The French Genevois, between the Swiss border and the Salève

The Genevois or Génevois group includes all French cities located in the vicinity of the Swiss city of Geneva, divided between Ain (01) and Haute-Savoie (74). This historic territory has the capital Annemasse and is located between Lake Annecy and the Swiss border, at the gates of Lake Geneva. The privileged geographical situation, the presence of winter sports resorts nearby and the frequently organized events make the happiness of the inhabitants and make this region a tourist destination of choice throughout the year.

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Living in the French Genevois

Between the Swiss border and the Salève, the Haute-Savoie Genevois, known as the French Genevois, continues Geneva southwards and eastwards, from Annemasse to Saint-Julien-en-Genevois and as far as the Cruseilles area. Annemasse is around 20 minutes from Geneva Cornavin station by Léman Express. The Salève, whose Grand Piton rises to around 1,380 metres, overlooks the conurbation.

A cross-border identity

The Genevois became French along with Savoy through the Treaty of Turin of 24 March 1860, then through a plebiscite in which the Saint-Julien region agreed on condition of obtaining a free zone. Annemasse has 37,628 residents and Saint-Julien-en-Genevois 16,222 at the latest census. In the French Genevois employment area, 105,300 working residents were employed abroad in 2022, or 53% of the total, 88% of them in the canton of Geneva.

Activities and leisure

The Salève cable car, open from April to the autumn, links Étrembières to Monnetier-Mornex, at around 1,100 metres, in under five minutes. The Bossey golf course, eighteen holes opened in 1985 to designs by Robert Trent Jones Jr., has its clubhouse in the Château de Crevin, built in the 18th century.

The rest of the year, weekly markets bring life to Annemasse, Saint-Julien-en-Genevois and Cruseilles. Beaumont, Collonges-sous-Salève, Cruseilles and Vétraz-Monthoux lie, like other communes of the area, within the Reblochon PDO zone.

Heritage and culture

The Château des Avenières, in Cruseilles, built from 1907 and now a hotel, houses a chapel completed in 1917 and decorated with more than a million Murano glass tesserae. The Bastian Tower has stood at the Grand Piton, in Beaumont, since the 1820s. At Archamps, the technology park, created in 1989, is home to around 160 companies and 2,000 jobs.

If the French Genevois holds on to its residents first through its cross-border links, it will also win you over with the Salève, less than five minutes by cable car from Étrembières, with its markets and its heritage. To bring your property plans to life locally, our estate agency in Archamps is here to help and invites you to discover its prime properties currently for sale across the French Genevois.

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Settling in the French Genevois

Settling in the French Genevois means living at the foot of the Salève, with the train to Switzerland from Annemasse, sixth forms in Annemasse and Saint-Julien-en-Genevois, and the international airport 10 kilometres from Saint-Julien.

Transport and access

Annemasse station is served by line L4 of the Léman Express, which starts from Coppet. Tram 17 has linked Annemasse to Lancy-Pont-Rouge, on the Geneva side, since December 2019. Since 31 August 2026, the Genevois français Mobilités network has offered a line 6 to Bonne and Lucinges, and a line 8 extended to Vétraz-Monthoux.

Within the area, the Léman Express serves only Annemasse, but Saint-Julien-en-Genevois has its own station, served by regional TER trains, where Geneva public transport (TPG) lines M and N provide connections. Annemasse is also served by the TGV, with about ten trains a day.

Line L7, opened in December 2025, runs only two peak-hour trains a day to the airport, but the airport is only 14 kilometres from Ville-la-Grand by road. The A40 serves Annemasse at exit 14 and Saint-Julien-en-Genevois at exit 13, at the junction with the A41.

Education and schools

Annemasse has two sixth forms, Les Glières and Jean-Monnet, as well as a vocational sixth form, Le Salève. At Saint-Julien-en-Genevois, the Lycée Madame-de-Staël offers European sections in Spanish. Ville-la-Grand is home to Le Juvénat, a private primary school, secondary school and sixth form in one, and Collonges-sous-Salève has the private Saint-Vincent school complex.

