 Center for group holidays and school trips Le Chinaillon 74450 - Le Grand-Bornand France |
 |
Nationally approved by the Ministery of Sports, Youth and Education Tel:334.50.27.01.05 contact@les-rhododendrons.com |
| Our village offers a varied choice of educational and sports activities,
such as hiking, mountain biking, rock climbing, archery, tennis, golf,
crazy-golf and many others. Click here to see the rates for these various activities.. Look through the following pages to see all that we have on offer. SPORT ACTIVITIES IN THE GRAND-BORNAND High altitude mountain guides:
Lower mountain guides:
Go for cross-country bike trecks or hikes with our guides, and discover hidden mossy undergrowth, an ancient Roman bridge, wild streams, the sweet scent of mushrooms, a fox trailand and many other delightful surprises.
Basic rules for mountaineers: - Close gates after you, do not climb over fences, do not trample over pasture lands...although you may think that is only grass, these pastures provide the vast majority of the cow's diet! So please, keep to the pathways whether you are cycling or walking. - Do not disturb wild animals or grazing herbs and do not play in the water troughs. - Please respect the streams and ponds: avoid churning up the mud and overturning stones and rocks in the water. Countless species live in these environments. - Watch, observe,, take photographs, but please do not interfere with the flora and fauna of this beautiful area.
Rafting, canoe-rafting and hydrospeed:
You will need some means of transport for these activities as they take place on Le Griffre river. You will need to go to Samoëns, approximately 11/4 hours from the chalet. Our lower mountain guides can accompagny you for these activities. Hydrospeed consists of swimming down a river dressed with flippers and a special weksuit.
Forest adventure park:
"La Forêt des Dodes" is a new activity this year in Grand-Bornand. There are two circuits.One, called the "discovery circuit" takes approximately 1 1/2 hours for adults and children ( over 1m10). You are securely under the supervision of an expert. The second circuit, called the "long circuit", takes approximately 2 1/2 hours, and only those over 1m40 may take part. Excitement and adrenaline guaranteed!
Archery: Our friend Christian , a qualified archer, and his wife Dominique will welcome you to their stand and help you to school your arrow straight and score a bullseye! Christian is a Nationally qualified instructor and offers archery courses. website: http://tiralarc-grandbornand.com Tennis: There are 2 tennis courts in Chinaillon and 4 in Grand-Bornand. You can take tennis lessons with qualified instructors. Trampolines and other acrobatics activities: These activities are in Grand-Bornand and you can jump to your hearth's content: trampolines, cages, bungee jumping, bouncy castles, competition trampolines. You can take beginner's lessons or perfect your skills with expert instructors. Golf: There is a professionally approved 9 hole golf course in Grand-Bornand. A golf instructor is on hand for lessons ( children from 7-8 years) or you can simply spend an hour or two of fun going round the course. If you want any advice, Marc can teach you the basics. After that, it's up to you to try to hit the ball futher than anyone else and putt into the hole with less strokes than anyone else!
Paraglinding: This activity have an important place in our resort. Several different schools offer beginner'sflights with an instructot or lessons for all levels. Chair-lifts: You can reach the summit of the Mont Lachat by chair-lift, at an altitude of 2100m. From there you can enjoy a spectacular panoramic view of mountains peaks, the Mont-Blanc and beautiful valleys. You can walk back down to Grand-Bornand or ride down with a mountain bike, or even take the Rosay cable car witch leaves from the bottom of the Lachat chair-lift. Beautiful walks guaranteed! Crazy-golf: There is a crazy-golf course in Chinaillon and one in Grand-Bornand. Fun for all the family! Swimming-pool: Of course there is our chalet swimming-pool, but if you prefer to have a life-guard, or if you want to spend a whole day or afternoon in the swimming-pool, you will find that the Grand-Bornand swimming-pool has much more to offer. It has large swimming-pool, a fun pool, with fountain, a jacuzzi, a flume, a counter-current, several garden areas , etc... The Rosay Ranch: The "Ranch du Rosay", offering horse and pony rides, is situated in the Chinaillon and is accessible on foot, by bus or even by cable car, as the ranch is