The Chapel of Champeillant and the Oratories of Champanges and Féternes

Departure from Champanges church, Place Anselme Boujon. Park in the car park near the sports fields, behind the church and opposite the town hall. Champanges is located about ten kilometres from Thonon-les-Bains or Evian-les-Bains.

Directional signs are posted at major intersections.

(S/E) Return towards the church. Pass between the church on your left and the town hall on your right. Then go up Rue de l'Église (towards the east), cross Rue des École and continue uphill. At the next crossroads, turn right onto Rue de Saint-Martin. Cross the hamlet, pass in front of the oratory and continue straight ahead. Shortly after leaving the hamlet, turn right onto Rue des Ecureuils (not signposted).

(1) At the end, follow a small road on the left. You will soon reach a crossroads at a place called La Gerbaz (oratory).

(2) Take a path that branches off to the left at a right angle (north-east) and climbs slightly. Walk first between two hedges of trees, then with meadows on your left. Walk along a sports field and reach a crossroads at the entrance to Larringes.

(3) At the crossroads, turn right onto Chemin de la Grange aux Loups. Cross a stream and, at the fork immediately after, take the left branch (yellow markings). Cross a small road. At a fork, continue on the left path and pass a livestock building on your right. You will come to a new road.

(4) Turn right onto Chemin de Gotay, towards Chez Portay (sign). In the village, follow the road to the left for a few dozen metres.

(5) Turn right onto Chemin du Bois-Monsieur (sign indicating Chapelle de Champeillant 25 minutes away). Follow a very small road that winds through the meadows and leads to a perpendicular road.

(6). Look for the bell tower of the Chapelle de Champeillant on your left. Take the road on the left and climb up to the chapel.

(7) Continue along the road for a few dozen metres until you reach an intersection.

(8) Quickly head left to the orientation table. Retrace your steps.

(8) Take the small road towards Sur Les Crêts, which heads south-south-east and then quickly turns west-south-west.

(9) At the hamlet of Sur les Crêts, continue on the same road, which turns right (west-southwest). The road descends and heads west-northwest. At a crossroads (recycling bins), continue straight ahead until you reach a larger road (oratory, bus shelter). Take this road on the right until you see the sign for the Vougron exit.

(10) Take the small road on the left (blue markings) towards Féternes. Cross a stream. Cross a second stream and climb briefly until you see a sports field. Before reaching it, take a small street on the right towards the church (clearly visible).

(11) At the foot of the church, take the road on the right that leaves Féternes (caution, busy road). Reach the hamlet of Curninge. Just after the farm, take a path on the left. Walk north-west, descending steadily, with meadows on either side.

(12) When the main path turns west, turn right towards Les Moulins de La Gerbaz. Descend and you will come to a crossroads with an old mill opposite (information board). Continue straight ahead, cross a stream and climb back up. You will come to a small road; follow it to the left until you reach the junction you took on the way there.

(2) Continue straight ahead on a small road taken on the way there.

(1) Cross Rue des Ecureuils on the right-hand side and continue straight ahead, descending towards Champanges. After passing several houses, you will reach a sports field. Turn left and then immediately right to return to the starting point (S/E).

Good sports shoes are sufficient for this hike, which takes place on good paths and small roads with little traffic. In summer, bring suitable sun protection.

Bring your own water supplies. In Curninges, there is a farm selling farmhouse cheeses.

A 1:25,000 map is required (at least the one accompanying this description).

Hike completed three times by the author, the first on 25 July 2011, the last on 25 October 2014.

In Champeillant:
- Champeillant Chapel (without an "i" on the IGN map), built in 1924, usually closed.
- Commemorative plaque in honour of American airmen who made an emergency landing here during the Second World War.
- Orientation table, with a view of Lake Geneva and Mont Blanc (in good weather).
- Information panels providing details about the geology of the region.
- Benches and tables for a rest stop.

Along the route:
- Oratories.
- Chez Portay Chapel (5).
- Beautiful old houses in the hamlets.
- Panoramic views of Lake Geneva and the Mémises-Pic de Borée-Dent d'Oche mountain range.