Haute-Savoie

Haute-Savoie (Upper Savoie) consists of the small nook of France, bordering Switzerland, across Lake Geneva to the north, and Italy to the east. It is a department in Auvergne-Rhône-Alpes.

Cities

• 1 Annecy is the principal city of the Haute-Savoie, and very attractive to tourists for the surrounding mountains, lake, and medieval sights.
• 2 Annemasse is a town of French people commuting to work in Switzerland, across the border from Geneva, on the French side.
• 3 Chamonix is an alpine resort town, nestled at the foot of Mont Blanc and all the allurements that it holds.
• 4 La Clusaz is an attractive mountain town and popular ski resort near Geneva.
• 5 Chatel is a picturesque ski resort that still has working farms in the centre of the village, and fresh local produce freely available.
• 6 Evian is the town for which the world-famous bottled water is named.
• 7 Flaine was designed by Bauhaus architect Marcel Breuer in the 1960s, and has one of Europe's fastest gondolas
• 8 Megève has extensive skiing and is easily reached from Geneva airport.
• 9 Menthon St. Bernard is a small resort town on the eastern shore of Lake Annecy.
• 10 Samoëns is a charming example of a traditional French alpine town.
• 11 Sixt-Fer-à-Cheval is classified amongst the "Most Beautiful Villages of France" with regard to its rich nine-century-old architecture.

Other destinations

Lake Annecy

• La Vallée verte — provides a delightful glimpse of rural life in the Savoie. If you are inspired to take a scenic trip, drive through this charming spire-spotted countryside before traversing the northern-bordering hill for a great view of Lake Geneva. Boege is a central village in this green valley whose church holds a rare black Virgin.
• 1 Lake Geneva (Lac Léman) — the northern border of Haute Savoie. This lengthy body of water provides an opportunity for sailing as well as a picturesque scene for a lakeside picnic.
• Lake Annecy — the central lake on the historic medieval town of the same name. This former seat of the Duchy of Savoy is now the prefecture of Haute-Savoie.
• Le Cirque du Fer-à-Cheval — a serene horseshoe shaped national park at the end of the Vallée du Giffre near Sixt-Fer-à-Cheval.
• 2 Le Grand Massif — with 265 km of pistes Le Grand Massif is amongst the top 5 ski areas in France. The snow record is exceptional for the relatively low altitude and Flaine holds record of snowfall every year.
• 3 Mont Blanc — the tallest peak in the EU.
• 4 Praz de Lys-Sommand — a small ski resort with 60 alpine pistes of all levels, 60 km of nordic pistes, and several hiking trails.

Understand

The Haute-Savoie became part of France in the 19th Century after a trade off between France and the Piemont noble Family. This is why a lot of local do not consider themselves French but "Savoyard" or even "Savoisiens" (movement for independence from France, not followed widely) in their own right. The locals can be a bit tough to deal with and most regret the old days as this particular region went from very rural to over-flowing with inhabitants during the last 20 years (population tripled, house prices among the highest in France) but overall they are quite nice people.

Many residents of the Haute-Savoie take pride in the culture and lifestyle that can be described as "typiquement Savoyard" (typical Savoyard, a variation of the word Savoie). Not only do many people believe it is one of the most beautiful parts of France, but there is also the cheese and other special dishes to dote on. Taking a chance to talk to the local people about the ways this area is different than the rest of France is sure to be enlightening and would greatly enrich the travel experience.

The Haute-Savoie, particularly the rural areas, can also provide a revealing look at the quiet, small-town life in France. For the tourist who has a tendency to forget the France outside of Paris, this may be especially eye-opening and entertaining.

Get in

By plane

The two largest airports near the Haute-Savoie are located in Lyon and Geneva and are serviced by most major international and some discount European airlines, two smaller airport are located in Grenoble and Chambéry and have flights from by a dozen or so European and African cities.

By train

Haute-Savoie is easily accessible with a 1-hr-30-min ride from Lyon, by high speed train (train à grande vitesse, TGV). The stations at Annecy, Evian and Annemasse, among others, are served by the TGV.

By car

The drive to Annecy from Lyon is about 2 hours on the autoroute, which is tolled. Savoie can be reached from Italy in 15 min through the tunnel under Mont Blanc, entering France at Chamonix. This is tolled and quite pricy.

Do

Dozens of excellent ski resorts in the region (see 'cities', above, for a few of the most well known.)

Eat

If cheese sounds good, the Haute Savoie offers a variety of dishes that are sure to please the palate.

• Fondue Savoyarde is incredible. This dish is served family-style with a bubbling pot of cheese melted in white wine at the center of the table and bite-size pieces of bread filling a bowl. The bread pieces are pushed onto fondue forks and dipped into the cheese. Be sure to let it cool before eating, however hard the wait may be.
• Raclette is another regional specialty. In the traditional style of serving it, a wedge of Raclette cheese is speared and set up so that one side is facing a flame. As the cheese melts, it is scraped off (hence the name "Raclette" which literally means scrapping) and poured over boiled potatoes. To complete the meal a variety of cold meats is often served. This is the way it is likely to be served in restaurants, though an electrical apparatus is more often used for melting the cheese when it is eaten in homes.
• Tartiflette is an especially "typiquement Savoyard" (typical Savoyard) meal. The locals all consider it a necessity in any correct sampling of the regional foods, and take great joy in introducing foreigners to it. Tartiflette is made with a local cheese called Reblochon. It is a casserole dish made with potatoes mixed with pieces of pork and the Reblochon melted in and over the top. It may sound simple, yet it is delicious!

Note that the Fondue and the Raclette are both prepared and eaten in a way that requires people to wait on each other and share the common food source. This is representative of the French fashion of taking time to truly enjoy all meals and the presence of friends and family. So, don't rush yourself though the experience.

Bon Appetit!

Sleep

• Peak Retreats (Grand Massif Accommodation Specialist), ☏ +44 2392 839 310. A range of self-catering chalets, apartments and hotels in Samoens, Morillon, Les Carroz d'Araches and Sixt-fer-à-Cheval. Accommodation sleeping 2-20, lift passes, ski school, equipment hire can be arranged. Bookable from the UK. 

Respect

It is generally expected to greet other people you encounter when walking in the mountains.

When speaking French, refer to Lake Geneva as le lac Léman or simply Léman, as calling it le lac de Genève is generally not well received.

Go next

• Geneva, though in the neighboring country of Switzerland, is only a border crossing away from the Haute-Savoie city of Annemasse.

Neighbouring departments:

• Ain to the west
• Savoie to the south