Attractions and Places To See around Les Genettes - Top 8

After seven and a half years of experimentation, malfunctions and a yield well below expectations, this solar road was finally dismantled in the summer of 2024, signaling the failure of a certain technological utopia. The electricity production was never at the level of the hopes raised: in 2022 for example, the figures indicated that the road could only supply electricity to three homes. The idea of powering the village's public lighting, which had been launched at the start of the project, was quickly abandoned. From the first weeks of operation, many problems appeared: subsidence, fouling, noise pollution, etc. Technical problems that led to frequent closures of the road. And the dissatisfaction of locals and users ended up sounding the death knell for this pioneering experiment. In the end, the project turned out to be three times more expensive than conventional solar panels. Despite these setbacks, the manufacturer behind the project insists on the importance of the lessons learned. Recognizing that their photovoltaic panels are not suitable for a conventional road, the company decided to direct its technology towards cycle paths, parking lots or sidewalks, and other passages subject to less damaging traffic constraints. In any case, the idea of covering our roads with photovoltaic panels, where cars, trucks and various agricultural machinery circulate, remains, in the current state of technology, a utopia.

Called La Trappe, this abbey from 1122 was the cradle of a reform of the Cistercian order in 1664, creating the Trappist order.

A very beautiful abbey where the Trappist monks are still active. Cyclists and hikers can fill their canisters and water bottles at the available and free water point.

The Abbey of Notre-Dame de la Trappe is a working monastery, located in Soligny-la-Trappe. Born in the 11th century in the short-lived congregation of Savigny, he joined the Cistercian order like his mother abbey in 1147.

Beautiful Conturbie pond

Spiritual home of Trappist monks, this abbey and monastery have had a tumultuous history. You will appreciate the most beautiful doors of the monastery when you pass by.

Inaugurated in 2016 with strong media coverage by Ségolène Royal (then Minister of the Environment and Energy), this section of road had been equipped with special solar panels over a length of one km. It was a world first intended to serve as a test for the manufacturer (Colas Wattway), the Region and the State. After an initial period of 3 years, the findings were mixed. Indeed, the solar panels had suffered premature deterioration due to traffic, bad weather and rotting tree leaves that had fallen on them. The specific surface caused noise pollution leading to discontent among the neighborhood, forcing the town hall to reduce the speed from 70 to 50 km/h on this section. In some areas, solar panels had come loose from the roadway and had to be removed. The system had sometimes tripped due to storms. All stakeholders had agreed in 2019 that the results were not there, because the road produced much less electricity than anticipated, while the maintenance and repair costs were high. But, based on this experience, the manufacturer developed other prototypes and a second generation of solar panels was installed at the end of 2021 over a length reduced to 400m. The objective of this second phase of the experiment, with a planned duration of two years, is to continue to improve the photovoltaic road surface technology.

Active monastery founded in the 11th century which is home to the famous Trappist monks. While the abbey of La Trappe was faced, like most monasteries, with a decline in monastic fervor, it was refounded in 1660, following a stricter reading of the rule. This reform is originally called “of the Strict Observance”, but more commonly called “Trappist” in homage to the abbey which gave birth to it. Trappist life is a form of monastic-type religious life, lived under the rule of Saint Benedict (5th century), father of monks in the West. It is characterized mainly by a life voluntarily led apart from the world, in order to favor prayer. This punctuates the day of the monk who goes to church seven times a day. It is also a life of work, rather manual (about six to eight hours a day). It is also a path of asceticism marked by obedience to an abbot or a prior. In addition to obedience, celibacy, sharing of goods, silence, vigils, and fasts, the path of the Trappist monk is shaped by the community where he chooses to put down roots. This Trappist life combines solitude and community life. Everything the monk lives, he lives in the same momentum with other brothers with whom he prays, eats, works, reads and meditates on the Word of God. Note: to refresh yourself, you can take advantage of the presence of a fountain offering excellent quality spring water offered by the monks.