Villard: Miribel, the Vallée Verte and cultural heritage

Villard sits at an altitude of 800 m in the heart of a small valley with gentle slopes, the Vallée Verte. The municipality covers 742 ha and lies halfway between Thonon and Annemasse in the Alps of Léman. The Menoge and the 1,581 m-high Pointe de Miribel mark the boundaries of the area. The landscape and local cultural sites offer two distinct points of reference when deciding whether Villard is the right destination for you.

Walking trails and views from Pointe de Miribel

If you are looking for a starting point for a walk in Villard, “La pointe de Miribel, depuis Villard” begins at the town hall square. Another named walk, “Le tour de Miribel”, follows an uphill path to Pointe de Miribel, where you can enjoy 360-degree views across Haute-Savoie, the Vallée Verte and Mont Blanc. The information answers different planning questions: the first gives a starting point in Villard, while the second describes the climb and the view at the destination. You can use this to decide whether the explicitly named starting point or the views matter more to you.

Church, paintings and local monuments

The first chapel on the site of today’s Church of Saint John the Baptist was built in 1302. The original Savoyard church in Villard dates from the 16th century; it was rebuilt after the Revolution and designed in the neoclassical style. The church houses the 18th-century painting “Adoration des Mages”. It has been listed as a protected object since 18 April 1983.

The Calvaire de Miribel is made up of 17 blocks of pink limestone. The stonemason Joseph Marie Félisaz, from the hamlet of Bourgeau and known as “le Miton”, carved them on site in 1804. In the centre of Villard, Félisaz also created the Croix de la Veillaz Derrière in 1803, which is classified as a historic monument. These two works illustrate specific chapters in the local history of stonemasonry.

Pointe de Miribel is also associated with the history of pilgrimage: after an oak cross was erected there, it became a pilgrimage destination in 1774. The pilgrimage associated with Pointe de Miribel takes place every year on the Sunday after 15 August. If you are planning a visit for the occasion, keep this fixed date in mind.

Landscape beyond the municipal boundaries

The Plaine-Joux plateau lies partly in Villard and partly in the municipalities of Bogève, Onnion, Saint-Jeoire and Viuz-en-Sallaz. It is included in the Departmental Plan for Sensitive Natural Areas as a remarkable natural area. It is therefore part of a landscape that extends across several municipalities; the municipal boundaries alone do not define this plateau.

Cinema and direct sales in Villard

Villard has had the “La Trace” cinema since 1992. It is classified as Art et Essai and is run with several partners, including an association of volunteer projectionists. Thus, alongside churches and monuments, a cinema is also a cultural landmark in the area.

GAEC de Combasseron offers direct sales in Villard. Products are sold from a mobile sales van opposite the town hall. The range includes Abondance AOP, Reblochon, milk, raclette cheeses with cumin, pepper or smoky flavouring, Tomme, mountain Tomme, garlic Tomme, cumin Tomme, and fresh cheese in faisselle tubs. If you are planning to visit the direct-sales outlet, check the opening hours before you travel.

Discover more destinations: Margencel, Le Reposoir, Marcellaz-Albanais, Vallières, Annecy, Verchaix, Messery, Châtillon-sur-Cluses.

For the broader travel guide: Haute-Savoie.