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Annecy
40.5 km
Thursday 23 July
For many spectators, the Tour de France route is an opportunity to discover the riches of the regions it passes through. The tourist guide, published in electronic format this year, lists the outstanding sites of cultural or architectural heritage for each stage.
Download the tourist guide of the stage(.pdf, 7 pages)
The second region in France in terms of its size, economic importance and overall population, Rhone-Alps is also 6th in Europe. This vast area covering 43,698 km² for more than six million inhabitants revolves around four main urban centres: Lyon, Grenoble, Saint-Étienne and even Geneva, which, due to its proximity, significantly influences trade and economy in the region.
Through its size and the specificity of its eight counties, the region, accommodating the Rhone Valley with the Massif Central on one side and the Alpine range on the other, offers extreme diversity: mountainous to the east (counties of Savoie, Haute-Savoie & Isère), urban and industrial to the North and in the centre, rural and Provençal in the south (counties of Ardèche & Drôme).
Across this vast extent, despite being the home ground of many industries, the region has not forgotten its farming roots, its fruit industry and its great wines.
In terms of tourism, choice in the Rhone-Alps is also extremely varied. The region not only boasts the most famous ski resorts of France, but also offers many opportunities for “green” tourism, whether in the counties of Ain, Ardèche or Drôme.
Gastronomy, just like in its capital, Lyon, holds a place of honour throughout the region.
The tour of the lake provides one of the most beautiful views of the castle. Moreover, Cézanne chose it as the subject of one of his famous paintings, “Le lac bleu” (the Blue Lake).
The Bout du Lac Nature Reserve of Annecy is situated in the parish. For nature tourism enthusiasts, the reserve provides, in particular, an observation site for beavers.
Prefecture: Annecy
Sub-prefectures: Bonneville, Saint-Julien-en-Genevois, Thonon-les-Bains
Population: 700,000
Marc Veyrat, the owner of the restaurant “l’Auberge de l’Eridan” in Veyrier du Lac, is a native of Annecy. The chef has obtained 3 Michelin stars in two different restaurants which is quite an achievement.
“I am lucky to live in a magnificent region between Lake Annecy and the Mont Blanc, with very typical and preserved villages and no hideous buildings which harm nature. As this area depends on tourism for the most part, I have the impression that people have become aware of the importance of preserving this heritage.
Annecy is a wonderful city which has everything going for it, as evidenced both by its identity and its roots. I love strolling around in the old part of the city whose nickname, the “Venice of the Alps” is well deserved. I also like all of these villages with their shake roofs. And then there is Manigod, my childhood village, at the peak of the “Croix Fry”, in the Aravis mountain range. It is one of the towns which has the most extreme micro climate. I often go to the Colombian Plateau, which is situated very nearby. As a child, I looked after my grandfather’s cows and heifers there. When something is bothering me, I go there and I feel better. I plan to create a community there, at altitude of 1,800 m, which will include a gastronomic restaurant, a bistro, a research laboratory focusing on wild plants and even a museum. Personally, as I have collected plants for a very long time, I would like the region to become the symbol of the fight against bad eating habits.
Since I had my skiing accident, I must go cycling for my rehabilitation. The marvellous thing about cycling is that it is an archetypal ecological sport. During a ride, apart from the physical effort, there is the scenery and the aromas. This is a true moment of pleasure.”
