Haute-Savoie Travel Guide, Auvergne-Rhône-Alpes, France
The Haute-Savoie is a French department belonging to the region Auvergne-Rhône-Alpes. Haute-Savoie is an economic and tourist region, due to its geographical border location and its presence in the Alps. It is bordered on the west by the Ain, on the south by Savoy, on the north by the canton of Geneva, Switzerland, Lake Geneva, and on the east, by the canton of Valais and Italy.
The Haute-Savoie became part of France in the 19th Century after a trade off between France and the Piemont noble Family. Many residents of the Haute-Savoie take pride in the culture and lifestyle that can be described as “typiquement Savoyard”. 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.
Geography
The Haute-Savoie is part of the region Auvergne-Rhône-Alpes. It borders the departments of Ain and Savoie, as well as the cantons of Geneva, Vaud and Valais in Switzerland and the Aosta Valley in Italy. Part of the border with Switzerland is materialized by Lake Geneva, including the canton of Vaud in its entirety. On its territory is located part of the Mont Blanc massif, on the Franco-Italian border, the highest peak in Western Europe with its 4,809 m. The average altitude of the department is 1,160 m, and its area of 4,388 km.
Its relief is determined by major geographical elements:
the Mont-Blanc massif, which is a crystalline massif whose highest point is Mont Blanc, which rises to 4,810 meters;
the limestone pre-Alps, including the Aravis which constitute the central mountainous area of the department; the Chablais massif, the Bornes and the Bauges;
the Savoyard foreland with the Geneva Haut-Savoyard and the Albanais, bounded to the west by the last folds of the Jura.
Between these various elements, the valleys are articulated, among which it should be noted:
the Arve valley, which constitutes an important European traffic axis from Geneva to the Mont-Blanc tunnel;
the gorge of Annecy in which houses the Lake Annecy and joined by Ugine and Albertville, the Tarentaise and the Maurienne Valley, valleys on the department Savoie.
Its natural resources include:
lakes: Lake Geneva 52,200 ha including 21,400 ha in Haute-Savoie, Lake Annecy 2,700 ha;
watercourse: 3,500 km;
forests: 170,000 ha;
nature reserves: 20,000 ha (second French department).
Haute-Savoie is home to nine nature reserves: Aiguilles Rouges, Carlaveyron, Vallon de Bérard, Contamines-Montjoie, Passy, Sixt-Passy, Roc de Chère, Bout du lac d’Annecy, Delta de la Dranse.
Cities
Annecy (“the Rome of the Alps” or “the Venice of the Alps”) – The capital of the department is located on the shores of Lake Annecy, in the cluse separating the Massif des Bornes from the Massif des Bauges, between Geneva and Chambéry. Restaurants, hotels and youth hostel. Museum-castle with Regional Observatory of Alpine Lakes, Palais de l’Île-Interpretation Center for architecture and heritage, churches, cathedral, basilica, gardens and parks, Pont des Amours, CITIA. Venetian Carnival, Spanish Film Biennale, International Animated Film Festival, Noctibules, Lake Festival, Italian Film Festival, Return from the Alpine pastures.
Annemasse – Many parks and gardens. Contemporary Art Center.
Bonneville – Remains of a medieval Château des Faucigny.
Chamonix – At the foot ofthe Mont-Blanc Massif. “Old” Chamonix, Alpine Museum, Espace Tairraz, Montenvers-la Mer de Glace, Aiguille du Midi, Brévent-La Flégère. Lac des Gaillands. Beach Lake. Winter and summer sports resort. Les Piolets d’or, Musicaltitude Festival, Guides Festival, Cosmo Jazz Festival.
Cluses – Museum of Watchmaking and Turning, church. Image et Neige Festival, Fair Trade Market, Music in stock, Esperluette, Cluses O’clock.
