.

Another testament to hydropower is the old turbine from the Brassilly hydroelectric power station. The municipality of Cran-Gévrier acquired it in 2004; today it stands beside the La Turbine cultural centre and helps preserve Cran-Gévrier’s industrial heritage. Individual guided tours of the Brassilly turbine are available.

Cultural venues and science

The Espace des Forges is located in a former deconsecrated chapel and is intended to become a lively, multidisciplinary venue. La Turbine sciences is a centre for scientific, technical and industrial culture. Exhibitions, talks and workshops actively involve visitors: they can touch, experiment and explore freely.

The Eglise Saint-Étienne du Pont-Neuf is dedicated to Saint Stephen. The first parish of Gevrier was also dedicated to him: a Romanesque church founded in the 12th century and destroyed in 1793. The stained-glass windows in the present-day church were made by the Carl Mauméjean workshops in Paris. The church is also the final stop on a heritage trail devised by Annecy tour guides and awarded the “Ville et pays d'Art et d'Histoire” label.

The activities on offer vary in nature: the “Au fil du Thiou industriel” trail explores the river’s history across several eras, while La Turbine sciences invites visitors to discover science hands-on. For films and other cultural activities, there is Cinéma La Turbine, an arthouse cinema with the “Art et Essai” label and the “Jeune public” award. Médiathèque La Turbine offers free use of its multimedia collections, along with a range of services.

Discover more destinations: Scionzier, Habère-Poche, Le Reposoir, Saint-Gervais-Les-Bains, Neuvecelle, La Rivière-Enverse, Doussard, Menthon-Saint-Bernard.

For the broader travel overview: Haute-Savoie.