The Geneva Way, also known as the Via Gebennensis, is one of the pilgrimage routes leading to Santiago de Compostela. Starting from the shores of Lake Geneva in Switzerland, this 380-kilometre trail crosses seven French departments before reaching Le Puy-en-Velay, where it connects with the Via Podiensis (Way of St James in France). Over 19 stages, you walk through Alpine foothills, the Rhône Valley, the forests of the Pilat Regional Natural Park and the volcanic plateaux of the Velay, discovering a France that few visitors ever see.
With Walks in France, you can walk the Geneva Way as a self-guided walking holiday with luggage transfer, quality accommodation and a detailed route book. We organise everything so you can focus on the trail.
Key features of the Geneva Way
- Official name: Geneva Way (Via Gebennensis)
- GR trail: GR 65
- Total distance: 380 km
- Number of stages: 19
- Number of sections: 3
- Recommended season: spring, summer and autumn (April to October)
- Difficulty: Level 2 (on average, 5 hours of walking per day on undulating paths and trails, with no more than 600 m of cumulative elevation gain per day)
- Main sections: Geneva to Saint-Genix / Saint-Genix to Condrieu / Condrieu to Le Puy-en-Velay
- Recommended starting section: Geneva to Saint-Genix (5 days)
- Key points of interest: Geneva (the old town, St Pierre Cathedral, the shores of Lake Geneva and the surrounding vineyards), the Pilat Regional Natural Park (deep forests, sweeping panoramas and villages of character), the Haut-Lignon Plateau, the volcanic landscapes of the Velay, and Le Puy-en-Velay (the cathedral, the chapel of Saint-Michel d'Aiguilhe, and the La Pèlerine agency)
- Departments crossed: Haute-Savoie, Ain, Savoie, Isère, Rhône, Loire, Haute-Loire
- Onward route: from Le Puy-en-Velay, you can continue on the Via Podiensis towards Saint-Jean-Pied-de-Port and then on to Santiago de Compostela via the Camino Francés
The Geneva Way is one of the finest pilgrimage routes linking Switzerland to France. From the shores of Lake Geneva, the trail crosses the varied landscapes of Haute-Savoie, with its mountains and green valleys, before continuing through the Ain and Loire departments, where forests, limestone ridges and villages of character alternate along the way. As you approach Haute-Loire and the city of Le Puy-en-Velay, a major starting point for the Way of St James, the scenery shifts into rolling plateaux, hedgerow-enclosed pastures and winding rivers. The final approach to Le Puy-en-Velay is marked by volcanic landforms and striking panoramas that announce the start of the Massif Central.
Unlike the more established French pilgrimage routes, the Geneva Way was created in the 1990s by the Association Rhône-Alpes des Amis de Saint-Jacques to provide a waymarked route for walkers arriving from Switzerland, Germany and central Europe. The trail follows the GR 65 and is marked throughout with both the blue-and-yellow cockleshell signs and the red-and-white GR blazes. Stage by stage, the Via Gebennensis takes you through authentic, unspoilt countryside where you are unlikely to meet many other walkers, making it an ideal choice for those seeking a quieter alternative to the busier Camino routes.
Geneva Way stages
Geneva to Saint-Genix
The opening section of the Geneva Way takes you from the Swiss border through the foothills of the Jura and along the Rhône Valley. You pass through Savoyard vineyards, the canal village of Chanaz (sometimes called the "little Venice of Savoie"), and the medieval town of Yenne, before arriving in Saint-Genix-sur-Guiers, famous for its praline brioche.
| From | To | Distance |
|---|---|---|
| Saint-Julien-en-Genevois | Mont Sion | 18 km |
| Mont Sion | Frangy | 19 km |
| Frangy | Pont du Fier | 19 km |
| Pont du Fier | Chanaz | 18 km |
| Chanaz | Yenne | 17 km |
| Yenne | Saint-Genix-sur-Guiers | 24 km |
Total Distance : 115 km
Saint-Genix to Condrieu
After the Alpine foothills, the Geneva Way descends into the Dauphiné plain and crosses the peaceful landscapes of the Voironnais and Bièvre-Valloire. This is rolling farmland with wooded hills and traditional pisé (earth-built) villages. You pass through La Côte-Saint-André, birthplace of the composer Hector Berlioz, before the trail reaches Condrieu, a renowned wine town at the foot of the Pilat mountains and the gateway to the final section towards Le Puy-en-Velay.
