Holiday Cottages in Haute-Savoie

What to see in Haute-Savoie?

This flat offers you tranquillity and good views in the same proportion, having a lot of activities and corners to visit that will make you feel at home.

One of its striking points without a doubt is the Mont Blanc massif, which is worth visiting and is steel legged for anyone brave enough to climb it.

But for the rest of us, at a lower altitude we find a lot of towns and cities like Annecy, the capital with its spectacular lake, or Chamonix, where nature is combined with the most outstanding heritage materialized in castles and churches with charm.

Without a doubt, Haute Savoie is a peaceful destination where you can appreciate the calm that comes from being surrounded by nature.

What curiosities are there?

To enjoy a few days off in the area is to take the opportunity to disconnect from the natural areas that this department has, where you can get an idea of the culture of the area through the cultural and historical heritage that exists in each of its towns and cities.

There are many and very varied ones that you will be able to find in its territory, and within them, each one has an essence that makes it special.

In the capital, Annecy, you will find the impressive lake by which they call this area the Venice of Savoy. It is, in fact, the lake with the purest waters in Europe that is protected between mountains.

But the surprises are not over yet. Yvoire takes you on a journey into the past with his medieval village, and if after your route you need to drink some water, none better than Évian les Bains!

All this and of course, many other things related to snow sports and its ski resorts is what you will find in the department of Haute Savoie.

Where can you sleep?

We open the doors to your best holidays in an incomparable environment where you can visit all kinds of places and green spaces that will make you relax and get to know the area in depth.

If you are planning to visit Haute Savoie, we suggest that you start your trip in Annecy, surrounded by a spectacular lake that runs through every corner thanks to its channels. The Venice of the Alps offers you an old town worthy of one of the oldest cities in the Alps.

If you want culture but you are a bit restless and you also like to enjoy nature, you have to stay in any of the Chamonix gîtes, where you can enjoy Mont Blanc protecting the whole valley and its heritage. And speaking of valleys, we can make you travel to Giffre in the village of Sixt Fer à Cheval, which is also one of those villages classified as the most beautiful in France. It's beautiful!

Equally beautiful is the village of Grand-Bornand, situated on the map by the Aravis massif, very close to neighbouring Switzerland. A mountain village that can be a perfect starting point to begin your passion for alpine skiing.

What to do in the area?

There are many things to do in this department. Many places to visit and regardless of your type of travel, you will find a perfect activity for you.

Are you an intrepid adventurer? Then try climbing Mont Blanc. And if you think it's crazy to climb the more than 4,800 metres peak that is also the highest in Europe, you can at least get close to it in the different ski resorts that are very close by.

Do you prefer to relax? Then you have chosen the perfect destination to immerse yourself in the purest waters you will find and to enjoy its thermal character in the different spas of the whole department, as it is the case of Saint Gervais Les Bains, or Évian Les Bains. Take advantage and give yourself a treat.

Are you more of a heritage visitor? You will also have the perfect plan for you and yours, starting with the village of Yvoire, where you can also see Lake Geneva, or the churches of Notre Dame de l'Assomption and de la Gorge in Cordon and Contamines-Montjoie respectively.

And from here, there is a whole world that we leave you to discover for yourself.

What typical foods are recommended?

The gastronomy of this department has a combination of flavours that will make your mouth water. If you are a cheese or meat lover, welcome to an authentic amusement park of flavours!

Without a doubt, what you eat most in Haute Savoie is cheese, in all its forms but traditionally made. With it, you can make dishes that you have probably tried before but that will taste much better here.

Among the tastiest ones we find the reblochon, the emmental and the tomme, different types of this spectacular typical Savoyard delicacy. But you can not only eat them on their own, since you can combine tartiflette, the raclette and fondue cheese with other products.

And as for the meat, you will undoubtedly find the best ones here, where hams, sausages and frankfurters are other delicacies that you cannot miss.

Finally, we highlight the Savoy cake that will close the evening along with the génépi, the traditional liqueur from this region.

Where are the festivities?

Whatever time of year you travel, you will be able to enjoy a party in some village, where you can learn about folklore and tradition in its most entertaining form.

There are festivals and events for almost any reason, but we would like to highlight some like the Fete du Reblonchon et de l'Artisanat, where every year, local craftsmen and farmers recreate scenes from traditional life, accompanied by music, dance and gastronomy.

And knowing the importance of the mountains in this area, how could there not be a festival dedicated to them? The Fête des Guides is held in the Chamonix valley in August, when this mountain figure is honoured in a procession of perfectly dressed guides with replicas of the outfit worn on the first ascent of Mont Blanc.

Two of the most entertaining representations of the area's folklore.