Guided Tours in the Savoie

Annecy

The ancient town of Annecy provides its own centre of activity on the Lake or around the town.  The town is situated on the northern tip of Lake Annecy.
It is a lovely medieval town in a great location with the Alps as a backdrop. In the summer months the whole town is a riot of colour with geraniums in window boxes everywhere. The town is also known as the ‘French Venice' and is a wonderful place for exploring on foot.  The area nearest to the chateau is the prettiest with many narrow streets and alleyways.

For children, there are many lake ‘beaches' for the family to enjoy, but bear in mind that the water may be cold for swimming! Some of these beaches have free admission (Annecy Marquisats, Annecy-le-Vieux, Albigny, Veyrier, Doussars and Duingt) whilst others don't. If cold water is a deterrent for the children there are also many places where you can hire sailing,  rowing boats, canoes or even speed boats. For something a bit more leisurely then opt for a lake excursion on one of the cruise boats.

Chambery and Aix le Bains

Chambery, once capital of Savoie is located in the heart of the French Alps near Lac du Bourget (Bourget Lake). Its old town includes a Chateau that once was the residence of the dukes of Savoie (The original Dukes of Hazzard!), a 15th century Cathedral and a fine arts museum.

Chambery is also close to a number of natural attractions including, Lac du Bourget, Lac d'Aiguebelette and within an hour drive of the Lac d'Annecy and two hours drive to Lake Geneva. There are also three nearby natural parks, Parc national de la Vanoise, Parc Naturel Régional de Chartreuse and Parc Naturel Régional du Massif des Bauges.

Nearby at Aix-le-Bains, and once upon a time, millions of years ago, there was a depression or synclinal valley between two chains of high mountains caused by an alpine fold in the tertiary period. The large glaciers of the Quaternary period scraped through this area, little by little, removing all soft rocks such as sandstone. When they disappeared 19 000 years ago, they left a huge lake fed by surrounding rivers and streams. The first men made their home on the banks about 6,000 years ago.

This lake is like and inland sea, 18 kilometers long, 3,5 kilometers across at its widest part and an average of 85 meters deep. It is 147 meters deep between Gresine and Hautecombe. The water is surrounded by the foothills of the Jura Mountains - to the west by the steep Epine range, to the east by the soft rounded hills of Cessens, Chambotte, Corsuet and Tresserve, lying in front of the Bauges Mountains - which mark the beginning of the Alps. This extraordinary natural site, with its reed beds, creeks and beaches, has been protected from pollution by considerable investment. Each day brings a different light to the colours of this beautiful, clear lake. Sometimes calm, sometimes stormy, it is often scattered with ducks, herons or swans and the white sails of leisure craft.

Cheese Making 

Bread, cheese, meat, potatoes... if you know the mountain cuisine, you know how good these staples can be after a day out walking or cycling.  Famous as the home of the fondue, pierrade, tartiflette and appetite-crunching salad savoyarde, the local farms provide a warm welcome to show you their methods and products.  To whet your appetite, get ready for these:

Reblochon: This soft, unpasteurized cow's-milk cheese has a velvety café au lait-colored rind, bone-colored paste, and a brie-like texture. Deliciously smelly, the taste is sweet, nutty, and beefy, reminiscent of a rare filet mignon that melts in the mouth with a pleasant, balsamy quality. Most brands are excellent, especially those from small producers in the villages of Thones, La Clusaz, and Le Grand-Bornand. Serve with fruity, white Savoie wines and fresh, young reds, such as Fleurie, Saint-Amour, or Julienas.

Beaufort: A name-controlled, raw cow's-milk cheese much like Swiss Gruyère but with a higher butterfat content and creamier texture, Beaufort has a mild, fruity, sweet flavor. Its extraordinary melting capacity makes it fabulous for fondue. All big red wines would pair appropriately with Beaufort. A bit more expensive and worth it.

Obscure wines of the Savoie Region!

There are a number of local "caves" (wine cellars) who will be more than happy to welcome you with a glass or two or the regions wines to taste... and hopefully take a case or two back to your chalet to enjoy for the rest of your holiday or back at home.  The savoie region as you might expect produces a hardy grape giving a basic but reliable flavour to the region's wines.  Red, white and rose are all produced.  Further afield a day trip to one of the local vineyards is a great day out.

The small wine region of Savoie is much misunderstood, especially in this micro-region where the largest quantities of wines are produced between the Winter Olympic city of Albertville and Chambéry, the capital of Savoie. Ski resorts are the life-blood of the industry, but often it's only in hideaway auberges that skiers sample really good Savoie wines. Many wines taste very different from the cliché of cool climate, high altitude, ethereal wines; lovers of obscure grape varieties will find fascinating wines that match not only the local, rather rustic cuisine, but finer classic dishes too.

Wine tourism has not yet really arrived here and the winegrowing valleys are quiet, especially in winter. But on a bright sunny day you can arrange to visit a producer and before tasting, appreciate the spectacular views across the dormant vineyards to Mont Blanc or the Tarentaise Mountains. Even in summer, the vineyards are often over-looked by tourists heading south on the motorways. There is plenty to stop for - stunning scenery, spectacular lakes and ample opportunities for walking, cycling or water sports, not to mention some interesting historical towns. And then you can tell the world about Mondeuse, Altesse, Jacquère and more.