Bienvenue a Abondance, a teeny-tiny traditional French Alpine village. It can offer you breathtaking mountain views, delicious regional Abondance cheese, a rich cultural heritage, and many outdoor activities regardless of the season. To be honest, there aren’t a lot of things to do there – but those that Abondance can offer are totally worth a visit. Sounds good? Keep reading and we’ll show you what to do in Abondance village in France.
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Abondance, France FAQ
Abondance is located in eastern France in the Haute-Savoie department in the Auvergne-Rhône-Alpes region. The village can be found in the Vallee D’Abondance, in the Northern French Alps, in close proximity to the Switzerland border and to Lake Geneva. All of that makes Abondance a great place to stay for a few days and slowly discover the area.
Abondance gave its name to a popular and very delicious Abondance cheese that is made from the milk of the cattle living in Vallee D’Abondance. Besides that, Abondance is known for breathtaking views and many outdoor activities.
Yes, Abondance is definitely worth visiting. It’s a small yet super charming Alpine village. There, depending on the season, you can practice outdoor activities like hiking, cycling, skiing, or snowboarding. Or you can just visit to escape from the hustle and bustle of the city and just relax in the picturesque scenery.
Abondance village sits on an altitude of 920m a.s.l.
If you are a winter sports enthusiast – you should definitely visit Abondance during winter months. But if you prefer activities like hiking or cycling – warmer months will be much better.
What to do In Abondance, an Alpine village in France?
Without a doubt, three things will dominate your visit to Abondance: mountain landscapes, traditional Alpine architecture, and outdoor activities.
What does Abondance village look like?
Abondance is a small and quiet village with one main street, and only a few restaurants, cafes, shops, or hotels. Every Sunday morning a traditional market takes place in the parking on the main street.
Église Notre Dame d’Abondance & Abbaye d’Abondance
While wandering in Abondance village, sooner rather than later you’ll get to Abondance church, Église Notre Dame d’Abondance, and Abbaye d’Abondance which is located right next to it. Abbaye d’Abondance is a small cloister that was founded around the 12th century by monks from the Abbey of Saint-Maurice d’Agaune. Inside you’ll be able to admire wall paintings from the 15th century, depicting the life of the Virgin. In 1875 the abbey was classified as a Historical Monument.
Entrance to the Église Notre Dame d’Abondance church is free. Entrance to the Abbaye d’Abondance cloister costs €5 for adults and €4 for children (November 2023). You can also buy a combined ticket with Maison du Fromage Abondance (where you’ll learn about the whole process of making the cheese) for €7.5. For more information and opening hours visit ete.abondance-tourisme.com website.
Summer in Abondance – hiking & cycling
Summertime in Abondance is perfect for hiking or cycling lovers. If you are one of them, you can choose from many foot trails and cycling routes near Abondance. On alltrails.com you can check out foot trails, and on komoot.com cycling routes. Keep reading and we’ll recommend to you the one we did, and totally loved it.
Winter in Abondance – Ski resort
On the other hand, winter is perfect for skiing lovers. Abondance is part of Portes du Soleil – a very popular French-Swiss ski domain. The L’Essert, Abondance ski resort, can offer you about 17km of slopes, between 930-1730m. There are 14 runs available (4 green, 8 blue, 1 red, and 1 black), perfect for both beginners and experienced skiers. If you’re interested in learning more check out the Abondance website.
No matter in which season you’ll visit – get ready to enjoy spectacular views of the Alps.
The trail around Abondance Village – our recommendation
As you already know, there are many hiking trails in Abondance. We chose one that seemed the best option for us at that time, but also changed it a little, matching our needs. We don’t know if it was the best one we could do, but we really enjoyed it as almost all the time it offered stunning views over the Alps, Abondance valley and village.
Below you can check out the map of the trail we took. It took us about 6 hours, it wasn’t difficult nor very exhausting. From L’encrenaz, the route is well-signed but at the beginning, you’ll need a map so you won’t get lost.
Abondance cheese & cows
Finally, one more interesting piece of information: Abondance is not only the name of the village but also of a type of cheese that is made in the region, and the name of the breed of cows from which milk the cheese is made. There are many Abondance Cheese sellers in the area so be sure to sample it while in Haute-Savoie.
How to get to Abondance, France?
Abondance is located about 27km from Thonon-les-Bains or Evian-Les-Bains, 60km from Geneva, 90km from Chamonix, and 100km from Annecy. The most convenient way to get to Abondance is by car, either yours or rental.
Where to park in Abondance?
There’s a small free parking lot available at the foot of the Abondance cable car station. There’s also a parking lot on the main street, opposite Café Tabac de la Place.
Airports near Abondance
The closest airports to Abondance are in Geneva, Switzerland (100km away) and Lyon (230km away). Unfortunately, there are no direct connections from them to the village. To check available options please visit rome2rio.com website.
To Abondance by bus
You can get to Abondance by bus from Thonon-Les Bains. To learn more about your options and schedule visit ete.abondance-tourisme.com website.
To Abondance by train
Unfortunately, there is no train station in Abondance. The closest ones are located in towns like Evian-Les-Bains or Thonon-Les-Bains (about 40km away). Then you can take a bus from Thonon or a taxi from either of them to Abondance.
To Abondance by taxi
From any place in the area, you can also arrive at Abondance by taxi. For example, a trip from Evian-Les-Bains will take 30min (€60-75) and only 15min from Chatel (€27-32). To check the connections that interest you please visit rome2rio.com website.
Abondance camping
If you’re traveling by camper, Aire de campingcar might interest you. It’s located in Abondance village.
What to do in Abondance, an Alpine village in France – Summing up
Despite the fact that Abondance is a very small village and there are only a few things to do, it’s definitely a place worth visiting while in Haute-Savoie. Will you give it a chance? We hope so! If you are an active person you definitely won’t be disappointed with your visit. Just take your hiking shoes, bike, or ski. You don’t like sports and just need to chill? You’ll be pleased with Abondance too.
Our opinion about Abondance
For us, a visit to Abondance was a day trip from Thonon-Les-Bains where we lived for a few weeks. We managed to combine our trip with a visit to another Alpine village nearby, Chatel. We visited the village in late May and it was extremely quiet back then. There were only a few other tourists on the village streets and a few cyclists/hikers on the trail.
Our main goal was to do a hike around the village and that’s exactly what we did. We loved the trail, the views, the surroundings, the peace. It was a perfect day. We’re sure all hiking lovers will appreciate these beautiful surroundings. As for the village – we also found it very pleasant with charming traditional Alpine buildings.
Restaurants, accommodations, and map
Check out various recommended places below.
Where to eat in Abondance?
Here are your best, high-rated options in Abondance:
Where to sleep in Abondance?
Les Cornettes
Les Cornettes is a charming mountain hotel located in the French Alps, offering stunning views of the surrounding landscape. With comfortable rooms, delicious cuisine, and easy access to outdoor activities, it's the perfect retreat for those seeking a peaceful and active getaway.
Terra-Beka Lodge
Terra-Beka Lodge is a cozy mountain retreat located in the heart of Abondance. The lodge offers comfortable accommodation with stunning mountain views, delicious homemade cuisine, and a warm and welcoming atmosphere.
Hotel Le Ferraillon
Hotel Le Ferraillon is a charming alpine-style hotel located in the heart of the Abondance Valley, surrounded by beautiful mountain scenery. The hotel offers cozy rooms, a restaurant serving delicious regional cuisine, and easy access to skiing, hiking, and other outdoor activities.
Accommodations photos source: booking.com
