Mieussy (; frp, Myeûfi) is a

commune A commune is an alternative term for an intentional community. Commune or comună or comune or other derivations may also refer to: Administrative-territorial entities * Commune (administrative division), a municipality or township ** Communes of ...

in the

Haute-Savoie Haute-Savoie (; Arpitan: ''Savouè d'Amont'' or ''Hiôta-Savouè''; en, Upper Savoy) or '; it, Alta Savoia. is a department in the Auvergne-Rhône-Alpes region of Southeastern France, bordering both Switzerland and Italy. Its prefecture is Ann ...

department in the Auvergne-Rhône-Alpes

region of France France is divided into eighteen administrative regions (french: régions, singular ), of which thirteen are located in metropolitan France (in Europe), while the other five are overseas regions (not to be confused with the overseas collec ...

. It is a traditional Alpine

farming Agriculture or farming is the practice of cultivating plants and livestock. Agriculture was the key development in the rise of sedentary human civilization, whereby farming of domesticated species created food surpluses that enabled peopl ...

village A village is a clustered human settlement or community, larger than a hamlet but smaller than a town (although the word is often used to describe both hamlets and smaller towns), with a population typically ranging from a few hundred ...

in the Vallée du Giffre, around 35 kilometers east of

Geneva , neighboring_municipalities= Carouge, Chêne-Bougeries, Cologny, Lancy, Grand-Saconnex, Pregny-Chambésy, Vernier, Veyrier , website = https://www.geneve.ch/ Geneva ( ; french: Genève ) frp, Genèva ; german: link=no, Genf ; it, Ginevr ...

. The area is known for its scenic views, skiing, and local foods. It is host to the "Foire d' Automne", a harvest festival which runs for two days in October.

Winter skiing

Mieussy has its own high-altitude

ski resort A ski resort is a resort developed for skiing, snowboarding, and other winter sports. In Europe, most ski resorts are towns or villages in or adjacent to a ski area – a mountainous area with pistes (ski trails) and a ski lift system. In Nort ...

, Sommand, starting at and with of downhill runs suitable for all levels. This is integrated over and around the surrounding mountains to the neighboring ski resort of Praz de Lys. Sommand is noted for its varied landscape of forests and open panoramic views. It has almost none of the over development and mass tourism infrastructure characterised by many nearby resorts. This is due to the area being a protected nature reserve which allows only low impact sustainable development. Its focus is on providing a family friendly resort while leaving other resorts, like

Les Gets Les Gets () is a Communes of France, commune in the Haute-Savoie Departments of France, department in the Auvergne-Rhône-Alpes Regions of France, region in south-eastern France. The village's first single-person chair lift was opened in 1938 wi ...

Morzine Morzine (; frp, Morzena) is a commune in the Haute-Savoie department and Auvergne-Rhône-Alpes region of south-eastern France. A traditional market town in the heart of the Portes du Soleil, Morzine is dominated by chalets spread across a riv ...

and

Flaine Flaine is a ski area in the Haute Savoie region of the French Alps, and is a part of the linked Grand Massif domain. It is in the territory of the communes of Magland and Arâches-la-Frasse. Flaine is linked to Samoëns, Morillon, Les Carroz ...

to cater for the Northern European "

package holiday A package tour, package vacation, or package holiday comprises transport and accommodation advertised and sold together by a vendor known as a tour operator. Other services may be provided such as a rental car, activities or outings during the ho ...

" and "youth" market. Sommand is the closest major ski resort to

. It is a 25-minute drive to the end of the

valley A valley is an elongated low area often running between hills or mountains, which will typically contain a river or stream running from one end to the other. Most valleys are formed by erosion of the land surface by rivers or streams ove ...

and the start of Geneva district. Its high altitude starting point and the Mont Blanc area micro-climate gives it better snow quality and quantity that many other resorts. It is also noted for its cross country skiing trails, with of tracked runs, including the Col du Ramaz. The U23 World Championship Cross Country Skiing was held here in 2008.

Summer

Mieussy has one of the largest commune areas with many traditional chalet farm

hamlets A hamlet is a human settlement that is smaller than a town or village. Its size relative to a parish can depend on the administration and region. A hamlet may be considered to be a smaller settlement or subdivision or satellite entity to a lar ...

. These small

rural In general, a rural area or a countryside is a geographic area that is located outside towns and cities. Typical rural areas have a low population density and small settlements. Agricultural areas and areas with forestry typically are descri ...

farms continue the traditions with the passing of century, making a range of savoyard products, including reblochon. The Fruitiere in the village sells locally made farm produce, including reblochon. In the summer, maps of the surrounding hiking trails lead through meadows and forests up into the mountains and are available from the Mieussy tourist office. Each year the village is host to the traditional farmers harvest market, Mieussy "Foire d' Automne", when thousands spill into its streets to buy sweet chestnuts, fresh pressed apple juice, Savoyard meats and cheeses in a general celebration of the harvest. The festival runs for two days in October and is the largest authentic farmers festival in the region.

Paragliding

Mieussy became known as the birthplace of paragliding when in June 1978 three friends, Jean-Claude Bétemps, André Bohn, and Gérard Bosson, were inspired by an article on ‘slope soaring’ in the ''Parachute Manual'' magazine. They calculated that on a suitable slope, a square parachute could be inflated by running down a slope; Bétemps launched from Pointe du Pertuiset, Mieussy, and flew . Andre Bohn followed him and glided down to the football pitch in the valley below. ‘Parapente’ was born (pente being French for slope). A paragliding school and introductory tandem flights are offered by the Mieussy football pitch.

References

{{authority control − Communes of Haute-Savoie

Winter skiing

Summer

Paragliding

See also

References