Hiking : La tête de la Mandallaz

This loop starts at the La Balme de Sillingy cemetery and takes in the fabulous Mandallaz massif, with its panoramic views over the Annecy basin.
The Mandallaz mountain is a pre-Alpine range separated to the north from the Salève by the Val des Usses and the Pont de la Caille. Easily visible from the surrounding villages, this itinerary takes you to the southern end of the mountain, overlooking La Balme de Sillingy.

A popular spot for caving, the area is home to numerous caves and underground cavities that trace the history of the massif, and you can discover some of the most remarkable on your walk: the Grotte du Curé, the Grotte du Maquis, which sheltered several resistance fighters during the Second World War, and the Grotte de Lesvaux, which in 1977 revealed the presence of skeletons dating back to Neolithic times.

Following this mostly wooded trail, you'll reach the 900-metre-high Tête de la Mandallaz, a superb viewpoint over Lake Annecy and the Annecy conurbation, the Alps and the Montagne d'Age opposite.