Healthcare and services

The Alpes-Léman hospital centre is in Contamine-sur-Arve, and the Sud Léman-Valserine hospital in Saint-Julien-en-Genevois. The Geneva University Hospitals also treat patients insured in France, without prior authorisation in an emergency, but with the agreement of the French health insurance fund for planned treatment, according to their June 2021 brochure. In Annemasse, the Château Bleu aquatic centre rounds out the facilities.

Living in the French Genevois: ten communes of the area

Choosing to live in the French Genevois means choosing between a conurbation on the border, villages at the foot of the Salève and the Cruseilles area, higher up. Ten communes are presented here, from the most to the least populated, and the population figures given are from the latest census.

Annemasse

The largest commune in the area, Annemasse is home to the Villa du Parc, a contemporary art centre active since 1986. Markets are held on Tuesdays and Fridays on Place de la Libération, and the TGV reaches Lyon in 2 hours 34 minutes and Paris in 3 hours 59 minutes. Discover our luxury properties for sale in Annemasse.

Saint-Julien-en-Genevois

Saint-Julien-en-Genevois gave its name to the Treaty of Saint-Julien, signed on 21 July 1603, and is home to, among others, the châteaux of Ogny and Thairy. The market is held on Friday mornings around the town hall, and an evening market takes place on Tuesdays on Place du Général-de-Gaulle. Browse our prestige homes for sale in Saint-Julien-en-Genevois.

Vétraz-Monthoux

The third commune of the area with 10,949 residents, Vétraz-Monthoux has the Haut-Monthoux chapel, dated 1863, and the church of Saints-Pierre-et-Paul, restored in 2018 and 2019. The Pierre de Soleil clinic is located in the commune. View our prestige real estate for sale in Vétraz-Monthoux.

Ville-la-Grand

The church of Saint-Mammès, consecrated in 522, is in Ville-la-Grand, a commune of 9,514 residents. Le Juvénat served as a refuge during the Occupation, and the commune also has the Parc des Îles du Foron, the Carra mill and the Villeventus marquee. Explore our high-end properties on the market in Ville-la-Grand.

Cruseilles

With its village centre at 783 metres above sea level, Cruseilles has 5,376 residents. The market takes place on Thursdays and Sundays on the town hall square, and the Parc des Dronières, created in 1968, includes a water sports centre. See our high-end homes for sale in Cruseilles.

Collonges-sous-Salève

Collonges-sous-Salève, with 3,832 residents, has been home to the Salève Adventist campus since 1921. Verdi and Strepponi were secretly married here on 29 August 1859, and the commune’s territory rises from 466 to 1,301 metres up the Salève. Discover our luxury homes for sale in Collonges-sous-Salève.

Beaumont

From 596 metres up to the Grand Piton, at around 1,380 metres, Beaumont climbs the Salève and has 3,097 residents. The Romanesque church of Saint-Étienne marks the village, and the Thuile farm inn, at 1,161 metres, occupies the alpine pasture of the same name. Browse our properties in Beaumont.

Étrembières

At the foot of the Salève, between 393 and 860 metres above sea level, Étrembières has 2,679 residents. The lower station of the cable car is at the Pas de l’Échelle, whose path is mentioned as early as 1320. Take a look at our prestige properties for sale in Étrembières.

Archamps

Archamps, with 2,375 residents between 482 and 1,350 metres above sea level, is home to the technology park and its Convention Centre. The church of Saint-Maurice dates from the 15th century, and the ruins of the Château de Montfort from the 13th century. Explore our luxury real estate in Archamps.

Neydens

Neydens, with 2,250 residents between 500 and 871 metres above sea level, is home to the Vitam’ leisure complex. The cross in the village centre has been listed as a historic monument since 1 December 1950. Discover our prime homes for sale in Neydens.

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