Mieussy
Mieussy
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Location of Mieussy
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| Country | France |
| Region | Auvergne-Rhône-Alpes |
| Department | Haute-Savoie |
| Arrondissement | Bonneville |
| Canton | Taninges |
| Government | |
| • Mayor (2008–2014) | Gérard Gay |
Area 1 | 44.45 km2 (17.16 sq mi) |
| Population (2005) | 1,983 |
| • Density | 45/km2 (120/sq mi) |
| Time zone | UTC+01:00 (CET) |
| • Summer (DST) | UTC+02:00 (CEST) |
| INSEE/Postal code | 74183 /74440 |
| Elevation | 571–2,011 m (1,873–6,598 ft) |
| 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. | |
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 birthplace 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 introductory 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
References
 | This Haute-Savoie geographical article is a stub. You can help Wikipedia by expanding it. |