Lac d'Annecy

Lac d'Annecy is one of the most beautiful lakes in the Alps and one of the cleanest in Europe, a long, narrow stretch of blue-green water between steep wooded mountains in the Haute-Savoie. It is about fourteen kilometres long and up to three kilometres wide, and it lies at an altitude of around 450 metres, with the town of Annecy at its northern end. Its clarity is the result of decades of work. In the 1950s and 1960s, the lake was threatened by pollution from the towns around it, and a ring of sewage collectors was built to protect it, so that today the water is clean enough for swimming, and divers can see far into the depths.

The lake is bordered by mountains of different character. To the east rise the limestone peaks of the Tournette, the highest at over 2,300 metres, and the jagged Dents de Lanfon, and to the west the broad ridge of the Semnoz, a mountain that is popular for walking, skiing and paragliding. Villages of old stone and terracotta line the shore, among them Talloires, with its former abbey, Menthon-Saint-Bernard, with a castle that is said to have inspired Walt Disney's Sleeping Beauty castle and where Saint Bernard, the founder of the Alpine hospices, was born, and Duingt, on the narrowest point of the lake, with a small medieval castle on a promontory. The painter Paul Cézanne painted the lake in 1896.

The lake is made for activity. Swimming is popular from the public beaches and the lakeside lawns, including the Paquier, a large grassy area beside the old town in Annecy, and boat hire companies rent pedalos, electric boats and kayaks. Sailing, windsurfing, waterskiing and paddleboarding are common, and the boats of the lake's cruise company run trips between the towns, with commentary on the landscape. A cycle path, the Voie Verte, circles the lake for about forty kilometres, mostly on a flat surface, and it is one of the most popular bike rides in France, with places to rent bicycles. Paragliders launch from the Col de la Forclaz above the eastern shore and glide down to land at Doussard or Talloires, a colourful sight on sunny days.

The town of Annecy, at the northern end, is known as the Venice of the Alps because of its canals, and its old town is a delight, with the Palais de l'Isle, built on an island in the Thiou river, the Château d'Annecy on its hill, the Cathédrale Saint-Pierre and the Musée de l'Abbaye. The markets and arcaded streets are lively, and restaurants serve lake fish such as perch, char and féra, along with Savoyard cheeses. The nearby Marché d'Annecy is a good place to taste local products.

The lake can be visited year-round, but summer is the high season, when roads and beaches are crowded, so it is wise to come early or in spring or autumn. In winter, mist and snow give the lake a quieter beauty. Access is free, and facilities such as toilets, picnic areas and boat hire are widely available. The lake suits families, cyclists, swimmers and walkers, and a few days is not too long to enjoy its shores.