Évian-les-Bains – Palais Lumière, Maison Gribaldi, Town hall, theater and casino, funicular, church, Cachat refreshment bar, thermal park, Pré-Curieux water gardens, Evian water bottling plant in Amphion -les-Bains, spa and summer sports and recreation, beach, port. Musical stopovers, Evian Masters, Estivales theatrical, The Fabulous Village.
Rumilly – Capital of the Albanian. Albanian Museum, old quarters, church, factory outlet.
Thonon-les-Bains – Sub-prefecture, former capital of Chablais. Church, basilica, monastery, Hôtel-Dieu, Chablais museum, town hall, port, fishing and lake ecomuseum, Ripaille castle and estate, forest, Delta-de-la-Dranse nature reserve, beach, resort thermal spa and summer sports. Montjoux Festival, Fondus du macadam, Foire de Crète, Festival des Courants d’airs.
Yvoire – One of the most beautiful villages in FranceFirst medieval town in the department. Church, House of History, Labyrinth-Garden of the Five Senses, La Châtaignerie.
Alex – Arenthon Castle.
Clermont-en-Genevois – Castle, Jazz Festival in August.
Sévrier – Paccard museum and ecomuseum of Lake Annecy.
History
The territory of the present department of Haute-Savoie was part until 1860 an independent state constituted and governed from the XI century by the House of Savoy, the Savoy States. This family of great feudal lords based its power on the control of roads and passes through the Alps, its association particularly with the house of Burgundy, with the papacy, with the Germanic emperors and even with the kingdom of France to which it has. gave many of his sons and daughters. Three territories make up the department and were gradually controlled by the Savoys: theGenevois, from the former county of Geneva; the Faucigny along the Arve valley, a former barony, and its powerful lords and the Chablais. Blocked in the west by the power of the kings of France, the princes of Savoy fortified their possessions in the region around the county, then the Duchy of Savoy, before moving their center of interest to Piedmont and all of Italy of the North, to obtain a royal title with the kingdom known as Piedmont-Sardinia, the preponderant element of Italian unity.
During the French Revolution, the Savoyard territory was united with France in 1792. The Duchy of Savoy becomes the department of Mont-Blanc and divided into seven districts (Annecy, Carouge, Chambéry, Cluses, Moûtiers, Saint-Jean-de-Maurienne and Thonon). With the annexation of Geneva, the northern part (North of Genevois, Faucigny, Chablais) and the city of Calvin form the department of Léman (1798). The House of Savoy definitively found all of its possessions before the revolutionary period in 1815. In 1816, part of the communes of Geneva were given with the Treaty of Turin for the creation of the canton of Geneva. A reorganization of the duchy was put in place in 1835-37, under the reign of Charles-Albert of Sardinia, in particular with the creation of two administrative divisions, including that of Annecy (Genevois, Nord du Faucigny, Chablais), the beginnings of the future departmental division.
Following the Treaty of Turin and after a plebiscite in 1860, the Duchy of Savoy was annexed to France. The Haute Savoie department is made up of the three northern provinces (Chablais, Faucigny and Genevois). It is one of the last large metropolitan areas to have joined France. Between May andJune 1860, the Treaty of Turin is ratified by both parties and the June 14an official and symbolic ceremony takes place in Chambéry for the handing over of the two future Savoyard departments to France. At the beginning of XX century, the steel industry is very strong thanks to the rapid growth of factories steel Ugine, which produces half of the French special steels, and in 1922 became the Electrochemistry Society, electrometallurgy and Ugine Electric Steel Mills, produces stainless steel.
The department of Haute-Savoie is occupied by fascist Italy from November 1942 at September 1943. At 1 January 2016the Rhône-Alpes region, to which the department belonged, merges with the Auvergne region to become the new administrative region Auvergne-Rhône-Alpes.
Heritage
Haute-Savoie has an important environmental, cultural and tourist heritage.
