Mieussy

Mieussy image = Mieussy.jpg
Mieussy image = Mieussy.jpg
Administration
Country	France
Region	Rhône-Alpes
Department	Haute-Savoie
Arrondissement	Bonneville
Canton	Taninges
Mayor	Gérard Gay (2008–2014)
Statistics
Elevation	571–2,011 m (1,873–6,598 ft)
Land area1	44.45 km2 (17.16 sq mi)
Population2	1,983  (2005)
- Density	45 /km2 (120 /sq mi)
INSEE/Postal code	74183/ 74440
Website	Mieussy.eu
1 French Land Register data, which excludes lakes, ponds, glaciers > 1 km² (0.386 sq mi or 247 acres) and river estuaries.
2 Population without double counting: residents of multiple communes (e.g., students and military personnel) only counted once.

Coordinates: 46°08′05″N 6°31′24″E / 46.1347222222°N 6.52333333333°E / 46.1347222222; 6.52333333333

Mieussy is a commune in the Haute-Savoie department in the Rhône-Alpes region in south-eastern France.

Mieussy is a traditional unspoiled Alpine farming village in the Vallée du Giffre. A map of the surrounding hiking trails that lead into the mountains is available from the Mieussy tourist office.

The Mieussy Fromagerie makes the world famous Alpine cheeses known as reblochon and tomme de savoie. Visitors may have free access via a windowed gallery that looks down on the cheese making room. There are also guided visits, multimedia education displays, and tasting sessions and a shop selling cheeses and other regional products from the Haute Savoie.

Each year the village is host to the traditional farmers harvest market, when thousands spill into its streets to buy sweet chestnuts, fresh pressed apples, savoyard meats and cheeses and to celebrate the harvest. The festival runs for two days in October and is the largest authentic farmers festival in the region.

Mieussy became known as the birth place of paragliding when in June 1978 three friends Jean-Claude Bétemps, André Bohn and Gérard Bosson were inspired by an article on ‘slope soaring’ in the Parachute Manual magazine. They calculated that on a suitable slope, a square parachute could be inflated by running down a slope; Bétemps launched from Pointe du Pertuiset, Mieussy, and flew 100 m. Andre Bohn followed him and glided down to the football pitch in the valley 1000 metres below.[6] ‘Parapente’ was born (pente being French for slope).

A paragliding school and intoductory tandem flights are offered today by the Mieussy football pitch.

Mieussy is also known for its ski resort Sommand with over 60 km downhill and cross-country skiing. Sommand is linked to the Praz de Lys ski resort of a similar size.

See also

• Communes of the Haute-Savoie department

References

• INSEE