Introduction

The breath-taking mountainous landscape of Haute-Savoie, coupled with an average altitude of 1,160m, makes the department ideal for alpine sports and it contains some of the world's best ski stations.

Located in the East of France in the region of Rhône-Alpes, Haute-Savoie borders both Italy and Switzerland and includes Lake Annecy, France's second largest lake, as well as the southern shores of Lake Geneva. The imposing Mont Blanc, Europe's tallest mountain at 4,810 metres, lies across Haute-Savoie's border with Italy.

History

The modern department of Haute-Savoie was part of the former independent state of Savoy that came into existence following the collapse of the Frankish Kingdom of Burgundy. Savoy was largely absorbed into France in 1860 as part of the treaty of Turin signed by Napoleon III that brought about the unification of Italy.

Major cities and resorts

• Annecy
• Chamonix
• Megève
• Saint-Julien-en-Genevois
• Thonon-les-Bains
• Bonneville

Weather

Haute-Savoie has a typical continental climate, enjoying warm dry summers and cold winters. Average temperatures in the department vary considerably depending on altitude and exposure. The ski-season is between December and April, when heavy snowfall occurs; although winter days in Haute-Savoie are often bright and sunny.

Tourist sites

A tourist destination since the late 18th century, Haute-Savoie's natural beauty makes it one of the most frequently visited departments in France.

The lakeside prefecture of Annecy is riddled with waterways, causing the town to be referred to as the Alpine Venice. Similarly situated along Lake Geneva, the medieval stone village of Thonon-Les-Bains has its own port, and is a great place to base yourself for activities on the lake such as scenic boat trips and water-sports.

The town of Chamonix is a popular year-round destination and despite being the widely acknowledged winter sports capital of the world, actually receives most visitors during the summer months. It is especially popular with mountaineering enthusiasts, a fact emphasised every August by the annual Fêtes des Guides de Chamonix, when the town celebrates its world-famous mountain guides through a series of climbing events, festivities and fireworks. The town's popularity with tourists predates even the first ascent of Mont Blanc in 1786, with Victor Hugo and Napoleon III among the guests that bought Chamonix its celebrity. Its permanent population of 10,000 is permanently outnumbered by the 5 million annual visitors staying who stay in its 60,000 tourist beds. Chamonix's après-ski is unsurpassed and the town boasts numerous bars, restaurants and nightclubs as well as a casino.

From outside Chamonix, one of the world's longest cable car ascents takes tourists up to the Aiguille du Midi (3842m), offering supreme views of the surrounding valley. Another cable car can be taken down to visit the ice sculptures in a grotto carved out of the Sea of Ice glacier.

Family entertainment

Many resorts in Haute-Savoie offer snow classes for children and towns such as Chamonix and Megève offer evening activities such as ice-shows and skating rinks.

Food and Drink

A wide variety of dining options are available in Haute-Savoie, from après-ski canteens serving fast food, to the international Michelin-starred restaurants of its larger towns and ski-resorts. The menus of the department's traditional eateries feature many dishes made from local produce such as Perch and Charr, fished from local lakes. Salted and smoked meats are also one of the staples of Savoyade cuisine, and donkey and goat sausages are commonly sold in its butcher's shops and restaurants. Other alpine delicacies that feature heavily in Haute-Savoie cuisine are polenta made from local maize, and the creamy Reblochon and Tomme de Savoie cheeses.

Skiing

With over thirty independent ski stations, Haute-Savoie is one of the world's most popular ski destinations and possesses such prestigious resorts as Chamonix, Flaine and Megève.

Situated in the Chamonix valley, which includes five separate ski areas and many picturesque villages, the town of Chamonix is especially prized by skiers and snowboarders for its runs down the Vallé Blanche glacier, offering astonishing views of the mountains Mont Blanc and Aiguille du Midi. Chamonix also boasts a maximum vertical of 3840m, the highest in Europe.

Other resorts in Haute-Savoie include the traditional town of Megève, part of the vast Megève ski area and the ski-in/ski-out resort of Flaine, which is set in a spectacular glacial bowl.

Skiers with children should head for Samoëns, whose family-friendly reputation is endorsed by the award of the Petit Montagnard quality charter. The charter guarantees safe and regulated tobogganing, nursery slopes and skiing lessons for young children; while the town also provides entertainment for 3-12 years olds, family-friendly restaurants and the pricing policies of its ski-passes (among the cheapest in the French Alps) are specifically geared towards children.

Walking

A walker's paradise, Haute-Savoie offers innumerable opportunities for hiking-enthusiasts and casual ramblers to take in some breathtaking alpine scenery. The gentle trails through the forest of Semnoz offer shade to walkers during the hot summers, while the ascent of La Tournette (2351m) offers stunning views of Lake Annecy.

Other sports

Over 50 equestrian centres, pony clubs and riding schools offer lessons and trekking through the countryside of Haute-Savoie. In the summer, tourists can even rent donkeys for the day.

While Haute-Savoie is home to some of the most gruelling mountain stages in the Tour de France, more moderate cycle routes exist in the department, such as the popular 40-kilometre road circuit around Lake Annecy, which is traffic free along the western shore.

Among Haute-Savoie's 12 golf courses is the prestigious Evian Masters Golf Club where every year the world's top 78 professionals come to compete by the shores of Lake Geneva. Another course offering spectacular lakeside views is the Golf de Giez, Lac d'Annecy.

For thrill-seeking holiday-makers, the heights of Haute-Savoie's mountain ridges offer many opportunities for paragliding and parachuting and mountaineering. Also, Chamonix hosts the annual world rock-climbing championships.

Wine tasting

While not renowned for its wines, the Haute-Savoie's vineyards to the South of Lake Geneva and around lake Annecy offer tours and wine-tasting to visitors. Haute-Savoie's wines tend to be made from obscure grape varieties such as Chasselas and Jacquère and due to the small number of vineyards they are not widely available outside the restaurants of Annecy and Chamonix.

Ease of access

Accessible through the Mont Blanc tunnel from Chamonix, Geneva airport in Switzerland has flights to almost every UK destination from numerous traditional and budget carriers.

Haute-Savoie can also be easily reached from Lyon Airport which receives British Airways flights from Birmingham, Gatwick and Manchester as well as Air France services from Heathrow. They also both fly to Geneva Airport just over the Swiss border.

Chambéry Airport in the neighbouring department of Savoie receives Ryanair flights from a number of destinations.

Value for money

The numerous ski stations in the department offer a wide choice to suit all budgets. Large resorts such as Chamonix contain many luxury shops and restaurants whose prices are similar to central London; although the town is not exclusively expensive and has many affordable restaurants from which meals can be bought from four euros upwards.

Summary

An all year-round destination, Haute-Savoie combines beautiful scenery with typical French architecture and traditions. Many activities are available in the department, from luxury spa-treatments, sight-seeing in its towns and relaxing on its lakes, to rock-climbing, skiing and paragliding. Summer or winter, a holiday in Haute-Savoie offers something for everyone.