Generally there are several tourist areas:
Lake Annecy
Albanian Country
Aravis range
Faucigny
Mont-Blanc region
Val Montjoie
Chamonix Valley
Giffre Valley
Chablais
Val d’Abondance
Lake Geneva region
Genevan
Saleve
Massif des Bauges
Massif des Bornes
We must also mention the tourist routes:
Contemporary sculpture route
Route of the Grandes Alpes
Contemplative strolls in the Giffre valley
Ramaz pass road
Tourist route of the Col de Joux-Plane
Giffre Contemporary Art Route
Among its most popular sites:
Annecy, its old town and its lakeside with beaches;
La Roche-sur-Foron, 2 medieval town in Haute-Savoie, the Bénite Fontaine, a major pilgrimage site;
the Mont Blanc with Chamonix, the Aiguille du Midi, Brevent – Flegere by cable cars, and the Mer de Glace by the Montenvers. The famous Tour du Mont-Blanc in the three countries, Switzerland, Italy and France, is a long distance hiking circuit. Saint-Gervais-Mont-Blanc with the Tramway du Mont-Blanc and the Mont-Blanc Express leaving from Fayet station;
the Fer-à-Cheval circus;
the gorges of Fier;
the French shore of Lake Geneva, with Évian-les-Bains, Thonon-les-Bains, Yvoire, and the beaches;
the major ski resorts: Avoriaz, Chamonix, La Clusaz, Le Grand Bornand, Flaine, Saint-Gervais-les-Bains, Megève, Morzine…
Castles
Château d’Alex ou d’Arenthon à Alex (Fondation pour l’art contemporain Salomon)
Château-Vieux Classified MH (2011) and Château-Neuf Classified MH (2011) des Allinges
Château d’Annecy (museum) Listed MH (1959) in Annecy
Château de Bonneville or Béatrix de Faucigny or the Rocher Inscribed MH (1987) in Bonneville
Château d’Avully in Brenthonne Listed MH (1974)
Clermont Castle Classified MH (1950) in Clermont -en-Genevois
Château de Faverges Listed MH (1991, partially) in Faverges, currently family holiday home
Château de Montrottier Classified MH (1919, 1935) (property of the Académie florimontane) in Lovagny
Château de Menthon-Saint-Bernard Inscribed MH (1989) in Menthon-Saint-Bernard
Beauregard Castle (XIII century) in Saint-Jeoire
Château de Ripaille Inscribed MH (1942) in Thonon-les-Bains
Château de Thorens Inscribed MH (1960, partially) in Thorens-Glières
Religious heritage
The Haute-Savoie has an important religious heritage, witness of evangelization at the V century. Many churches located on its territory allow you to discover a diverse architecture such as Romanesque, Gothic as well as the ” Savoyard or Alpine baroque ” with the use of onion bell towers, the neoclassical style, which is also qualified as “Sardinian. », As well as for contemporary periods the neo-Gothic, the neo-Romanesque and the eclecticism and more recently the architecture known as neo-regionalist.
A mountain country, Haute-Savoie very early on welcomed monasteries in remote places including those of Abondance (1108) Classified MH (1875), Talloires (founded 1019, hotel)Inscribed MH (1944), Contamine-sur -Arve (1083), Abbey of Saint Jean d’Aulps (1094, ruins) Classified MH (1902), Sixt (1144) Registered MH (1997), the Charterhouse of Reposoir (1151, Carmel monastery) Classified MH (1910, 1995, partially), Entremont (1154), or the Charterhouse of Mélan (1292) Classified MH (1911).
Civil heritage
Haute-Savoie Many buildings have been labeled “Heritage XX century”. Among the great figures of Haut-Savoyard architecture, we must mention Maurice Novarina, from Thonon-les-Bains.
