Les glières: a historic part of Savoy

01-09-2026

“Vivre libre ou mourir”

"Live free or die" is a famous saying that symbolizes the spirit of French resistance during the second world war. This place and its history is at the heart of the regional rebellion against fascism. In fact at most 450 people lived in the mountains in 1944 to escape the repression and to receive arms packages air-dropped by the allies. The aviation was using the light filled city of Lake Annecy to locate the Plateau and deliver their weapons.

After successfully completing their mission, they were chased by some 3000 Germans helped by 700 French militias and lost their hold on the plateau. On the 27th of March, 3 months before D-Day, they fled the plateau but still lost 120 men during the operation.

The iconic memorial was built in 1973 by Émile Gilioli, along with a National Necropolis in Morette, in the valley to remember and commemorate those who fought for freedom.

 

It is 29 km away from La Roche-sur-Foron and 15km from Thorens-Glières. It is surrounded by mountains on all sides and links the Fillière valley (Groisy) to the Borne valley and the Faucigny (Le petit Bornand)



Plateau des Glières

Distance from La Roche-sur-Foron train station

Maximum altitude

Length and gradient of the Col

Tour de France Categorie

14 km 

1 425 m 

7.9 km at 9%

Hors categorie 

 

Visited by the tour de France in 2018 and 2020, it is a famous col for the locals and a beautiful ascent. At the top you can find a few restaurants and a nordic skiing resort.

⚠️ If you want to cross the Plateau from end to end, part of the road is a gravel path.



 

Col des Fleuries

Distance from La Roche-sur-Foron train station

Maximum altitude

Length and gradient of the Col

Tour de France Categorie

0 km 

930 m 

8.3 km at 4.6%

  

 

Paired with the Col des Glières, it is a great way to make a loop from and to la Roche-sur-Foron, which has a medieval city center, and the first French city to electrify its public lighting. Or, to avoid this pass, go to the Groisy-Thorens-la-Caille train station where trains to Annemasse or Annecy await you.

 

  • Back to News