The most beautiful lakeside towns in Haute-Savoie

Opposite the Duingt headland, on the lake’s eastern shore, Talloires-Montmin charms you with its discreet monastic heritage. It is a 20-min drive from Annecy or — even better — take the water bus to reach it in spectacular style! A change of pace then awaits: follow the path that climbs up to the hermitage of Saint-Germain and, 15 minutes later, you reach this retreat perched on the cliff. In the cave where the saint is said to have lived for 27 years, silence falls naturally; just above it, the chapel and its centuries-old lime tree overlook the Bay of Talloires.

Another option for a hike: the Roc de Chère trail. On this path, the air is scented with pine and heather, and you walk among oaks and maritime pines, signs of a microclimate in which Alpine and Mediterranean plants live side by side. Once evening comes, l’Auberge du Père Bise welcomes you for a night at the water’s edge.

On arriving in Menthon-Saint-Bernard, you can’t miss its fairytale château, inhabited by the same family for 800 years! In its rooms, you can admire a library boasting 12,000 works and tapestries illustrating hunting scenes and forest walks. From the terrace, Lake Annecy stretches out before your eyes, its deep blue offering an invitation to go down to the port, where the crystal-clear water reveals the pebbles under the surface.

Time stands still there on a morning dip or a small boat trip. At lunchtime, sit down in the light of the Art Deco atrium window of Le Palace de Menthon; facing the lake, talented chef Frédéric Delormes serves an incredibly refined cuisine.

In Yvoire, on the banks of Lake Geneva, you pass through the ramparts and enter a setting straight from the 14^th century: this fortified village proudly preserves its castle with a square keep and watchtowers. Its narrow streets wind amidst stone houses, flower-decked balconies, and craft shops. Continue to the Garden of Five Senses.

This former vegetable garden turned plant labyrinth awakens all the senses: touch the foliage, breathe in the herbs, listen to the murmur of the fountains. A little farther on, an Alpine meadow offers a reminder of the lake’s glacial origins. Finally, from the jetty, soak in the magnificent view of the Vaud Jura before sampling delicious fillets of perch freshly caught in the lake at Le Pré de la Cure. A real treat!

Water is everywhere in Évian. You can taste it at the Cachat spring, the historic mineral water source to which the town owes its renown, and see it sparkling at the foot of the Belle Époque hotels such as the Ermitage and the Royal, which bear witness to its golden age in the 19^th century. A 2-km promenade along the lake takes you to the casino in the port of Les Mouettes, passing by the Palais Lumière, a former spa complex turned cultural center.

Built between 1906 and 1913, the cable car links the heights of the town to the quays, with an unbeatable view over Lake Geneva. Then, on board a solar-powered boat, you reach the Jardins de l’eau de Pré-Curieux, gardens dedicated to wetland conservation that showcase the region’s unique ecosystem. Take the time to talk with a gardener working on its plantations: they will be glad to share their knowledge and you will often have a fascinating discussion!

In Thonon-les-Bains, take the time to soak up the gentle atmosphere and history of the setting. At Rives marina, watch the sight of the fishermen unloading their nets filled with Arctic char. Nearby, at the Fishing and Lake Ecomuseum, housed in colorful former workmen’s huts used to dry nets in days gone by, dive into the riches of Lake Geneva: discover age-old techniques, local fish, and the secrets of pristine water.

Then, head up toward the upper town where the mountain offers myriad perspectives and the Chablais museum looks back over 7,000 years of local history. Finally, make your way to the Domaine de Ripaille and enter the Neo-Gothic former residence of the Dukes of Savoy, where the lounges and smoking room are a reminder of 19^th-century elegance. Behind the château, the arboretum’s paths take you from fir trees to red oaks; with a little luck, you might even spot the fleeting outline of a squirrel!