Villard: Holiday Apartments and Holiday Homes

Villard is situated at an altitude of 800 m in the heart of a small valley with gentle slopes, the Vallée Verte. The village covers 742 ha and lies halfway between Thonon and Annemasse in the Alps of Lake Geneva. The Menoge and the 1,581 m-high Pointe de Miribel border Villard.

Those who choose Villard as a travel destination may want to rent a holiday apartment here.

History and Culture

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

The history of the village also includes several landmarks around the Pointe de Miribel. The Calvaire de Miribel consists of 17 blocks of pink limestone, which were carved on site in 1804 by the stonemason Joseph Marie Félisaz, known as “le Miton”, from the hamlet of Bourgeau. The pilgrimage associated with the Pointe de Miribel takes place every year on the Sunday after 15 August. In the village centre, there is also the Croix de la Veillaz Derrière, created by Joseph Marie Félisaz, known as “le Miton”, in 1803 and classified as a historic monument. The Pointe de Miribel became a pilgrimage destination in 1774 after an oak cross was erected.

Villard has had the “La Trace” cinema since 1992. It is classified as an Art et Essai cinema and is run with several partners, including an association of volunteer projectionists.

Nature and Trails

The Plateau de Plaine-Joux lies partly in Villard and partly in the municipalities of Bogève, Onnion, Saint-Jeoire and Viuz-en-Sallaz. It is included in the departmental scheme of Espaces Naturels Sensibles as a remarkable natural area.

The “La pointe de Miribel, depuis Villard” hiking trail begins at Villard’s town hall square. The “Le tour de Miribel” hike follows an uphill path to the Pointe de Miribel, offering a 360-degree view of Haute-Savoie, the Vallée Verte and Mont Blanc.

Local Products

GAEC de Combasseron offers direct sales in Villard of Abondance AOP, Reblochon, milk, raclettes with caraway, pepper or smoked flavour, Tomme, mountain Tomme, garlic Tomme, caraway Tomme and fresh cheese in faisselle format. Sales take place from a sales van opposite Villard town hall.

More destinations: Le Bouchet-Mont-Charvin, Poisy, Marin, Cuvat, Saint-Jean-De-Sixt, La Vernaz, Plateau Dʼassy, Arthaz-Pont-Notre-Dame

To the overarching travel overview: Haute-Savoie.