The town of La Roche-sur-Foron is located in Haute-Savoie in the Auvergne-Rhรดne-Alpes region. With a population of 11,175 inhabitants, it is part of the cross-border agglomeration of Greater Geneva. This municipality is situated at the crossroads of the Arve valley, 20 km from Annecy and also 20 km from Geneva. Its altitude is 545 meters.
History and heritage
The site of La Roche-sur-Foron has hosted fortified habitats since prehistoric times. Subsequently, the Burgundians occupied the area. La Roche was the capital of the County of Geneva during the 11th and 13th centuries. Schools run by religious figures welcomed renowned students such as Guillaume Fichet, who was instrumental in the development of printing in France, as well as Saint Pierre Favre and Saint Franรงois de Sales, Bishop of Geneva. The name La Roche comes from the family of lords Louis and Anselme de La Roche.
You can admire the beautiful house Boniface de la Grange, which features a bulbous bell tower with a classified historic organ. A visit to the center allows you to see 16th-century houses with colorful facades. The town hall and the Grenette, dating from the 19th century, are in neoclassical style. The Bรฉnite Fontaine, located 1 km away, is a pilgrimage site with a neo-Gothic chapel and a stream nearby.
The highlight of the visit is the Tower of the Tales of Geneva, the last vestige of the fortress. The tower is attached to a block of rock from a glacier. You will need to climb 137 steps to discover a panoramic view from the Swiss Jura to the French Alps. The tower is open for visits from May to September (price: โฌ2 and โฌ1 for children aged 6 to 16). The medieval city of La Roche-sur-Foron is a sought-after tourist destination.
In 1885, the city was the first to have public lighting before Paris, London, and Berlin. Renowned artisans are present in the town: the luthiers of the Quatuor de l’atelier Martinier, the archery lutherie of the atelier Saumagne, and a pottery in รteaux.
The best-rated hotels
Depending on your budget, we have selected three hotels in La Roche-sur-Foron that offer excellent value for money and receive very good customer reviews:
Les Afforรชts
This 3-star hotel is located in the heart of the medieval town and allows you to carry out most of the visits we propose on this page. The rooms are spacious and well-equipped. Breakfast is served in the form of a buffet.
From โฌ89 per night.
Hรดtel le Foron
The establishment is located near the city center and opposite the exhibition park where the RocheExpo fair is held every year. You can enjoy the pool and the garden. A nearby partner restaurant allows you to have your meals.
From โฌ76 per night.
Rรฉsidence Le Panoramic
This establishment offers an apartment located on the heights of the town. You have two bedrooms, a kitchen equipped with a dishwasher, microwave, washing machine, refrigerator, and an oven. A good starting point to discover the medieval city.
From โฌ90 per night.
Cultural facilities
The town of La Roche-sur-Foron has many public cultural facilities.
Le Chรขteau de l’Echelle
This historic building belongs to the municipality, which uses it to host cultural exhibitions with painters, plastic artists, and musicians presenting their creations.
Address: 100 rue du Collรจge du Plain Chรขteau.
Le cinรฉma Le Parc
This Art and Essay classified hall is managed by the MJC and animated by a team of volunteers who offer 150 films per year and debates around cinema. Several festivals are organized: Vertical Vertige dedicated to mountain films, Jeunes Z’O Parc for children, and Rรฉcrรฉ O Cinรฉ for the little ones.
The media library
It is located at 4 rue du Collรจge and allows borrowing of numerous books, CDs, and DVDs. It regularly organizes activities.
- The Music School: located at 70 rue de l’รgalitรฉ, it offers teaching in 13 disciplines. Public concerts are frequently organized.
- The House of Youth and Culture: this is the social center of the Roche country located at 287 avenue Jean Jaurรจs. It is the place for many activities aimed at young audiences.