| From | To | Distance |
|---|---|---|
| Saint-Genix-sur-Guiers | Valencogne | 19 km |
| Valencogne | Le Grand-Lemps | 24 km |
| Le Grand-Lemps | La Côte-Saint-André | 15 km |
| La Côte-Saint-André | Revel-Tourdan | 22 km |
| Revel-Tourdan | La Chapelle-de-Surieu | 19 km |
| La Chapelle-de-Surieu | Condrieu | 22 km |
Total Distance : 121 km
Condrieu to Le Puy-en-Velay
The final and most challenging section of the Geneva Way crosses the Pilat Regional Natural Park and the high plateaux of the Massif Central before reaching Le Puy-en-Velay. You climb through dense forests to the Pilat ridges, then walk across the granite plateau of the Haut-Lignon before entering the volcanic landscapes of the Velay, with its distinctive rounded peaks known as "sucs". The trail ends in Le Puy-en-Velay, one of the great pilgrimage cities of France, where the cathedral, the chapel of Saint-Michel d'Aiguilhe and the statue of Notre-Dame de France form an unforgettable skyline.
| From | To | Distance |
|---|---|---|
| Condrieu | Bourg-Argental | 34 km |
| Bourg-Argental | Les Sétoux | 19 km |
| Les Sétoux | Montfaucon | 20 km |
| Montfaucon | Saint-Jeures | 20 km |
| Saint-Jeures | Saint-Julien-Chapteuil | 21 km |
| Saint-Julien-Chapteuil | Le Puy-en-Velay | 20 km |
Distance Totale : 134 km
Tips for planning your walk on the Geneva Way
Best time to go
You can walk the Geneva Way on any date you choose between April and October. Here are a few seasonal tips to help you plan:
- In spring (April to June), nature is in full bloom. Meadows and forests are bright with colour, and temperatures remain mild, making for ideal walking conditions.
- In summer (July and August), the long, bright days are perfect for enjoying mountain panoramas and open plateaux. However, some valleys can be hot, so you may prefer to set off early in the morning.
- In autumn (September and October), the trail is dressed in shades of gold and red. Temperatures are cooler but still very pleasant for walking, and the atmosphere is peaceful, well away from the summer crowds.
The most challenging stages
The section between Condrieu and Le Puy-en-Velay is the most demanding part of the Geneva Way:
- Bourg-Argental to Les Sétoux to Montfaucon (19 and 20 km): this Massif Central stage demands real effort, with a climb to around 1,215 m, dense forest sections and several strenuous valley crossings.
- Montfaucon to Saint-Jeures (20 km): you walk across a granite plateau in the Massif Central, with long stretches where there are no villages, little shade, and sometimes a strong wind.
- Saint-Jeures to Saint-Julien-Chapteuil (21 km): this stage through the volcanic landscapes of the Velay involves significant climbs and uneven terrain.
Our favourite stages
- Saint-Julien-en-Genevois to Mont Sion: along the shores of Lake Geneva, through vineyards with views of the Alps, this stage offers a gentle start in spectacular surroundings.
- Bourg-Argental to Les Sétoux: crossing the Pilat Regional Natural Park, with deep forests and far-reaching panoramas, this is a stage for nature lovers.
- Montfaucon to Saint-Jeures: arriving on the high plateaux of the Massif Central, you are rewarded with wide open spaces and a wonderfully peaceful atmosphere.
- Saint-Jeures to Saint-Julien-Chapteuil: this stage reveals the volcanic landscapes that define the Velay, with its "sucs" and charming medieval villages along the way.
Accommodation on the Geneva Way
When you book your Geneva Way walking holiday with Walks in France, your accommodation is selected and booked in advance at each stage. You stay in quality hotels and guesthouses along the route, with half-board included (dinner, bed and breakfast). In smaller villages where accommodation options are limited, we select the best available lodging and ensure you are warmly welcomed. Your luggage is transferred between each stage, so you walk with just a daypack.
Walking the Geneva Way with Walks in France
We have been organising self-guided walking holidays on the pilgrimage routes of France since 1988. Our agency is based in Saugues, on the GR65 itself, just two stages after Le Puy-en-Velay. We know the Geneva Way and its continuation on the Via Podiensis personally, and we can help you plan the itinerary that best suits your schedule and fitness level.
Your walking holiday on the Geneva Way includes quality accommodation with half-board, luggage transfer between each stage, a detailed route book with maps and stage descriptions, and our support throughout your walk. Whether you want to walk the full 380 kilometres from Geneva to Le Puy-en-Velay, or just one section to start with, we can create a tailor-made itinerary adapted to your needs.
From Le Puy-en-Velay, many walkers choose to continue on the Via Podiensis towards Saint-Jean-Pied-de-Port and then on to Santiago de Compostela via the Camino Francés. You can also explore our other walking holidays in France, including the Stevenson Trail and the Massif du Sancy, both of which start near Le Puy-en-Velay.
Why choose Walks in France ?
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35 years of experience
An human-scale agency
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