Vaulx, Haute-Savoie, Auvergne-Rhône-Alpes, France

Vaulx is a French commune located in the department of Haute-Savoie, in the Auvergne-Rhône-Alpes region. Vaulx is still a predominantly agricultural village today. There are also some local small businesses. Many employed people are commuters who work in the larger towns in the area and in the Annecy area.

The commune of Vaulx is part of the Albanian country, north of the canton of Rumilly. The municipal territory covers an area of 1,119 ha and an average altitude of 540 meters. The village is located off the main thoroughfares, but is easily accessible from the D14 departmental road, which leads from Annecy to Seyssel. There are other road connections with Saint-Eusèbe and Sillingy. The closest connection to the A41 motorway is around 13 km away.

Vaulx comes from the Latin word Vallis or Valllibus, which means land of valleys, hilly or crisscrossed with hills of valleys. This name perfectly indicates its topographical configuration formed by different valleys descending from the North Bettes plateau, towards the Fier river, which flows to the south. The town is formed by three ridges delimited by four parallel streams, all tributaries of the Fier. The urban space of the Municipality of Vaulx is structured around eleven poles, including 4 built-up groups: the capital, the Biolley, Mornaz, and Bellossy.

The village church was built in 1899 in the neo-Gothic style. In several hamlets there are chapels, namely Notre-Dame de la Conception (from 1848) in Le Biolley, Mère de Dieu (from 1860) in Frênes Dessous and Immaculée-Conception (from 1851) in Fond Dessous. There are also various manor houses in the municipality, including the Maison forte von Frênes Dessous, which was built in the 15th century and remodeled in 1810. The Jardins Secrets von Vaulx, a mosaic of gardens of different styles on an area of around 7000 m², are a special attraction.

Economy
In 2012, the bistronomic restaurant Par Monts et par Vaulx was classified Bib Gourmand in the 2012 Michelin Guide, which it still has in 2017.

Tourism is motivated in particular by the presence of the Secret Gardens of Vaulx, a private garden, between East and West on more than 7,000 m 2 of plantations, mosaics, wooden structures, divided into several indoor and outdoor gardens in themes.

Places and monuments
The neo-Gothic Saint-Pierre church from 1898.
The war memorial.
The fountain with the Demoiselles: marble sculpture located in front of the town hall of Vaulx.

Cultural events and festivities
Annual boules competition alternating with the neighboring towns of Thusy and Saint-Eusèbe.
Saint-Jean fires (village festival) on the last Saturday in June.
Fireworks in the village square on July 13.

Secret gardens of Vaulx
The Secret Gardens of Vaulx, between Rumilly and Annecy in Haute-Savoie, are a mosaic of small baroque gardens, with varied inspirations. They were created in 1980 by the Moumen family and extend over more than 7,000 m2.

Between Annecy and Aix-les-Bains, the Jardins Secrets offer over 7000 m² of relaxation and change of scenery for curious people of all ages. As a family, as a couple or with friends, stroll through the galleries and flowery paths, take a break in the lounges and patios, enjoy the freshness of the fountains and discover the unusual world of a family who has been shaping this garden with their hands for over 40 years.

History
In 1980, Nicole and Alain Moumen acquired a farm surrounded by a large piece of land in Vaulx in Haute-Savoie and settled there. They moved there with their three then teenage daughters to live and work. At the time, they made painted furniture. While practicing their professional activity, the couple renovates and restores the buildings, decorates and flowers with the sole aim of creating a pleasant and fulfilling place for their family.

Both self-taught, they create in an empirical and spontaneous way this architectural and vegetated place where they still live and work. It is therefore as a family that they shape this unusual universe with no plans to open to the public.

Hidden behind their tall wall, these gardens intrigue and arouse interest. Solicited and encouraged, Alain and Nicole then decided to open their doors in 1994. Since then, they have welcomed the public in fine weather, thus sharing a little of their dream.

The farm is renovated over the years and a garden is created using traditional ancient techniques. The garden is open to the public from 1994.

In 1997, the garden received the “Green Tourism Trophy” and the “Prix Vacances en France”. In 2004, Nicole wrote a book on this family story: Jardins Secrets, secrets de vie, published by Milan. The gardens receive the Quality Tourism TM Mark awarded by the Ministry in charge of Tourism in 2014, then the “Jardin Remarquable” label in 2018.

The Secret Gardens concentrate twenty indoor and outdoor spaces of a total of 7000 m².

A Mosaic of Gardens
Over 7000 m², gardens, patios, lounges open to nature, galleries, arbors, ponds and fountains make up an astonishing universe, in which lush vegetation flourishes. About twenty indoor and outdoor spaces make up a set with varied influences: Andalusian, Austrian, Indian, Savoyard, Swiss, Tunisian… Each has its own atmosphere, its scents, its colors… Discover the Secret Gardens at the bend of a country road, in a gently rolling Savoyard landscape is the guarantee of a unique journey and a total change of scenery.

Water trail
“Our garden is designed like a little labyrinth whose breadcrumb trail is water.” The couple used natural or recycled materials, little used in contemporary gardens, diverting them from their usual function. The artisanal work of wood, lime mortar, copper and the use of pebbles and glass give the Jardins Secrets its architectural identity. Each garden has its own pond or fountain, sometimes evoking the lush gardens of the oriental world. Eight of them bear the first names of the little children to whom they are dedicated. The water brings freshness to the surrounding vegetation and its noise punctuates the visit. Sometimes lapping, sometimes gushing, it sets the tone.

Alliance with Nature
“The mountain was my inspiration and I try to rediscover its lessons in naturalness and simplicity.” At Les Jardins Secrets, native species and plants that adapt naturally to the location and climate are favored. The omnipresent vegetation is staged in a light and poetic way. Perennial or seasonal, aromatic or climbing, citrus fruits, roses, lilies, peonies, wisteria, clematis, cosmos, bignones… All sublimate the architecture of the place they occupy. Plants do not need a chemical adjuvant when they are provided with soil, exposure and watering suited to their needs. “Bees and bumblebees have returned since we banned ourselves 20 years ago from treating roses with pesticides”

A Living Garden
Over time and thanks to reasoned management, a varied fauna has developed, contributing to the good health of the garden. The turrets and recesses are refuges for birds and the little bats take up residence in the wooden galleries. The introduction of honey plants has made it possible to attract pollinating insects. There are now several species of butterflies: day peacock, small turtle, lemon, vulcan, moro sphinx etc.