Sports facilities
Through sports practice, the municipality offers many quality facilities:
The aquatic area of Foron
With 5 outdoor pools, one of which is equipped with a cover, it includes: a 25 m pool, a children’s learning pool, a semi-open pool, a paddling pool, a water slide, a lawn, a playground, a volleyball court, and a bar.
- The Bruine sports complex: it consists of a gymnasium, four rooms specialized in judo, boxing, table tennis, and climbing. About ten sports associations offer training sessions and competitions.
- The Pays Rochois gymnasium: located on rue des Marmontaines, it is used by schools and sports clubs.
- The Jean Moรซnne sports park: allows practicing athletics, handball, and basketball.
- The Jean Moรซnne football field: grass for local clubs.
- Various sports facilities: The Roche tennis club with 5 courts open to tourists in summer, the city stadiums of La Balme and Les Capucins, and a 348 mยฒ petanque court.
Education
Two multi-reception centers are intended for children from 2 months to 3 years: Pom-Canaille and Rock-cลur. They aim for the awakening and development of the child.
The town has 3 nursery schools, 4 elementary schools, 2 colleges, and two high schools, one of which is agricultural.
Children aged 12 to 17 can benefit from leisure reception throughout the year. Various activities, trips, and outings are organized. The youth center located at 200 rue Perrine is open to young people on Wednesday afternoons.
For the younger ones aged 3 to 12, the Pays Rochois leisure center is open on Wednesdays and during school holidays.
Activity ideas
For tourists visiting this authentic city, we offer some activity ideas during your vacation:
- The guided tour: Discovering 1,000 years of history, accompanied by a heritage guide to visit the monuments and understand the history of the town. Registration at the tourist office.
- The narrated and animated night visits: With two fairies and the ancient fencing company l’รpรฉe de Savoie. Dates: July 22, August 12, and September 2. Meeting in front of the tourist office.
- The treasure hunt: โIn search of the lost signsโ Accompanied by a heritage guide, you must find signs of artisans and merchants in the town and discover a treasure at the top of the Tower of the Tales of Geneva. Costume rental and souvenir gift included. Every Wednesday in July and August, departure and registration in front of the tourist office.
- The marked trails of Pays Rochois: You can buy a topoguide at the tourist office for โฌ2. It will allow you to explore the 9 hiking trails of the canton that last from 1 to 4 hours of walking.
- The Climb of Pays Rochois: On the last Sunday of September, this foot race for walkers and runners offers a height difference of 900 meters over 10 km.
- The Chรขtelet Mill in Cornier: It is located 6 km from La Roche-sur-Foron in the municipality of Cornier, at the place called Le Chรขtelet. Every spring, the miller continues to turn his wheel to produce excellent walnut oil. It was built between the 17th and 18th centuries. The exterior visit allows you to see the two waterwheels activated by the water from a small pond. Originally, the mill produced flour and was also used as a sawmill.
The International Fair Haute-Savoie Mont-Blanc
This annual fair has been organized since 1925 between late April and early May for about ten days. Nearly 100,000 visitors have access to over 500 exhibitors, making it the 8th fair in France. It is the site of Rochexpo that has hosted this event since 1970. Each year, the International Fair Haute-Savoie Mont-Blanc chooses a guest of honor, often a country.
Market in La Roche-sur-Foron
The Thursday morning market is held year-round from 7:30 AM to 12:30 PM in the city center. It brings together more than 150 mobile merchants who offer local food products and manufactured goods. This traditional market has existed for several centuries.
Address: Place d’Andrevetan.
Town Hall
Address: 1 place de l’Hรดtel de Ville, 74800 La Roche-sur-Foron
Tel: 04 50 25 90 00
Hours: Monday to Friday from 8:30 AM to 12 PM and from 2 PM to 5 PM (closing at 4 PM on Fridays).
Tourist Office
Address: 1 place d’Andrevetan, 74800 La Roche-sur-Foron
Tel.: 04 50 03 36 68
Official website: larochesurforon.com
