The Sound of Music and Heidi all in a days drive
With a couple of days between guests we took the opportunity to head south to Talloires on the shores of Lake Annecy.
Taking the longer, more scenic route over the mountains we followed the D4 past the Chartreuse de Reposoir, a imposing old monastery with such a spectacular backdrop at the foot of the Col de la Colombière it could have featured in the Sound of Music!
From there we drove through the popular ski resorts of Grand-Bornand and La Clusaz, stopping at the latter for a coffee in the village square. Like Samoëns, La Clusaz is a traditional French village with the square dominated by an impressive church and an old covered market area.
From La Clusaz we drove over the Col de la Criox Fry and then through the stunning Manigod valley which resembles a landscape from one of the Heidi books. From Thones we headed to Alex and then down to Menthon-St-Bernard on the shores of Lake Annecy passing the most incredible chateaux, perched high on the mountain side, en route.
Once at the lake it was just a short drive to Talloires where we stopped for lunch at the four star Hotel L’Abbaye, right on the water’s edge. An old Abbey tastefully converted into a magnificent hotel with beautiful gardens where majestic lime trees and hundred-years-old plane trees provide shade for the outdoor dining area. The vistas are breathtaking as boats bob up and down in the little harbour and the tree lined mountains dip into the azure blue water! With temperatures in the early 30s you could quite easily have been on the shores of the Med!
After a few lazy hours in Talloires we headed home chosing an alternative route through the mountains via Bonneville and then onto Samoëns, passing through some yet more amazing mountain scenery.
A thoroughly recommended day out!
