3 Daytrips from Annecy

Posted on 01. Sep, 2011 by in Destinations, Europe Travel, France

While Annecy is certainly a must if you are visiting the Haute-Savoie region, it is however small enough to be wrapped in a day – but that doesn’t mean you should move on to another place just yet. Annecy offers many interesting possible daytrips destinations reachable in less than an hour’s drive, three of which I have had the chance to enjoy:

Gorges du Fier and Château Montrottier

I included these two places in a single daytrip because they are very close to each other – 400 meters to be exact. The former, Gorges du Fier, is a spectacular narrow canyon formed by the powerful Fier current – 25 meters high, 5 meters wide. The history and science of the place is nicely explained throughout the visit, which, for only 5 euros, lasts around an hour and a half.

The latter part of this daytrip is the 13th century Château Montrottier. Located on a steep hill, it dominates the valley and offers amazing views on the region. Its grounds and gardens, even though on the small side, are particularly enjoyable.

Gorges du Fier and Château Montrottier

Crêt-du-Châtillon

This little piece of heaven is actually the summit of the 1700 meters high Mont Semnoz. Words can’t even do justice to the scenery from up there – you can see everything from the lake Annecy, wild cows and goats, to many other moutains, including the Mont-Blanc on clear days. It is reachable by both bike and car, for those of you adventurous enough to go up those steep streets with sole willpower. I even made a panoramic video for your enjoyment.


Menthon Saint-Bernard

On the other side of the Lake Annecy is set this quaint little village, mostly known for its outstanding castle. It has the very sought-after medieval look, with many high towers and dramatic views on the lake. It’s actually one of the most important castles of the region, with over 105 rooms and a library filled with 12,000 books – that should keep you busy!

Château Menthon-Saint-Bernard by Vaxjo

There are many other daytrips possible (Geneva, Chamonix, Evian-les-Bains), but these were my favorites. If you are the quick-okay-I’ve-seen-it-what’s-next kind of tourist, you can even manage to fit all three places in a single Annecy daytrip.

Have you been to either of these destinations? What were your thoughts?

Related posts:

  1. 7 Easy Daytrips from London
  2. Visiting the Plateau de Gergovie in Auvergne

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6 Responses to “3 Daytrips from Annecy”

  1. Brenna

    01. Sep, 2011

    Oh my goodness. How breathtaking! I have never been to Annecy, but these are great ideas for a little vacation :)

    Reply to this comment

  2. Katherina

    01. Sep, 2011

    I have never been to any of these places – but they certainly look fabulous. So fairy tale like! But I think the Château Menthon-Saint-Bernard is my favorite.

    Reply to this comment

  3. Michael

    11. Sep, 2011

    We’ve visitied Annecy once for a few days and plan to do so again and these look excellent for visiting surrounding areas.

    Reply to this comment

  4. Andrea

    03. Oct, 2011

    I just got back from Annecy and loved it. What a gorgeous little town, as is the surrounding area.

    Reply to this comment

Trackbacks/Pingbacks

  1. Weekend in Annecy: where to go and what to do - September 22, 2011

    [...] Thanks Margo for this opportunity! For more information on Annecy and the region, I suggest to take a look at my daytrip suggestions. [...]

  2. 2011 in Photos on Eurotrip Tips - December 29, 2011

    [...] its romantic atmosphere and beautiful sights. One of the most breathtaking sight was definitely going up Mount Semnoz and admire the turquoise waters of Lake Bourget, contrasting with the Alps and the green flora. [...]

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