From the Viaduct to Dessy

The viaduct of Mieussy was built in 1931, it is 126 meters long, and has a central 24 meters arc. The maximal height is 20 meters. Before, it allowed the passage of a train connecting Annemasse and six.In 1891, a railroad line was opened between Annemasse and Samoëns, serving most of the valley's communes. At the time, the 49-kilometer route could be covered in three hours by steam streetcar, twice as fast as by stagecoach. In 1933, the line was electrified and extended as far as Sixt-Fer-à-Cheval, providing a complete service to the valley. This modernization led to a significant increase in ridership. In winter, the line was used extensively by the people of Geneva, who could take it from Annemasse to reach the mountains and even go skiing. Railway workers were faced with tough working conditions to clear the snow from the tracks. Despite this, in 1946 the section between Saint-Jeoire and Marignier was closed, and ridership continued to fall over the years. In 1959, the line finally closed for good, as the work required to renovate it could not be financed. Since then, the line has been operated by bus. At Mieussy, a 126-meter-long viaduct built in 1931 remains. Forbidden to motorized vehicles, it can only be used on foot or by bicycle.

The Pont du Diable is the smallest bridge crossing the Giffre. From this emblematic bridge in Mieussy, you can enjoy a bird's-eye view of the gorge. Under the bridge, the gorge is 4 metres wide and 9 metres deep.It is ideal for canyoning, kayaking and fishing.

The Gorges du Giffre, at the Pont du Diable, is a highly aesthetic canyon, which produces extraordinary light when the sun is in the right direction. These mythical gorges are steep-sided with a rather horizontal profile.The geological formation of the Gorges du Giffre is formed by a lock, known as a glacial cluse. In the lower valley, the limestone folds are oriented perpendicular to the valley axis. In the Quaternary era, these limestones offered greater resistance to erosion by the glacier. The glacier was only able to punctually carve through the layers. The kettles were dug out later, by repeated movements of water and pebbles.

Passing by the Viaduct, you can descend to the Pont du Diable, where you'll find this grotto dedicated to the Virgin Mary.The grotto was blessed on October 6, 1940. The statue of Notre Dame de Lourdes was carried in procession from the church. It was erected in thanksgiving to Our Lady for her protection of the parish against the bombardments and for the Mieusserand soldiers. On August 15, parishioners go to pray at the grotto, where the Assumption mass is sometimes celebrated.