Plan-Les-Ouates: Heritage, Nature and Walking Routes

Plan-Les-Ouates brings together protected architecture, walking routes, a nature reserve, fruit growing and events rooted in local tradition. If you are looking for a hotel, you can start by considering whether cultural history, nature or a particular event will shape your stay. Visiting conditions vary: some buildings are intended to be viewed from the street only, a reservation is required for a distillery tour, and some events take place on varying dates.

Heritage, Art and Pilgrim Route

The Maison forte d’Arare is a residential building from the 15th and 16th centuries that is protected as a cantonal monument. Its features include a round entrance tower, monumental chimneys dating from its construction, exposed wooden-beam ceilings and carved elements. The Tour de l’ancien château de Saconnex-d’Arve is the surviving tower of a medieval castle built around 1300 by Amédée II, Count of Geneva.

The Église de Saint-Bernard-de-Menthon features stained-glass works by Paul Monnier, made using painted-glass and glass-splinter techniques. The Via Jacobi is another part of the area’s historical character: the pilgrim route crosses Switzerland from Lake Constance to Geneva, and Plan-Les-Ouates is one of its stops. The guided tour «Découverte de Plan-les-Ouates» focuses on public artworks, historic buildings and local accounts from contemporary witnesses.

Please note the access conditions when visiting: most buildings shown on the heritage map are privately owned and are intended to be viewed from the street, without entering them. A walk along the buildings is therefore a suitable way to appreciate the architecture without assuming access inside.

Walking Routes, Forest and Ponds

Seven walking routes explore historical, architectural and ecological aspects of the municipality. Each route takes one to two hours; this provides a concrete guide for planning your day, while the themes vary. If you would like to take in the landscape and wildlife as well as built heritage, the Bois du Milly and Étangs de la Bistoquette area offers opportunities to do so.

The nature reserve is home to amphibians, mammals, birds, dragonflies, butterflies and other insects that can be observed. Amphibians include common frogs, common toads, Alpine newts and smooth newts. A large part of the area has been designated a nature reserve since 26 June 2013; the Canton of Geneva manages and owns the area. Following the work carried out in 2016, new paths were created to guide walkers and protect the forest.

To protect migrating amphibians, the section of Chemin de l’Abérieu between Sentier de l’Étang-du-Paradis and Chemin des Bellins is closed each year from 1 February to 15 April. Check the relevant dates before your visit. Another option is the marked Parcours d’entraînement balisé de l’Escalade, a route for running and walking that can be used year-round in any weather.

Fruit Growing, the History of Winegrowing and the Distillery

Traditional standard fruit orchards shape the regional landscape and the agricultural heritage of Plan-Les-Ouates. The Verger haute-tige de Saconnex-d’Arve contains 18 different varieties of fruit tree, including «Croison», a variety originating in Saconnex-d’Arve. The Ancien pressoir à vin is a symbol of the municipality’s winegrowing history.

Founded in 1895, the Distillerie de Saconnex-d’Arve has a history spanning more than a century, connected with local agriculture and the use of fruit from the orchards. Its premises are used by artisans who produce handcrafted beverages. Tours and tastings focus on the production and sampling of fruit spirits; a reservation is required. The short-format visit includes an explanation of the distillation process and a tasting of six fruit spirits. Depending on the visit, a small aperitif or a meal may also be included.

Culture, Sport and Events

La julienne is a meeting place for classes, exhibitions and artistic production, as well as artistic creation, expression and discovery. It houses more than a hundred classes, a restaurant, an event hall, an exhibition space and a library. Individual programmes and classes may change over time.

The Centre sportif des Cherpines hosts sports events, games, training sessions and various leisure activities throughout the year; individual facilities, clubs and schedules may change. Nearby is the approximately 400 m² Plan-Les-Ouates skatepark, an outdoor facility for skateboarding, freestyle scooters, roller sports and BMX. The skatepark is free to access and open year-round. Please check access conditions in advance in case of maintenance work or events. The Centre équestre de Plan-les-Ouates is located on the edge of the Aire and can be reached by bus, bicycle, scooter or car. It was established in 1996 as part of the Centre sportif des Cherpines; the facilities were later modernised, and the training helps riders develop while respecting the horse.

Recurring cultural events include La Cour des Contes, an annual festival of storytelling and oral arts that began in 1995. In 2005, it was extended to the municipality’s schools with Contes à l’école; the programme and venues may vary with each edition. The Fête du Feuillu is also held annually, preferably on the first weekend of May. If that date is not practical, the event is rescheduled. The festival is listed as intangible cultural heritage of the Canton of Geneva. The procession includes flower wreaths, the young bride and groom, the Bête and a Maypole decorated with ribbons by children; it is followed by traditional songs, dances and a shared snack. Details may vary slightly from one edition to the next.

Autour du temps offers visits to watchmaking workshops, introductory workshops for children and adults, and a watchmaking route in Plan-Les-Ouates. As this is an event programme that varies by edition, check the dates and programme before travelling.

Discover more destinations: Meyrin, Cologny, Cartigny Ge, Versoix, Laconnex, Le Grand-Saconnex, Chêne-Bougeries, Vandœuvres.

For the main travel overview: Geneva.