Les Gets

Les Gets is committed to Quality and is increasingly preoccupied with protecting the Environment.

In recent years, local residents have realised that sustainable development should help everyone to enjoy fulfilled lives in a more humane society and preserved environment.

 

ENVIRONMENTAL ACCREDITATIONS
The Lift-Operating Company (Sagets) received the ISO 14004 accreditation in 2008. In pursuing the environmental pledge, it is now the Tourist office that is working towards an environmental accreditation, which should be granted next September. The medium term objective is to encourage the businesses, shop keepers and accommodation providers in Les Gets to do the same by involving them in future initiatives to protect the local environment for the future.

 

VEGETABLE GARDENS IN THE BIG OUTDOORS
True to its eco-tourism philosophy, Les Gets has transformed the village into an alpine larder – a vegetable garden - on a grand scale.  This innovative concept, drawing together nature and wood, has been born from a communal desire and the wish to preserve the character and traditions of Les Gets and its inhabitants.

The forebears of today’s inhabitants worked the earth growing their own produce and cultivating fruit and vegetables.  These are strong values which, still today, unite the local population behind one powerful slogan : “Where wood is King, nature is Queen”.
With the show-stopping vegetable garden as the focal point, the concept will evolve through dedicated weekends -  centered around the themes of wood, nature, health, flavours -  which will    roll out week-by-week in conjunction with other summer activities,

Where to find these Village Vegetable Gardens
In the heart of the village, a bed containing salads and brassicas, tomatoes and aromatic plants, brightens up the Town Hall Square. The municipal flower beds, as well as the planters in the Rue du Centre and the larger hamlets, have equally been adorned with flowers, grasses and vegetables.

Scarecrows
Scarecrows are the mark of a serious vegetable garden, to be found throughout the village  brightening up villager’s vegetable gardens and jauntily displayed in shop windows.

 

ALPINE PEARLS : AN INTERNATIONAL INITIATIVE – NON-MOTORISED TRANSPORT IN LES GETS
With the participation of 5 Alpine countries (Germany, Austria, Italy, Switzerland and France), the Alpine Pearl organization comprises 22 tourist destinations, that have signed up to a durable development initiative aimed at increasing environmental protection via tourism and transport in their mountains.

Together with renowned resorts such as Interlaken and Arosa in Switzerland and Berchtesgaden in Germany, the village of Les Gets (one of the founder members in 2006) is working to promote non-motorised transport. Increased awareness, information and effective alternatives have all been put in place to encourage people to travel less by car.

Public transport in les Gets is geared to suit everyone.  Throughout both summer and winter seasons, its extensive network of small buses run with a frequency and coverage that matches urban standards. Additionally, all the buses comply with the most recent emission regulations.

Throughout the Vallée d’Aulps, close collaboration has enabled the establishment of inter-connecting public transport services, which are fast, comfortable and economic.  For 1euro, visitors and inhabitants can access all the sport and cultural activities in the valley.

More information >> www.alpine-pearls.com

 

A landscape that breaks with day-to-day urban reality.

Our guests come to Les Gets first and foremost for the environment and the setting of the village. As a result, in 2001, the municipal authorities initiated a root and branch review of the local town planning scheme. Our village benefits from an image that is the envy of many other mountain resorts. This reputation is based on the warm village atmosphere, its shops and hotels. The image to be nurtured is one that strengthens the present reputation while taking the village ‘product’ more upmarket. The underlying theme is the creation of a prestigious Swiss-style village to embody the traditions of Savoy, the natural splendours of a mountain atmosphere, a stylish and buoyant resort and a village environment where visitors can stroll freely, undisturbed by traffic.

>>Managing water resources:

The problems of low rainfall over the past two years and long-standing difficulties with the water supply have still not been resolved. The village is now facing an acute water shortage. Over 300,000 euros have already been invested in various projects to try and find a solution.

 

Traffic and people management:

A car-free Les Gets is our medium term aim… The principles for better management of movement and transport are as follows:

• improved co-existence for hikers / mountain bikers,
• integrated transport management,
• favouring walking and cycling to cut down on road traffic,
• introducing public transport to meet the needs of different groups of users.

 

The of the "Rue du Centre"

Starting in April 2006, Les Gets has undertaken roadwork to give priority to pedestrians in the village centre. The new square in front of the town hall, designed for recreational and cultural activities, gives a glimpse of the village’s future ‘look’ – all building work will be finished by the end of 2008.

The second part of this work, started in spring 2007 in the high street, aims at improving this commercial artery by widening pavements and providing green areas where pedestrians will be able to meander at will, far from disagreeable traffic.

 

>> See the picture (at the bottom of the page)

 

To spread this information a ‘Guide to environmentally friendly transport’ has been published.  Free and pocket size, it groups together all information about local bus services and public transport in the valley and to Thonon, Cluses and Geneva.