Cluses is located in the Arve valley, it is part of the Bonneville district and is the capital of the Cluses canton. Its 18,000 inhabitants are called Clusiens and Clusiennes. This city is in Haute-Savoie, a worthy representative of French precision engineering.
Geographical situation
Perched at an altitude between 470 meters and 1175 meters, the city of Cluses extends over more than 1000 hectares. Cluses is located 45 km from Geneva and Chamonix, 65 km from Annecy and 39 km from Annemasse. The neighboring municipalities of Cluses are: Saint-Sigismond, Châtillon-sur-Cluses, Scionzier, Nancy-sur-Cluses, Magland, Thyez, and Arâches-la-Frasse.
The city is crossed by the Arve river (of the same name as the valley) and is twinned with the cities of Trossingen in Germany and Beaverton in the United States.
History and heritage of Cluses
Cluses remained a small town of 800 inhabitants during the Middle Ages. The climate and wars hindered its expansion. Around 1715, the city began its watchmaking activity by producing parts for manufacturers in Geneva. This was a way for the population to diversify their income and avoid leaving the region. With the 20th century, precision engineering developed, increasing opportunities: aeronautics, automotive, armaments, telecommunications. The population grew significantly, and new neighborhoods were built for newcomers.
Today, it is the high-precision mechanical industry that attracts new clients. A heritage trail is offered with 14 panels scattered throughout the city to better understand this industrial heritage.
Cultural facilities
The city offers numerous facilities for culture and performances.
The Atelier Media Library
With more than 42,000 documents available, the multimedia space has computer stations to consult and write your CVs. Throughout the year, activities are available for both young and old.
Cinema Cinétoiles
Supported by an association, this art and essay cinema is located in the heart of Cluses in the Espace des Allobroges. Films are screened on Tuesdays and Wednesdays. One Wednesday a month, the young audience benefits from a screening. Prices are under €6 per ticket.
The Allobroges Theater
This municipal facility offers around twenty eclectic and quality performances from October to May. It is a highlight of the cultural season. People with reduced mobility are also welcome with adapted facilities. If you enjoy theater, you can attend beautiful performances in Annecy at Bonlieu Scène Nationale.
The Atelier
This public facility is a concert hall that offers current music for young people. It is open from October to June. The programming is of high quality, and along with Brise Glace in Annecy, it is a reference for amplified music. A soundproofed and equipped rehearsal studio is available for groups, called the Labo.
Watchmaking and Precision Engineering Museum
The city experienced significant growth due to these two industries. You can see the collections from the former national watchmaking school of Cluses. Guided tours are organized, as well as activities and temporary exhibitions. You can admire numerous French and English pocket watches, as well as complex chronometers to make.
Recently, while reorganizing a display case in the museum, the mediator discovered very rare watches in the collection of students from the national watchmaking school. The most valuable watch is a gold pocket watch. It is equipped with a chronograph with a tourbillon escapement. It was assembled by the watchmaker Abraham Louis Breguet in 1800. This mechanism remained the most accurate until the 1970s with the advent of quartz watches.
The Music, Dance, and Theater School of Cluses
This artistic education establishment offers initiation to dance, theater, and music.
Cultural events
- The Urban’Art Festival: It takes place in October, it is an opportunity for young people to reconnect with their culture through double dutch workshops (jump rope hip hop style), slam workshops, graffiti workshops, and a streetball tournament.
- The Images & Snow Festival: This is an international festival that showcases photographs taken in extreme cold environments. Photographers must know specific techniques for this exercise. It takes place every year on the third weekend of January at the Esserts forecourt.
- The Miam Street Food Festival: This innovative event takes place every year during the first half of September. This Street Food Festival aims to share the pleasure of eating local ingredients sourced from short supply chains, prepared in an artisanal way. This event takes place every year in the Arve valley. It is an opportunity to discover the cuisine of street food artisans, new cooks, and also recognized bistros. Chefs present their creations in food trucks scattered throughout the urban space. The social link allows people to eat together while celebrating good living together. For the 2020 edition, the festival hosted 15 local producers and 10 food trucks.
