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“My god it’s beautiful” Napoleon III on seeing Lake Annecy Take a detour to Talloires I took a taxi boat across the lake and was dropped off at the pontoon of Auberge du Père Bise, a legendary hotel/2 Michelin Star restaurant in Talloires, a tranquil medieval village. It was a bit of a Grace Kelly moment in that I felt like a princess and a celebrity! The wind wooshed through my hair as the sun was setting and we sped across the still waters. I drank in the sights – a castle on the edge of the lake, birds flying overhead, the mountains turning dark as the light fell. It’s expensive but one of those experiences that are rarely bettered. After a wine tasting session with one of France’s most famous sommeliers at the divine Abbaye de Talloires Hotel/ Restaurant was followed by dinner at 1903, the bistro of Auberge du Père Bise where star chef Jean Sulpice came out to say hello and ask if I enjoyed my meal. “Enjoy it Monsieur le Chef” I said, “that is one of the best meals of my life” and I meant it. If you’re staying in Annecy it’s easy to get around on foot or by bus. You can also hide a bike and take a guided tour - book at the tourist office. And there’s one of those very French little train tours. Outside of Annecy a car is pretty much essential. Lake life “Lake Annecy. It’s a revelation, it’s a miracle. It is so enchanting that you have tears in your eyes... It stretches out under the caressing sun, bordered by majestic
waters in Europe. Filtered and pumped into buildings in the area it tastes delicious. Before you go worrying about pesky mosquitoes, put all such thoughts aside. There are none here. There are two canals in Annecy which run into the lake, and in the 1960s the then Mayor had them lined with concrete leaving the mosquitoes unable to breed. Twice a year the canals are emptied and cleaned which ensures no pests and very clean water flowing into the lake, fed by melted snow on the mountains. mountains, a body of water radiating blue one could not be more divine. Its waters include all the blues… so beautiful that it risks breaking your heart.” Mark Twain. I can give you some facts about Lake Annecy – 14.6km long, 50km circumference, up to 82m deep. It was created some 18000 years ago by melted glaciers and is the second biggest lake in France. But that doesn’t tell you anything about the reality of Lake Annecy – it is one of the most beautiful lakes in the world. The water is turquoise coloured when the sun comes out, more like the Caribbean than southeast France. This is due to the plankton at the bottom of the lake which contains the cleanest The lake has three main types of fish, much prized by locals. Fishing is strictly controlled so if you want to find a restaurant serving authentic Lake Annecy fish, ask at the tourist office for details. You can swim in it and it has man-made beaches where you can relax and make like you’re in the Mediterranean. You can even dive in it, there’s a cruise ship wreck site close to the Imperial Palace Hotel suitable for experienced divers but you can also take a beginners course in the lake. It takes about an hour to drive all the way round the lake, by bike it takes 4-5 hours and if you don’t fancy a hard slog, hire an e-bike. There’s a great cycle path all the way round and it is absolutely worth the trip, maybe even staying overnight somewhere en route since you’ll pass through some lovely little villages:
The opening of the Canal du Midi On
King Arthur’s forest Kevin Pilley
© Aurelie Polvet Tourist Office Br
© Aurelie Polvet Tourist Office Br
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January: Stormy, misty, marvellous
March: Colmar in spring by Ramus.
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Chateau d’Azay-le-Rideau Standing
Royal Fortress of Chinon The royal
This time of the year in my little
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