A balcony-like path above the Dranse, starting from Féternes Vieux

Start: Chemin de la Grotte aux Fées in the hamlet of Féternes Vieux. A wooden railing surrounds a lawn at the end of which stands the Châteauvieux Chapel. Two gaps in the railing provide a few parking spaces: one next to the recycling bins (the starting point on the route) and another a little further on towards the chapel.

Signposts at major junctions
There are also a few signposts and some posts with yellow arrows, which are only mentioned in the description where necessary.

(S/E) Head west and follow the Chemin de la Grotte aux Fées towards the chapel and the Tilleul d’Henri IV (blue markings). At a drinking trough, ignore a path branching off to the left. Walk past the chapel and note the majestic lime tree opposite it. The road then turns left. At the end, turn right towards Châteauvieux. Pass the Impasse de la Colombière on the left and head downhill (faded yellow marker).

(1) At the “Châteauvieux” sign, continue straight on along Chemin de la Tournette (ignore the blue arrow for now, which directs you to turn left). At the corner of a house, climb the stony path opposite (let the tarmac road bend to the left). Pass a house on your right and continue along a grassy path. Go past a cross and arrive at a lovely viewpoint (bench). Then retrace your steps.

(1) Back at the signpost, turn right: the tarmac quickly gives way to a grassy path. At a fork in the road at a place called La Paulertaz, turn left towards Le Creux. Head downwards towards the south and, after a flat section, climb slightly through a beech forest.

(2) At a signpost, ignore a poorly maintained path leading down to the right (path not shown on the map) and turn left onto the main path. Descend, following a low stone wall in places. At the next signpost (indicating an altitude of 650m when you are actually at 600m), turn left towards Le Creux and you will soon reach a flat area at a place called La Source.

(3) Descend a flight of steps on the right and, after a short hairpin bend, you’ll reach the remains of an old tuff quarry (a spring and a series of small pools). Retrace your steps.

(3) Continue eastwards along the main path. Pass a stone bearing the coat of arms of Savoy and head uphill. You will reach the crossroads by the cup-marked stone.

(4) Take the path on the right leading to the stone, situated just before a tree marked with a blue signpost. Retrace your steps.

(4) With your back to the signposts, take the^second path on the left (the^first being the one you came along) and follow a low wall on your right. Pass a small vineyard and climb steeply through the forest. At the end, you’ll come out onto a small road (oratory).

(5) Follow the road to the left and immediately turn right with it. Walk through the meadows and note the view of the Jura Mountains on the left. At^{the first} houses, at the junction on the corner of No. 1541, turn left. You’ll come out onto a small road and follow it to the left. Walk past a farm on your right and rejoin the Chemin de la Grotte aux Fées (S/E).

Hiking boots recommended.

No drinking water sources were found along the route.

A detailed map is useful (at the very least the one accompanying this description).

Hike undertaken by the author on 18 April 2019.

- Châteauvieux Chapel (13th century), shortly after (S/E).

- Imposing lime tree, known as Henri IV’s tree, opposite the chapel. The tree is estimated to be at least 400 years old, with a circumference of 10 metres at a height of 1.30 metres above ground level, and was designated a ‘Remarkable Tree’ in 2000.

- View from further on (1): in^{the foreground}, below, the Dranse valley; in^{the middle} ground, the two castles of Allinges; in the background, on the left the Salève and on the right the Jura Mountains.

- Remains of an old tuff quarry (3). A sign indicates that the site is maintained on a voluntary basis by Franck Baujard.

- Cup-marked stone (4). The stone is large and features a few small hollows carved by our distant ancestors (the cup marks). Apart from this historical feature, the site is not particularly spectacular.

- A small vineyard, the only one in the commune of Féternes, shortly afterwards (4).

- A wayside shrine dating from 1899 (5).

- Beautiful view of the Jura between (5) and (S/E).