Dams
Seyssel dam
Remarkable bridges
Pont des Amours (Annecy)
Pont de la Caille (Allonzier la Caille)
Abyss Bridge (between Cusy and Gruffy)
Seyssel suspension and cable-stayed bridges
Cable cars and funiculars
Salève cable car (Étrembières)
Aiguille du Midi cable car
Brévent-La Flégère cable car
Grands Montets cable car
Bellevue cable car
Evian-Neuvecelle funicular
Cultural heritage
Culture in Haute-Savoie are diverse forms of art (music, painting, theater…), of culture relating to different types of heritage (architectural, gastronomic…) as well as to cultural festivities (festivals and cultural events). Haute-Savoie and Savoie belong to the linguistic area of Arpitan. We sometimes speak locally of Savoyard dialect or more simply of Savoyard. There are many protected monuments in Haute-Savoie: many churches, Annecy cathedral, Reposoir charterhouse, Sixt-Fer-à-Cheval, Aulps, Abondance abbeys, Allinges, Annecy, Faverges castles, Clermont en Genevois, Duingt, La Roche-sur-Foron, Menthon-Saint-Bernard, suspension bridge on Caille to Cruseilles, fountain XIX century Bonneville, etc.
Museums
Six museums are labeled “museums of France”: the museum- castle of Annecy, the alpine museum of Chamonix, the Léon Marès museum in Lovagny, the Albanian museum in Rumilly, the Chablais museum in Thonon-les-Bains, the Thônes Valleys Museum. There is a center for scientific, technical and industrial culture (CCSTI), La Turbine, in Cran-Gevrier. The Maison du Salève, an interpretation, entertainment and conference center, is a tribute to Mont Salève, near Geneva, and to the links that have been woven between man and his mountain since prehistoric times. Born from the restoration of a large barn from the Carthusian age (more than 200 years ago), it is the marriage between architectural and historical heritage and current techniques respectful of the environment (geothermal heating, recovery of rainwater for the garden, etc.); between an intense local life and a preserved and calm environment.
Other museums:
Annecy Castle Museum
Palace of the Island (Annecy)
Permanent exhibition on the universe of animated cinema CITIA (Annecy)
La Turbine at Cran-Gevrier
Paccard museum and ecomuseum of Lake Annecy in Sévrier
Watchmaking and Turning Museum in Cluses
Mountain Nature Center at Rubins Castle in Sallanches
Espace Tairraz: crystal museum and alpinism area, Alpine museum (Chamonix)
Mountain museum of Les Houches
Museum of Sacred Art in Saint-Nicolas-de-Véroce
Departmental Museum of the Resistance and Morette site (Thônes)
Paysalp Ecomuseum in Viuz-en-Sallaz
Ecomusée du Clos-Parchet on the Col de Joux-Plane road, near Samoëns
Museum of Mechanical Music in Les Gets
Museum of the Granges de Servette in Douvaine
Maison du Salève in Présilly
Le Petit Pays in Andilly
Shoemaking Museum in Alby-sur-Chéran.
Viuz Archaeological Museum and Butterfly and Insect Museum in Faverges
Museum of the Pays de Thônes and ecomuseum of Wood and Forest in Thônes
Heritage House in Le Grand-Bornand
Haut-Val-d’Arly Museum in Megève
Museum of Traditions and Boats of Lake Geneva at the Château de Saint-Gingolph
Châblais Museum and Fishing and Lake Ecomuseum in Thonon-les-Bains
Cow and Alpine Pastures Museum in Frangy
Museum of Nature in Gruffy.
Morette site
Contemporary art
There is in Annecy one of the five higher art schools in the Rhône-Alpes region leading to the National Higher Diploma of Plastic Expression (DNSEP). The contemporary art arteppes-space (cultural sector of the MJC Center Social Maison de l’Enfance) is a reference center in contemporary art. It fulfills a mission of centrality which is entrusted to it by the Town Hall of Annecy, by presenting a cycle of exhibitions each season and by welcoming artists in residence. It also offers workshops and plastic and visual arts courses throughout the year for children aged 6 to 13. He is a member of the Departmental Exchange Network for Contemporary Art in Haute-Savoie, coordinated by ODAC (General Council).
