famous road
Route des Grandes Alpes
France's ultimate driving route: ~700 km from Lake Geneva to the Riviera over 16 great alpine cols including Iseran and Galibier. Pin marks the traditional start at Thonon-les-Bains.
38 km · about 45 min drive
EuropeFranceRhône-Alpes
Saint-Genis-Pouilly
Rhône-Alpes, France · Europe
About Saint-Genis-Pouilly
Saint-Genis-Pouilly sits on the route: 10 minutes from Chevry, 38km from Route des Grandes Alpes.
Saint-Genis-Pouilly is in Rhône-Alpes, France, with about 7,400 people. You drive on the right here. The nearest town is Chevry, about 4 km away.
Saint-Genis-Pouilly (French pronunciation: [sɛ̃ ʒəni puji]; Arpitan: Sant-Genés-Polyi) is a commune in the Ain department within the Auvergne-Rhône-Alpes region of eastern France.
It is located in the Pays de Gex, at the foot of the Jura Mountains. Bordering the Swiss frontier, it is part of the cross-border area ofRead more
Geneva. With a population of over 14,000 inhabitants (2023), it is the fifth most populous commune in the department of Ain.
A large portion of CERN, the European laboratory for particle physics, is located within the territory of Saint-Genis-Pouilly; the ALICE experiment is located on the periphery of the town, and the French entrance to the primary CERN campus (Meyrin) and the ATLAS experiment are located only 3 km from the centre of St Genis. CERN is the world's largest fundamental physics research laboratory and its presence has largely been responsible for the development of the community of Saint Genis since the middle of the 1960s.
Where to Stay in Saint-Genis-Pouilly
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Discover famous landmarks, scenic roads, and more near Saint-Genis-Pouilly.
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Frequently Asked Questions
What is there to see near Saint-Genis-Pouilly?
Within an hour or so of Saint-Genis-Pouilly: Route des Grandes Alpes (38 km), Col du Grand Colombier (43 km), Lake Annecy (44 km), Lake Geneva (Lac Léman) (49 km).
Are there any good drives near Saint-Genis-Pouilly?
The nearest famous roads are Route des Grandes Alpes, Col du Grand Colombier and Col des Aravis.
Where is Saint-Genis-Pouilly?
Saint-Genis-Pouilly is in Rhône-Alpes, France, about 4 km from Chevry.
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Quick Information
- Population
- 7,428
- Continent
- Europe
- Country
- France
- Region
- Rhône-Alpes
- Timezone
- Europe/Paris
- Coordinates
- 46.2436, 6.0212
Emergency & Services
Essential numbers in France
Carrying a warning triangle and hi-vis vest in your vehicle is mandatory. Motorway emergency phones connect to official breakdown services only.
Full driving guide for FranceTags
Worth the detour from Saint-Genis-Pouilly
6 notable places within an hour's drive.
mountain pass
Col du Grand Colombier
A fearsome Jura mountain climb with four different approaches, all featuring extreme gradients up to 22% on narrow forest roads popular with cycling purists.
43 km · about 50 min drive
natural wonder
Lake Annecy
Europe's purest lake, a dazzling turquoise jewel framed by the French Alps and the charming pastel-hued old town of Annecy.
44 km · about 50 min drive
natural wonder
Lake Geneva (Lac Léman)
Western Europe's largest lake, shared with France, framed by the Alps and lined with vineyards, castles, and the famous Jet d'Eau fountain.
49 km · about 55 min drive
mountain pass
Col des Aravis
A 1,486 m pass between La Clusaz and Flumet with a tiny chapel at the summit and a postcard head-on view of Mont Blanc framed by alpine pastures.
54 km · about 60 min drive
landmark
Baume-les-Messieurs
Jura abbey village folded into the junction of three blind valleys, hemmed by 200-metre limestone amphitheatre cliffs, with a 9th-century abbey and a cave-fed waterfall at the valley head.
59 km · about 70 min drive
Driving roads near Saint-Genis-Pouilly
- 38 kmRoute des Grandes AlpesFrance's ultimate driving route: ~700 km from Lake Geneva to the Riviera over 16 great alpine cols including Iseran and Galibier. Pin marks the traditional start at Thonon-les-Bains.
- 43 kmCol du Grand ColombierA fearsome Jura mountain climb with four different approaches, all featuring extreme gradients up to 22% on narrow forest roads popular with cycling purists.
- 54 kmCol des AravisA 1,486 m pass between La Clusaz and Flumet with a tiny chapel at the summit and a postcard head-on view of Mont Blanc framed by alpine pastures.
- 61 kmLavaux Vineyard TerracesUNESCO-listed terraced vineyards cascading down to Lake Geneva, cultivated since the 11th century with spectacular views of the Alps.
- 78 kmAiguille du MidiA vertiginous 3,842-meter granite needle reached by a spectacular cable car, offering face-to-face views of Mont Blanc.
- 78 kmCol de la Forclaz (Valais)The pass above Martigny on the road to Chamonix, kept open all year and a natural gateway to the Mont Blanc valleys.
Driving in France
- Drives on
- the right
- Petrol
- ~€1.85/litre
- Motorway tolls
- ~€10.00/100km
When to drive here
April to October
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