French Alps (also Savoy Alps) travel guide: Seven must-see highlights
The seven wonders of the Savoy Alps
The French Alps stretch from Lake Geneva to the Mediterranean, but their highest and most spectacular reaches are in Savoy.
1 Go up the Aiguille du Midi
The tourist town and ski resort of Chamonix hasn’t won any beauty awards, but it did receive a platinum medal for its location below Western Europe’s highest peak, Mont Blanc. Numerous lifts take you to spectacular belveders, but the best is this dizzying cable car, the world’s highest vertical climb, to the 3778-metre summit of a needle-like boulder surrounded by powerful snowfields. Once there, step into a glass box 1000 meters above the void, if you dare. To see chamonix.com
2 You’ll be impressed (and horrified) Mer de Glace
This once extremely thick, 7.5-kilometer-long, deeply crevassed glacier stretching down the northern flank of Mont Blanc has been a famous tourist destination for 300 years; its lower end was once visible from Chamonix. The glacier is now retreating rapidly but is still an astounding sight, much like the gray, etched landscape left behind by the contraction. You can reach Montenvers by cog railway and cable car, or a two-hour uphill walk from Chamonix. To see chamonix.com
3 Escape to Sixt-Fer-a-Cheval
If you veer left as you ascend from Geneva towards Chamonix, you will discover a high valley located in the center of Samoens and several hamlets, well outside the international tourism circle. Continue on and reach Six-Fer-a-Cheval or the Horseshoe, the Savoy Alps’ best-kept secret. A glacial cirque, the tip of the valley is surrounded by massive 700-foot cliffs lined with numerous waterfalls, showcased by a largely flat walk through meadows. In late autumn the foliage is magnificent. To see haut-giffre.co.uk
4 Cruise around Lake Annecy
If you’ve ever done an Alpine puzzle, it’s likely to feature the lake or the town of Annecy, covered in geraniums and petunias. Surrounded by alpine peaks and surrounded by beaches, the lake is a natural gem that deserves a wander around. It’s only 42 kilometers, but you can spend the day taking in a breathtaking swim in the glacial waters, lunch at a lakeside restaurant, and a good old-fashioned rowing boat trip. Chateau de Menthon-Saint Bernard is ridiculously romantic. To see lac-annecy.com
5 Go scuba diving in Tignes
In winter in Tignes, swap your ski gear for a wetsuit and dive into an ice hole on a mountain lake for a view you never expected. Below are glacial rocks and trout, while above are surreal images of translucent blue ice filled with air bubbles. With water just 2 degrees above freezing, 15 minutes is the limit for a toe-shaking diving tour. Advanced divers can swim under the natural ice rink and see the skaters spin upside down. To see tignes.net
6 Go for a walk Vanoise National Park
France’s oldest national park covers a large part of eastern Savoy and is the perfect destination for hiking and (heart-pounding) cycling. Sharp turns and high passes are often seen in the Tour de France. Mountain goats, chamois and marmots are also found in this region, which has a magnificent view with more than 100 peaks above 3000 meters. The villages include the beautiful Bonneval and other picturesquely abandoned villages on high pastures. Is it the best? There are few international tourists, just wonderful peace. To see haute-maurienne-vanoise.com
7 Get a dose of culture Chambery
While landscapes, hiking and skiing are the main attractions, the Savoy Alps also offer history and culture. Annex A is Chambery, the former capital of independent Savoy at the foot of the Alps and has a beautiful, Italianate old town beneath a castle. Explore backstreets, hidden courtyards, a fountain incongruously decorated with elephants, and the cathedral with its extraordinary architecture. trompe l’œil Architecture. Head north along Bourget Lake; You’ll find Aix-les-Bains, a former monastery and luxury spa resort. To see chamberymontagnes.com
The author traveled at his own expense.
Sign up for the Traveler Deals newsletter
Get exclusive travel deals delivered straight to your inbox. Sign up now.
Brian Johnston seemed destined to be a travel writer: an Irish man born in Nigeria, raised in Switzerland, lived in Britain and China, and now calls Australia home.