The contemporary art is exhibited in several galleries Annecy, Évian-les-Bains and Thonon-les-Bains, in different places (museums, library, JC…) Annecy, at Villa Park in Annemasse, in Cultural center of Flaine. The Musée des Granges de Servette (Douvaine-Chens-sur-Léman), a benchmark for contemporary art in Rhône Alpes, exhibits a permanent collection of paintings and sculptures, enriched each year through a temporary exhibition (opening in July and August)
The foundation for contemporary art by Claudine and Jean Marc Salomon is carrying out an action to promote contemporary art in Annecy and at Arenthon castle in Alex, in conjunction with the MAMCO in Geneva. The “Acte1” association is also a player in the art world, in the Thônes valleys. The Art-logic association brings together more than 2,000 artists in the region and regularly organizes exhibitions and artistic events. On the other hand, temporary exhibitions take place in the summer at the Charterhouse of Mélan in Taninges.
Literature
The Rhône-Alpes Agency for Books and Documentation has around thirty bookstores and as many libraries in Haute-Savoie. Many contemporary authors have ties to Haute-Savoie: Jacques Ancet, John Berger, Michel Butor, Andrée Brunin, André Depraz, Roger Frison-Roche, Jean-Pierre Gandebeuf, Jean-Luc Hennig, Brigitte Hermann, Yves Hughes, Jean- Marc Lovay, Valère Novarina, Robert Piccamiglio, Francis Pornon, Anne Sauvy, Danièle Séraphin, Michelle Tourneur, Jean-Vincent Verdonnet, the comic strip authors Félix Meynet and Céno (La Babole), and, for the youth, François Beiger, Yves Hughes, Capucine Mazille. Haute-Savoie attracted some famous writers of the XVIII and XIX centuries especially around the editor François Buloz: Eugene Sue, Anna de Noailles….
Performing arts
The Annecy conservatory is one of the three national conservatories in the Rhône-Alpes region. There is an approved municipal music and dance school in Annemasse and Seynod.
The Bonlieu cultural center in Annecy is one of the five national stages of Rhône-Alpes. The Seynod auditorium constitutes the other important stage of the Annecy agglomeration with the Brise Glace for amplified music.
In the Annemassian agglomeration, Château-Rouge, cultural center and “Rhône-Alpes scene”, ensures the creation and distribution of the performing arts (theater, dance, music) and develops quality programming for the French and Geneva public.
The Espace Maurice Novarina “Maison des arts”, in Thonon-les-Bains is an important stage in Haute-Savoie.
Cinema
Annecy is home to the City of the Moving Image (CITIA) and, each year, it hosts the International Animated Film Festival (FIFA) organized by the International Center for Animated Cinema (CICA). Annecy also hosts an Italian film festival at the beginning of October each year. The city of Cluses is also home to Cochet Studios, a public film organization. For cinema, see the section for the entire Savoie region.
Cultural events
January
International hot-air balloons in Praz-sur-Arly the 2nd weekend of the month, large hot-air balloon gathering.
Avoriaz Cabaret at the beginning of the month, cabaret dinners in several restaurants.
The Starry Snows in Châtel for 3 days, a gastronomy festival with a cooking test for the Franco-Swiss chefs of the Portes du Soleil, workshops, tastings.
Night of the Accordion in Thollon-les-Mémises, dinner dance.
February
Festival des Courants d’Air in Thonon-les-Bains, Sciez and Evian-les-Bains, various concerts of French song.
Carnival in La Clusaz, with some 10,000 visitors, because it is an institution.
Festival of Regional Gastronomy and Heritage in Combloux for 5 days: giant market, wine fair, evenings, guided tours of farms, expovente of poyas on planks, counted points, cut paper.
Snow Carnival in Avoriaz.
Hot air ballooning in the mountains of Les Carroz-d’Araches.
Thollongand market in Thollon-les-Mémises.
March
Saint-Gervais Humor Festival for a week in the middle of the month, humor in all its forms, from one-man-show to caricature.
