Rando'bus Samoëns - Fer à Cheval cirque via the Bostan refuge

5 points of interest

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  Les Allamands village

  The village owes its origins and its name to a tribe of Germanic origin known as the ‘Hans’, who settled in the Val Clévieux around the year 1206. Their village was devastated in the 15th century by a landslide that came from the Pointe de Chamossière. Because of their Germanic origins, they gave the name ‘Allamands’ to the site they settled on. The Allamands village, at the foot of the Col de la Golèse and the Col de Bostan used to be very busy. The Col de la Golèse was part of the ‘route du Valais’ which, after crossing the Col de Coux, led down into Swiss territory and on to the main Rhone Valley route. The village was also a meeting point for contraband smugglers and other illegal immigrants. Back in the day, they would bypass the Col de la Golèse, which was guarded by men-at-arms, via a steep path known as ‘le pas de la Bide’, which led to the Col de Bostan before reaching the village.

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  Fauna

  Is it a chamois or an ibex?

  Both belonging to the Caprinae sub-family, the chamois and the Alpine ibex have very similar body shapes. Here's a tip: identify the horns first and then the coat to be able to tell them apart. The Alpine Chamois can be recognised by its hooked horns. Be careful not to confuse it with a female ibex: the latter has an almost uniform coat, even on the head! The female Chamois is called the Eterle in French. The male Ibex has long, ridged horns that curve backwards. As for the coat, the chamois has a black and white mask on its head, and a coat that can vary from brown to black and white. The ibex, on the other hand, has a plain brown, beige or white coat and short fur. The male ibex can also be distinguished by its distinctive goatee.

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  Small patrimony

  You are in a National Nature Reserve

  This point marks the entrance to the Sixt-Fer-à-Cheval/Passy National Nature Reserve. The nature reserve is managed by the Haute Savoie Conservatory of Natural Areas, which is responsible for the management, protection and improvement of this natural area. The reserve is both open to the public and frequently visited, and is subject to regulations designed to protect species and habitats. Rangers are on site to answer your questions and ensure that these regulations are complied with.

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  Refuge

  The impact of bivouacking

  Mountains and protected areas provide sanctuary for biodiversity and offer visitors a place to unwind and recharge their batteries. Unfortunately, the large-scale and prolonged attendance of hikers and bivouacking practitioners is causing lasting changes to these once pristine natural environments. In recent years, bivouacking and swimming have become the main reason for their trips. For some visitors, with harmful consequences for wildlife (source of stress and changes in behaviour); littering and relieving themselves in unauthorised areas, pollution of rivers and lakes; and disruption of habitats and ecosystems. To help respect and preserve natural sites, please think about your surroundings and our impact on wildlife.

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  Geology

  A landscape sculpted by nature

  The formation of this impressive landscape is the result of the forces of nature. The rocks, which are of limestone origin, were formed in a marine environment over 200 million years ago. The tectonic movements that gave birth to the Alps then carefully folded the rocks to raise and form this massif, which was then exposed to erosion. Finally, the cirque at the bottom of the Combe was hollowed out and shaped by a glacier over 20,000 years ago. These gigantic limestone cliffs are just the visible part of the mountains that stretch higher up.