at the top of the Rosay cable car. You can take the cable car from Grand-Bornand.We offer beginner's rides and there is also a fun obstacle course. Contemplate the mountain scenery from horseback...an unforgettable experience! Emilien: 06 86 63 16 49 CHAMONIX Special school's offer for 2006 (valid from the 1st of december to the 30th of novembre 2006) Special educational trip including the Montenvers Train and the Mer de Glace. glacier. This trip includes the return train journey from Chamonix to Montenvers(1913m), the return trip down to the glacier by cable-car, free entrance to the Ice Cave, the Alpine Fauna Museum, the Cristal Gallery, and the 2 theme pathways in Montenvers:"iscovery of the railway" and"Rendez-vous in Montenvers". This trip is for ages 4 to 15 years and coasts 10 € per person for evryone taking part. There should be an accompanying adult for every 8 children. All sites have been approved by the Haute-Savoie Education Authority. For other informations visit our website: http://sorties.edres74.ac-grenoble.fr Nicolas PUGNAT: 04 50 53 14 14 Fax: 04 50 53 92 44 mail: nicolas.pugnat@compagniedumontblanc.fr website: www.compagniedumontblanc.fr
ARVE VALLEY:
CLUSES:The Museum of clock-making and precision instruments. Learn all about clock-making and how it evolued through the ages, from the Renaissance, 5 centuries ago, up until today. Learn all about the history of watches and how they work. An important collection of scientific instruments such as navy chronometers, electric, clocks and other unusual objects are exhibited in the museum. You can also visit a precision-cutting workshop dating from the 1930's, that is still in daily use. Please contact our museum guides: Anne-Gaëlle and Carole at 04 50 89 13 02 , Fax: 04 50 96 46 99 , or our website: www.musee@cluses.com
ANNECY AND HIS AREA:
ANNECY: Visit the old town and its canals... Boat company offering cruises on the lake: Tel: 04 50 51 08 40 Fax: 04 50 51 80 94. website: www.annecy-croisieres.com mail: info@annecy-croisieres.com
LES GORGES DU FIER: The Fier gorges are situated in Lovagny, 10kms from Annecy. They became a recoguized tourist site in 1943. Access is by a footbridge, suspended 27 meters above the river, from where you can observe several giant cauldrons, an enormous geological fault, a sea of rocks and " La Roche aux Fées". Discover the impressive and picturesque results of river erosion along the Fier gorges. They are open to the public from 15th march to 15 october.
LA BALME DE SILLINGY: Discover the miniature port on the lake at la Balme de Sillingy, 14 kms from Annecy. Children can navigate on realistic miniature models of Mississipi paddle steamers, ferries, trawlers, etc... and explore the islands and the lake fauna. It's a unique opportunity to learn how to steer a boat ( electricity-powered) and how to manoeuvre saftely ( Life-jackets provided, circuit clearly marked out with buoys and professional supervision) Around the lake there is an adventure playground, ajogging circuit and shadu garden areas. Tel: 04 50 45 72 88 or 06 64 62 86 36
MENTHON SAINT-BERNARD: From may to september, you can visit the castle at Menthon Saint Bernard. This medieval fortress, birthplce of St Bernard, stands strategically above Lake Annecy. The castle was built by the Counts of Menthon in the 11th century and has been occupied ever since by a direct line of the same family. Beautifully conserved halls and rooms are open to the public.Tel: 04 50 60 12 05 Fax: 04 50 60 27 57
AROUND THE LAC LEMAN:
GENEVA:Museum, exhibitions, shows, Tel: 0041(1)22 418 64 00 website: www.ville-ge.ch/mhng
YVOIRE: Medieval village on the shores of Lac Leman
SCIEZ: ( near Thonon) : "LES AIGLES DU LEMAN": Trom 15th april to 15th septembre 2006, shows by 14 strentmen, 17 horses, chariot races, barbarian hordes ,Roman legions and gladiator fights. A mini-zoo with goats, donkeys, sheep, etc...and a roman village complete with tavern and tankards!You can also see demonstration shows of falconry, birds of prey,wolves, seals, sheep-dogs, etc... Group rates avaible 8 € for children between 4 and 14 years. ( 2006)
... AND MANY OTHER GOOD IDEAS UNDER THE HEADING"EDUCATIONAL ACTIVITIES"
The "Carte d'hôtes" : Visitor's card:
This personal, nominative, visitor's card will be given to you on arrival. The card entitles you to certain reductions and advantage the most important which is free access to the shuttle bus going down to Grand-Bornand and back. It will enable you to visit the wednesday morning market and all sorts of other activities taking place in the village.