Rock the Pistes Festival in Avoriaz, end of the month for 5 days, with good sizes.
Avoriaz Jazz Up Festival, concerts and dinner concerts with international programming.
Rock the Pistes Festival in Châtel for 3 days.
April
Les Piolets d’or in Chamonix at the beginning of the month for 4 days, conferences, exhibitions, screenings celebrating mountaineering and the spirit of the roped party.
May
Musical stopovers in Evian-les-Bains, the 2nd and 3rd weeks, classical and contemporary music.
Festival des Musiques du Bas-Valais in Saint-Gingolph.
June
Rockailles Festival in Reignier. Organized by the Rockailles association, it celebrated 25 years of rock in 2005. More than 15 concerts and street shows over 2 days the last weekend of June.
July
Alpine market for art creators in Alby-sur-Chéran. Organized by the municipality, FAAPS 74 and the association “Passerelles”.
Megève Jazz Contest in Megève over 4 days: Jazz tournament, concerts, jazz marathon, jazz parade.
Moments of music, Summer nights in Megève in July and August, concerts of baroque music, jazz, salsa, gospel or classical music, spread throughout the summer.
Baroque Festival in Cordon for 2 weeks at the beginning of the month, music, exhibitions, conferences, site visits, entertainment.
Les Heures Musicales in Combloux, every Monday in July and August.
Folk and Celtic Festival in Praz-sur-Arly at the end of the month.
Mont-Blanc Art Discovery (MAD) in Saint-Gervais, late July-early August, exhibition of contemporary Swiss and French artists.
Rencontres et Nature Festival in Les Houches, end of July-beginning of August, festival on the environment of Mont-Blanc.
Servoz in turmoil, film and music festival over 3 days.
Cosmo Jazz Festival in Chamonix, for a week at the end of the month, outdoor concerts at altitude.
The Samoëns American Festival, the country reference in the Alps.
Les Pépites à Samoëns in July and August, an eclectic musical program of recognized or emerging songwriters.
International festival of mechanical music in Les Gêts, in even years, Festival of wood, in odd years.
Mechanical music biennial in Les Gêts, in odd-numbered years, for 2 days, in the middle of the month.
Night patrols in the abbey of Abondance, Tuesday evenings in July and August, theater, jazz, current music.
Fraxis Musica Festival in the church of La Chapelle d’Abondance in July and August, concerts of traditional music from the Alps.
Burn Mountain Rock Festival at La Chapelle d’Abondance for 3 days.
Montjoux Festival in the park of the castle of Montjoux, in Thonon-les-Bains, on the shores of Lake Geneva, for 3 evenings at the beginning of the month, world music.
Jazz Festival ‘ in Bonneville.
Festival of the eclectic and the street arts in Avoriaz, from mid-July to mid-August.
Bis routes at Clermont castle, shows throughout the summer season.
La Tour au Loup in Reignier, last fortnight of the month, shows every day, except Sundays and Mondays.
Evian Musical Meetings in Evian-les-Bains.
August
” To the happiness of the kids”. International festival of shows for young audiences located in Le Grand-Bornand. Duration 6 days with 70 companies, more than 200 performances, 21 stages, 19 workshops, hundreds of speakers: actors, clowns, acrobats, jugglers, barkers, magicians, musicians, puppeteers: Exhibitions, balls for children, giant games, merry-go-rounds and a great show.
International percussion festival in Thônes (1st edition in 2003). Organized by the tourist office and the association “Congomania”. Craft market and African catering, collective ” beef ” open to all percussionists.
Feufliâzhe – Alpine music festival in Viuz-en-Sallaz (2nd edition in August 2003). Site “Plateau de Plaine-Joux” in Les Brasses. Participation of 20 alpine music groups (France, Switzerland, Italy). Meal, 2 balls, animations, workshops, dances, exhibitions, craft stands, manufacture of the white tome.
