Hiking - La Grotte Sarrazine - Thélis la Combe No. 2
Construction of the church, built with beautiful granite blocks, began in 1857 and was completed in 1860. On August 12 of that same year, Father Seytre, a missionary from Lyon, came to inaugurate it. The parish's patron saint is Mary. Inside, you can see a moving wooden Christ, sculpted by a local artist, and beautiful stained-glass windows.
The recent renovation (2001) brings a bright and charming feel to this church, which is crowned by a square bell tower topped with a Cross of Lorraine.
A sun-drenched walk on beautiful trails, with magnificent panoramic views of the Alps and the Pilat summits, through enchanting woodlands, culminating at the rock of the Grotte Sarrasinière and its legend.
· La Grotte Sarrazine.
Legend has it that long ago, a band of Saracens, who lived for about forty years in the land of the Segusiani around the year 725, made these rocks their dark fortress. They plundered and ravaged the surrounding countryside until the day Charles Martel annihilated them.
These rocks then took the name Grotte Sarrasinière.
Leave the village by taking the stairs, continue straight past the statue to reach the D 29.1. Take it to the left until you reach the D29 departmental road. Turn right towards Croix de Chaubouret, and immediately left onto the paved road that leads to La Versanne via La Côte.
Go through several hairpin turns; note a farm campsite above the road and a rest area at the locality known as "la Côte".
Take the path on the right after the rest area (this is the GR42, marked with white and red blazes), continue to the intersection with another path, leave the GR42 and continue straight for 1 km along a fence to arrive at "la Croix Fayard".
Access to the Grotte Sarrazine is possible here (private property). Go over the summit, descend to the flat area, go around to the left to reach the foot of the rocks (caution: danger, risk of falling) and discover the cave.
From la Croix Fayard, take the path that goes down to the left of the house for about 15 m, then turn right to reach a road at the entrance to the hamlet of "Champet" (a rest area is 50 m to your left). Turn right, passing between the houses of the hamlet, and continue on this path to the semi-underground reservoir. Then, through the woods, follow the old road that gently descends to the RD 29.
Continue your descent and after 100 m on the RD 29, take the path on your left towards "Le Crozet" (a hamlet overlooking the village of Thélis-la-Combe). After about 200 m, take a path on the right before this hamlet to arrive back in the village center.
⚠️ Warning: This is a busy road with heavy traffic, please be careful.
Everyone is responsible for their own safety. Therefore, you hike at your own risk. Please stay on the marked trails to protect fragile environments.
A few recommendations:
- Check the weather forecast before you leave
- Some routes cross busy roads: Be careful
- Keep dogs on a leash
- Do not light fires
- Carry out your trash
- Enjoy the flowers, but do not pick them.
- Tick bites can lead to serious diseases; for prevention: wear long clothing, use repellents, check your body upon return, remove ticks with a tick remover tool without applying anything to them, and consult a doctor in case of redness, flu-like symptoms, or if you are in an at-risk group.
- For emergency services, dial 18 or 112.