Gassin

Tourist Information Office

Cenise Plateau

( Viewpoint - Natural wonder - Uplands )

Nestled between the Rochers de Leschaux and the Bargy range, the Cenise Plateau is easily accessible from Mont-Saxonnex. Breathtaking landscapes and panoramas!

All year round.

The sectors of Cenise - Les Combes are rich in wetlands of heritage interest and include important wintering areas for black grouse, which take refuge there in winter to find the necessary rest during this period of slow activity . To limit the disturbance of these species in winter, be sure to stay in the already existing tracks and not to deviate from the main routes.

In order to guarantee the sustainability of the environments and species, which are very sensitive to disturbance and most of which are protected, but also in order to respect the work of the alpagists, it is our responsibility to be attentive to our practices and our behavior. Also, you are asked:
- Not to drive in a motor vehicle (except entitled persons), this is prohibited by the Environmental Code, in particular to avoid any type of disturbance;
- To stay on the marked paths, so as not to degrade the neighboring land and the fodder resource;
- Not to disturb herds and wild animals, to avoid any incident and harmful stress;
- To keep your dog on a leash, to avoid any incident with another animal or user;
- Not to pick the plants, most are protected;
- Not to bathe you (nor your dog), in order to preserve the habitat of aquatic species;
- To be discreet and to leave as few traces as possible of your visit, to avoid any disturbance;
- To apply the rules of the bivouac, which is only possible between 7 p.m. and 9 a.m., without fire on the ground (possible use of a stove).

Histoire, culture et patrimoine

The Cenise plateau extends from the Bargy massif to the Rochers de Leschaux, straddling three municipalities and two intermunicipalities: the municipality of Mont-Saxonnex, located on the territory of the Community of Municipalities Cluses Arve and Mountains (2CCAM), and the communes of Glières-Val-de-Borne and Brison, located on the territory of the Community of Communes Faucigny-Glières (CCFG). The site offers a very open landscape with the subalpine lawns which occupy it, thus allowing an unobstructed view of the main peaks of Bargy. The plateau presents 630 hectares of rich and varied natural environments, supports of exceptional fauna and flora: karstic environments, ponds and wetlands, high altitude lawns.
Due to its remarkable natural heritage and its unique landscape setting, the Cenise plateau is included in the Natura 2000 site of the Bargy massif, designated to protect a certain number of habitats and species representative of European biodiversity. It is also in the process of being labeled Espace Naturel Sensible (ENS), a label awarded by the Department for sites intended to be preserved and promoted to the general public. This ENS policy is carried out at the local level by the Community of Communes Cluses Arve et Montagnes (2CCAM), which is responsible for the implementation of a management plan finalized in 2022: this document consists of drawing up an inventory of the site and actions to be implemented to reconcile attendance and preservation.
All the fauna typical of the mountain environment can be observed there: ibexes, chamois, marmots, black grouse… The site is also flown over by the bearded vulture, a large vulture reintroduced into the Bargy massif at the end of the 1980s. Wetlands and the meadows are particularly interesting from the floristic and faunal point of view.
The Cenise plateau is marked by high visitor numbers and presents conflicts of use, particularly in connection with the work carried out by the alpine pasture farmers on the land grazed by the cattle herds which maintain the site. Attendance, if it is not channeled and respectful, induces significant disturbances both for the mountain pasture but also for the biodiversity of the site. The communities and the various local players are working to solve the problems encountered, in particular by implementing the actions defined in the site management plan.

Plateau de Cenise
Col de Cenise
Route de Morsullaz
74130 Mont-Saxonnex
Rates

Free access.

Environnement
Mountain location
Languages
French
Facilities
Parking
Services
Pets welcome