The "Pass Loisirs Aravis" card:
This is a pre-paid card, on sale in the Tourist Offices of Chinaillon, Grand-Bornand, La Clusaz, Manigod, Saint Jean de Sixt and Thônes. Entrance fees for certain activities are cheaper with this card, but we advise you to enquire before hand. Certain group rates are cheaper with this card.
NATURAL HISTORY
As well as all the exciting activities on offer, don't forget the simplicity of all that nature can teach us! Summer in Grand-Bornand is the time for walks in the mountains(150 kms of marked trails) in search of unexpected encounters with the local fauna and flora. Don't forget your camera...the science lesson can begin!
|
|||
|
Local flora
  There are, in fact, hundreds of different kinds of flowers that await your discovery. Many are protected species and all are fragile, so please don't pick them! You can, however, savor the wild blueberries, blackberries and raspberries as long as you only pick what you can eat.   
... Willowherbs and foxgloves in summer.
Willowherb is a tall, graceful plant ( up to 2 meters tall) with a mass of small pink and purple flowers at the top of the stem. The foxglove's stem is coverd with dark pink, bell-shaped flowers but beware, this flower is poisonous! The best place to contemplate flowers is in the wild! And then there are the mountain forests with both deciduous and coniferous trees. You can find birch, ash,mountain ash, beech ( locally knows as "fayard") and also pines with their needles growing flat each side of the branch and epicea pins with needles all around the branch.
|
|||
|
Local fauna
   Along forest edges you migtht see woodgrouse and ptarmigan. The alpine have is a master of disguise with its white fur in winter and grey brown coat in summer. In the skies you can spot the choucard with its yellows beak, often mistaken for a jackdaw. If you are very fortunate you may even sight the magestic beardes " gypaetus barbus", the largest european bird ( 2m70 wingspan) of the vulture family. You can also often spot golden eagles gliding high above your heads...    
|
|||
|
Local geology The Bargy mountain range dominating the Chinaillon constitutes the southermost edge of the Bornesmountains, which themselves belong to the sub-alpine ranges. Although the fold structures in this range appear to be straightforward, they are in fact quite complex ,with numerous faults cutting into mesozoic (100 million years) and tertiary (40 million years) rocks. The main visible features derive from the 200 metres thick limestone layers, which form the distinctive cliffs wher the rock-climbing takes place.
The Aravis mountain range derives from a different sort of geological origin. Despite the fact that there is very little difference in altitude between the two ranges ( 2752m for the pointe percée as opposed to 2408m for the Jalouvre.) Many geologists include the Aravis range in the higher Alpine limestone structures, such as rhe Chablais or the Berne Oberland, rather than in the Lower Alps. One of the principal characteristics of this area is the presence of overfolding.Certain sedimentary layers have slipped down through gravity on top of other geological structures resulting in a series of rock layers, which, in fact, have the same age! This phenomenon of two identical strata occurring one above the other due to overfolding can be clearly sean at Areu (where the same limestone layer can be sean in the cliff base and then again at the summit) or at Quatre Têtes ( where the same layer of maim is both at the base and the summit). There is also an intersting mirror-like fault, cutting alonefotly the eastern edge of the Doigt ( the finger) of the Pointe Percée.
Some of the above information comes from "Escalades dans le massif des Bornes" By Jean Sesiano. |
They
will help you to discover the surrounding mountains whether it be by rock
climbing at La Culaz ( for beginners), rock climbing at Le Jalouvre ( Via
Ferrata), or mountain hiking where it is necessary to be roped up for some
difficult passages. As well as all this, why not try, your hand at canyoning
near the shores of Lac d'Annecy where you can abseile down steep mountain
streams or swim in rocky pools, etc...
Looking
for our activity that won't be too strenuous? The you rent an ARAPAHO to
ride down the Lachat mountain. When you reach the top of the ski lift at the
summit a 360° view spreads out infront of you. You will see the Mont-Blanc, the
Aravis mountain chain, where the Pointe Percée highestmountain of our area
stands at an altitude of 2752m. The mountain flanks ( ski slopes in winter) run
down and meet with the Maroly Valley on one side and with Le Chinaillon and
Grand-Bornand village, right down to Thônes on the other. The ARAPAHO is
a cross-country scooter with rough-riding tyres, ideal for downhill ride!
Snowdrops in spring, violets ................