Jazz Festival in Megève (16th edition in 2003) over one week. Daytime entertainment, shows every evening.
Les Pyroconcerts’, music and pyrotechnics festival in Talloires (7th edition in August 2003). “Bay of Talloires” site over 3 days. Piano, jazz and classical music. Shows mixing music, water and fire.
Mountain book fair in Passy (13th edition in August 2003). Site “Auditorium de Passy” – Very many exhibitors from France, Switzerland, Spain, Argentina… and houses specializing in old books. Conferences, round tables, films, exhibitions. Prizes awarded: “Grand Prix du Salon”, “Special Prize”, “World Picture Book Prize”, Illustration Prize, “Mont-Blanc Pays Prize”, “Best Comic Book Prize”, “Junior price”
The Biennale du Livre Savoyard in Faverges (10th edition).
Musicaltitude Festival in Chamonix at the beginning of the month: music and humor with 2 international opera singers.
Festival of Tales around the World at Sixt-Fer-à-Cheval for 3 days.
Summer theatrical shows in Evian-les-Bains, in the 19th century theater.
Les Fondus du macadam in Thonon-les-Bains, for 4 days at the beginning of the month, theater festival and street performances, musical evenings at the festival tavern.
Rock’n Poche Festival in Habère-Poche, the 1st weekend of the month, festival in the mountain pastures that is gaining ground.
October
Queen’s fight in Servoz, the first Sunday of the month, cow fights, folklore events, sale and tasting of farm products.
Sheep fair in Servoz, the 2nd Sunday of the month.
The Authentic Hameau du Père Noël, in the Petit Pays in Andilly.
November
Pays de Savoie theater festival in Bonneville.
December
The Fabulous Village in Evian-les-Bains, from early December to early January, Christmas market.
Christmas in the Alps and Saint-André Fair in Annecy.
Feast of the Manants in Yvoire.
Natural heritage
Cols: Col des Aravis, Col de la Colombière, Col des Montets, Col de la Forclaz, Col de la Croix Fry, Col de Joux Plane, Col du Feu, Col de Cou, Col du Géant, Col de Balme, Col du Bonhomme, Col de la Ramaz…
Crossagny ponds and mill, Mer de Glace, Dranse delta, Roc de Chère…
Gorges du Fier, Gorges du Pont du Diable (La Vernaz), Gorges de la Diosaz, Gorges des Tines, Gorges du Bronze, Gorges de la Dranse, Gorges de la Gruvaz, Gorges du Bonnant, Val de Fier gorge,
Seythenex cave, Diau cave,
Lakes: Lake Annecy, Lake Geneva, Lake Montriond, Lake Confins, Lake Vonnes, Lake Vert, Lake Blanc, Lake Des Plagnes, Lake Vallon, Lake Îlettes, Lake Passy, Lakes Samoëns, Lake Mieussy, Lake Taninges, Lake Habère-Lullin, Lake Flaine, etc.
Massifs: Aravis chain, Mont-Blanc massif, Aiguilles Rouges, the Grand Massif,
Mountains: Mont blanc, Aiguille du Midi, Salève, Semnoz, Brévent, Voirons,
Glières Plateau, Platé Desert, Fer-à-Cheval Cirque, Assy Plateau, Croix Plateau, Mouilles Plateau, Moises Plateau, Plaine-Joux Plateau, Rocailles Plain…
Rouget waterfall, Seythenex waterfall, Diomaz waterfall, Arpenaz waterfall
Bout-du-Lac nature reserve, Passy nature reserve, Contamines-Montjoie nature reserve, Carlaveyron nature reserve, Aiguilles-Rouges nature reserve, Sixt-Passy nature reserve, Aravis reserve, Bérard valley, forest of Ripaille, Semnoz forest, Châtaignière, Guidou area, Annecy Hell and Cluse marshes, Berthet clos, Bauges regional natural park
Parks and gardens
Public Gardens of Europe in Annecy.
