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Abondance

Visit Abondance (Rhone-Alpes, France)

Abondance is an attractive alpine village famous for its abbey. It is 30 km from the southern end  of Lac Leman and Evian les Bains. The drive to Abondance through superb scenery is absolutely fabulous. Even in September some snow tipped peaks could be seen.

Exploring Abondance

The village is in a splendid position with mountains all around. Its abbey sits perched on the hillside slightly above the town and below it the village stretches out along the banks of a mountain stream. The house in the village are in typical alpine style with steep rooves and largely wooden built.

Abondance sits at an altitude of 1000m and above it are the Mont de Grance mountains (2432m) and Mont Jorat (1830m) and the Pic de la Corne (2084).

The village of Abondance grew up after the Abbey of Abondance was built here in the 12th century. It is built in mountain Gothic style and inside are various artistic treasures including 15th century murals in the cloister, 19th century trompe de l'oeuil paintings in the abbey church.

The cloisters are particularly beautiful with their arches looking onto a small grass courtyard and the arches on the inner wall painted with really lovely 15th century murals. Painted cloister such as this are rare in France, though more common in Italy.  The church steeple has the attractive bulbous base which is common to this area. Be sure not to miss a visit to the Abbey if you are in the area.

Whilst in Abondance you can visit the Maison du Val d'Abondance which describes village life related to the cattle and the important cheese making industry. In the summer some of the villagers stay in the village to make hay for the cows to eat over winter. Meanwhile others go up the mountain with the cows and make the famous Abondance cheese. As winter approaches the cows are brought down to the village and stabled for the winter.The cheese is put into a cave to mature.

Inside the Maison du Val d'Abondance you can see a typical mountain chalet house, cheese making equipment and a display of cow bells. You can also look through a large window into the cave where hundreds of large cheeses are slowly maturing.

In the shop you can sample and buy cheese, as well as local apple juice and white Savoie wine.

Skiing in Abondance

Abondance is a skiing village in the winter and the telecabine sets off from the centre of the village to a range of pistes. Abondance is particulary suited to beginners and families. There is a free bus taking skiiers to other ski stations in the Portes du Soleil ski region.

Photos of Abondance

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Address: Abondance, Thonon-les-Bains, Haute-Savoie, Rhone-Alpes, 74360 || GPS: latitude 46.279722, longitude 6.722778

Map of Abondance & places nearby



 

Highlights close by

More suggestions: Yvoire 32km; Sallanches 39km;

See lots more places to visit nearby and a more detailed map at places near Abondance.
See Rhone-Alpes and Haute-Savoie (the region and department for Abondance) for more travel ideas...

Suggested tourist attractions to visit near Abondance, France

• Roc d'Enfer - site of natural beauty (13km)
• Jardin d'eau de pré curieux - remarkable garden (16km)
• Evian-les-Bains - ville fleurie 4* (16km)
• Cascade de la Diomaz - site of natural beauty (19km)
• Jardin botanique alpin La Jaÿsinia - remarkable garden (22km)
• Sixt-Fer-à-Cheval - most beautiful village (25km)
• Cirque de Sixt Fer a Cheval - grand site of france (26km)
• Mole - site of natural beauty (28km)
• Yvoire - most beautiful village (32km)
• Le Labyrinthe - Jardin des Cinq Sens - remarkable garden (32km)

Market days in Abondance: Regular market(s) are held in Abondance each Sunday. (Markets are held in the morning unless stated.)

The French version of this page is at Abondance (Francais)