La Tour: Lac du Môle, hiking trails and historic sites

La Tour offers a range of options: time by the artificial Lac du Môle, a short loop around the lake, walks and hikes, and several historic buildings. The time required for the lakeside loop can be compared particularly clearly with that of the hike up Le Môle; the chapel, church and castle ruins add tangible architectural and local history to the natural attractions.

Getting to know La Tour and its surroundings

The busy D907 departmental road runs through La Tour between Viuz-en-Sallaz and Saint-Jeoire-en-Faucigny. It is a useful landmark for getting your bearings and planning your activities. Traffic levels and road conditions may change.

Lac du Môle: nature, circular trail and fishing

Lac du Môle is artificial and lies in a marshy area. It is partly in La Tour and partly in Ville-en-Sallaz. The lake has a remarkable variety of wildlife and plant life, including plants endemic to this mountain region. The lakeside landscape is therefore distinguished by its unique natural character.

The Tour du lac du Môle is an easy 2.6-kilometre circular route, estimated to take around 25 minutes. There is free parking, a picnic area and public toilets along the route. Local conditions may change, so check them before your visit. The lake is also a second-category fishing water with a closed season. Fish species found there include largemouth bass, carp, tench and roach. As regulations may change, it is advisable to check the current rules before fishing.

From a stroll to a mountain hike

The plan d’eau de l’Oasis in Les Etayers is a place for walks and also a starting point for further hikes. For a considerably longer outing, the difficult Le Môle depuis La Tour hiking trail leads to the 1,863-metre summit of Le Môle. The round trip is 6 kilometres long and takes about 6 hours and 35 minutes, with an elevation gain and loss of 1,213 metres each. The hike offers 360-degree views of the Mont Blanc range, the Aravis and Lake Geneva.

For planning your day, the two routes differ above all in duration and difficulty: an easy lakeside loop of around 25 minutes contrasts with a hike rated difficult that takes approximately six hours and 35 minutes. You can therefore think of the short lakeside loop and the long summit hike as very different time commitments.

Chapel, church and castle ruins

The Chapelle du Calvaire was built in the Neo-Gothic style and inaugurated on September 15, 1889. Visitors can reach it via a path and a Stations of the Cross route. The chapel offers views of Lac du Môle and the Giffre mountains. Its architecture, access route and views make it a destination in its own right, alongside the trails by the water and in the mountains.

The Église Saint-Pierre also tells the story of the area’s architecture: it was rebuilt in the mid-19th century according to the principles of Sardinian Neoclassicism. An engineer, as well as artists and craftspeople from Turin, took part in the reconstruction. The ruins of Château de Thy stand on a motte and are a medieval fortification of historical and architectural significance. Their ruined state and the vegetation continue to shape the site.

Discover more destinations

Discover more destinations: Megève, Combloux, Fillinges, Lullin, Morillon, Les Gets, Étrembières, Évires.

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