Le Pâquier in Annecy, park and public promenade.
Landscaped park of the prefecture, created in 1866 on 2.5 hectares facing Lake Annecy (rare and exceptional opening).
Berges du Thiou in Annecy, 2 km landscaped walk.
Alpine garden of Semnoz in Annecy.
Parc de l’Impérial in Annecy.
Château de Beauregard, in Chens-sur-Léman, with an English-style park of 25 hectares, planted on the shores of Lake Geneva and planted with oaks, tulip trees, cedars and wellingtonia (limited access).
Roseraie de la chouette, in Cruseilles, private landscaped garden of 2,000 m, created in 2004, devoted to old roses and perennial plants (free but limited access).
Public Water Garden of the Pre-Curious in Évian-les-Bains, thematic garden of 3 hectares which deals with wetlands and water resources (free but limited access).
Jardin aux irises in Massongy, private landscaped garden of 2 hectares created in 1986 (free but limited access).
Jardin des Cimes on the Assy plateau in Passy. A thematic and educational garden of 3 hectares created in 2008 (entrance fee).
Botanical garden of the Aulps valley in Saint-Jean-d’Aulps, grouping together a medicinal plant garden created in 1999 and a medieval vegetable garden created in 2008 (free but limited access).
Public park of the Thermes in Saint-Gervais-les-Bains.
Alpine botanical garden La Jaÿsinia in Samoëns, inaugurated in 1906, classified as a remarkable garden of France. Extending over 3.5 hectares, it was donated by Marie-Louise Jaÿ. It is planted with more than 8,000 mountain plants from all over the world (free but limited access).
“The Ideal Path” in Seynod, a private 5,000 m park, offering a winding route of 33 sculptures in stainless steel, bronze, stone or marble, serving 4 symbolic spaces and a leisure area.
2 hectare priory park at Tufts University in Talloires. Experimental garden of autonomous plants, created in 2003 bringing together some 2,500 plants, offering alternatives to current maintenance methods thanks to ecological diversity (entrance fee).
Secret gardens of Vaulx. Private garden, between East and West on more than 7000 m² of plantations, mosaics, wooden structures, divided into several indoor and outdoor themed gardens (entrance fee).
Labyrinth Jardin des Cinq Sens located in the heart of the village of Yvoire, created in 1988 in place of the old garden of the castle, it has been restored according to the art of walled gardens from the Middle Ages. The garden is classified as a remarkable Garden of France. It covers 2,500 m² and is organized around a plant cloister with medicinal and aromatic plants, fountains, aviaries, old roses and trellised fruit trees. Also La Châtaignerie, 24 ha of still wild nature by the lake, with exhibitions and thematic walks (free access all year round).
The Merlet park in Les Houches. On the balcony facing the Mont-Blanc chain, 20 ha of nature crisscrossed by marked trails to discover ibex, chamois, mouflons, fallow deer, deer, marmots and llamas in freedom.
The Ripaille forest, near Thonon-les-Bains, with an arboretum, marked trails and the clearing of the Just.
The park of the gardens of Haute-Savoie at the edge of the lake of La Balme-de-Sillingy, in free access.
The gardens of the castle of Sonnaz and the park of Montjoux in Thonon-les-Bains.
The parks and public gardens of Annemasse.
The public garden of Seyssel.
Ski resorts
The 50 ski resorts in the department represent 20% of French ski resorts. The ski area extended over the 2010-2011 season over 205 km², including 47 km² of groomed slopes served by 704 ski lifts capable of reaching a speed of 207,742 skiers per hour, or 22% of the capacity of French resorts.
Between 35 and 50 million euros are invested each year in the ski lifts of the Haut-Savoyard resorts, however the resorts are no longer in a logic of expansion of ski areas but rather in the diversification of skiing areas: snowparks, areas freerides, etc. Total investments increased from 400 million in 2005 to 270 million euros in 2010 (ski lifts, development of slopes and safety, snowmaking systems, etc..