Best-rated hotels
Depending on your budget, we have selected five hotels in Cluses that offer excellent value for money and receive very good customer reviews:
The Originals City, Hôtel du Faucigny
Located at the gates of Cluses, this hotel has large spacious rooms and an outdoor pool. A buffet breakfast is served daily in the common room. The ski resort of Carroz is 16 km away by car.
From €80 per night.
Hôtel National
This establishment is well located 800 m from Cluses train station and 1 km from the A 40 motorway. The rooms are well equipped. You can reach the Carroz ski resort in 20 minutes by car. The Flaine and Chamonix resorts are 30 km from the hotel.
From €84 per night.
Hôtel 4C
A good location for this establishment which is 2 km from Cluses train station and 10 km from the ski slopes of the Grand Massif. According to reviews, the restaurant offers excellent local cuisine prepared with fresh local products. The balconies have a beautiful view of the massif.
From €90 per night.
There is also an unusual accommodation where you can sleep in a Wapi lodge!
Hôtel Restaurant Le Bois du Seigneur
Close to Cluses and the winter sports resorts, this hotel is decorated in Savoyard style. You can practice many sports activities nearby such as skiing, cycling, hiking, paragliding, and rafting to enjoy the nature of the Alps.
From €80 per night.
Hôtel-Spa Le Morillon Charme & Caractère
In the village of Morillon, near Cluses, this establishment is located 200 m from the cable car and a 7-minute walk from the Blue Lake beach. It has a jacuzzi, sauna, hammam, and heated pool. You can practice horseback riding, tennis, and hiking nearby.
From €110 per night.
Sports in Cluses
The main sports facilities are three:
- The aquatic center: for swimming, relaxation, and family leisure with a large pool, a comfort pool equipped with a ramp, a paddling pool, a giant slide, a solarium, and a beach volleyball court.
- The Sports Club: this association is the interface between the town hall and sports clubs. You can contact this service to find out about the sport that interests you.
- Sports trails: these four routes of 4.5 km to 10 km allow for running in the city.
Unusual activities
The Balme canyon located in Magland is an ideal spot for families and children to discover canyoning. The river is suitable and accessible for descending natural slides. Your guide will accompany you, especially for safe rappelling descents.
At the foot of Mont Bargy, the Montain E-Park allows you to ride an electric cross bike in a preserved natural landscape. The size of the small bikes is suitable for children who can ride them from the age of 6. The session lasts 15 minutes.
On the Agy plateau, an experienced musher will teach you to drive a dog sled. If you choose a two-day raid, you will be fully immersed in a northern universe with harness preparation and dog feeding.
School groups
For the youngest, requests are centralized at the House of Early Childhood, located at 335 avenue du Noiret. The city has six primary schools (nursery and elementary) and one private school. There are two colleges and three public and private high schools in Cluses.
Markets of Cluses
Two markets are held each week in this city of Haute-Savoie. They offer quality fresh products and local specialties.
- The market in downtown Cluses takes place every Monday from 8 am (7:30 am in summer) to 2 pm, located at: Place Charles de Gaulle.
- The Thursday market is held on Rue Joseph Depoisier in the Sardagne district, next to the Saint-Jean-Marie-Vianney church until 1:30 pm.
Public transport
The city of Cluses in Haute-Savoie offers:
- An urban bus network that has been extending since 2017 to the towns of Marignier, Thiez, Marnaz, and Scionzier. The five bus lines run from 7 AM to 8:30 PM from Monday to Saturday. Buses pass every 30 minutes during peak hours and every hour during off-peak hours. Bus stops are available every 300 meters.
Price: ticket at €1, booklet of 10 for €8.50, monthly subscription at €15, and annual at €150. - A shuttle network to nearby ski resorts (Flaine and Les Carroz) called “Skibus” allows vacationers to visit the city of Cluses.
Town Hall
The Town Hall of Cluses is located at Place Charles de Gaulle.
Official website of the Town Hall of Cluses
Hours:
- Monday to Friday: 8:30 AM – 12 PM / 1:30 PM – 5:30 PM
- Except Thursday: 1:30 PM – 5:30 PM (closed in the morning)
- Saturday: 9 AM – 12 PM
Photos
View of Cluses from the Chevran peak
Cluses in the center of the Arve valley – Click to enlarge
