Haute-Savoie: apartments and holiday homes

To the higher-level travel overview: Rhône-Alpes. Those wishing to rent a holiday apartment in Haute-Savoie can then continue their accommodation search.

Haute-Savoie combines almost 100 lakes, including Lake Annecy and Lake Geneva, with the Rhône. Protected areas cover almost a quarter of the département. In addition, there are more than 20,000 hectares of state nature reserves – the largest area of its kind in metropolitan France. In Chablais, between Lake Geneva and Mont Blanc, there is a UNESCO Global Geopark; its geological interpretation focuses on the formation of the Alps and Quaternary glaciations.

Nature and landscape

Rovorée–La Châtaignière has 1.2 kilometres of lakeshore on Lake Geneva. The area is home to 350 plant species, 87 bird species, 29 butterfly species and 13 bat species. It can be reached by car, on foot and by bicycle, including via the voie verte from Yvoire. Information panels enable visitors to explore the area independently. In Chablais, the Chilly marsh and the Vouas of Lyaud are also considered biodiversity hotspots.

The lakes of Haute-Savoie can be explored year-round via promenades. Visitor facilities in the lake areas include beaches, waterfront areas, water sports centres, reception points for anglers and harbours. The département’s lake plan provides safer access to the lakes and improved accessibility for people with reduced mobility. Canyoning and rafting are available in alpine river landscapes.

Activities

The PDIPR includes more than 5,200 kilometres of hiking trails in Haute-Savoie. The PDIPR routes are marked and secured for hikers of all ages and ability levels. For cycling, there are 850 kilometres of cycle paths, as well as secure cycling routes for everyday travel and leisure. Haute-Savoie also has 41 Nordic areas. The département promotes tourism outside the ski resorts as a quieter offering for all four seasons.

Culture and history

The Site de Morette is dedicated to commemorating the Resistance and the Second World War in Haute-Savoie. The Chartreuse de Mélan has more than 700 years of history and displays its church and cloister with changing exhibitions. It also includes an open-air sculpture park featuring contemporary art.

The Domaine de Découverte de la Vallée d’Aulps comprises the ruins of an abbey church, an interpretation centre and an area for contemporary art. The site also includes a shop, a tavern, a medicinal herb garden and a medieval kitchen garden. Château de Ripaille stands on the shores of Lake Geneva and was once a residence of the Dukes of Savoy.

Public excursions and guided tours in the Chablais UNESCO Global Geopark communicate its values and heritage. The geopark supports the visibility of local AOP cheeses, AOC wines and artisanal products.

Regional specialities

Reblochon, or Reblochon de Savoie, is an AOP raw-milk cheese made from whole cow’s milk and produced in Haute-Savoie. Milk production, cheesemaking and maturation all take place within the same designated area.

More destinations in Haute-Savoie

More places for planning your trip:

Abondance, Alby-Sur-Chéran, Alex, Ambilly, Andilly, Annecy, Annecy-Le-Vieux, Annemasse, Anthy-Sur-Léman, Arâches-La-Frasse, Archamps, Argentiere, Argonay, Armoy, Arthaz-Pont-Notre-Dame, Aviernoz, Ayse, Bellevaux, Bernex, Bloye, Bluffy, Bogève, Bonne, Bonnevaux, Bonneville, Bons-En-Chablais, Bossey, Brens, Brizon, Burdignin, Cernex, Cervens, Chamonix-Mont-Blanc, Champanges, Chanaz, Chatel, Châtillon-sur-Cluses, Chavanod, Chens-sur-Léman, Chessenaz, Chevenoz, Cluses, Collonges-sous-Salève, Combloux, Cons-Sainte-Colombe, Cordon, Cran-Gévrier, Cranves-Sales, Cruseilles, Cusy, Cuvat, Dingy-Saint-Clair, Domancy, Doussard, Douvaine, Draillant, Duingt, Éloise, Entremont, Entrevernes, Épagny, Essert-Romand, Étrembières, Évian-Les-Bains, Évires, Faucigny, Faverges, Fillinges, Gaillard, Giez, Habère-Lullin, Habère-Poche, Jonzier-Épagny, L'etale, La Balme-De-Sillingy, La Baume, La Chapelle-D'abondance, La Chapelle-Rambaud, La Clusaz, La Côte-D'arbroz, La Forclaz, La Rivière-Enverse, La Roche-Sur-Foron, La Tour, La Vernaz, Larringes, Lathuile, Le Biot, Le Bouchet-Mont-Charvin, Le Grand-Bornand, Le Petit-Bornand-Les-Glières, Le Praz De Lys, Le Reposoir, Les Carroz-D'arâches, Les Clefs, Les Contamines-Montjoie, Les Esserts, Les Gets, Les Houches, Les Praz-De-Chamonix, Les Villards-sur-Thônes, Leschaux, Loisin, Lovagny, Lucinges, Lugrin, Lullin, Lyaud, Machilly, Magland, Manigod, Marcellaz-Albanais, Margencel, Marin, Maxilly-sur-Léman, Megève, Mégevette, Meillerie, Menthon-Saint-Bernard, Menthonnex-en-Bornes, Méribel, Messery, Metz-Tessy, Mieussy, Mont-Saxonnex, Montagny-Les-Lanches, Montmin, Montriond, Morillon, Morzine, Moussy, Mûres, Nancy-Sur-Cluses, Nâves-Parmelan, Nernier, Neuvecelle, Neydens, Novel, Onnion, Passy, Plateau Dʼassy, Poisy, Praz-Sur-Arly, Pringy, Publier, Reignier-Esery, Reyvroz, Rumilly, Saint-André-de-Boëge, Saint-Blaise, Saint-Cergues, Saint-Eusèbe, Saint-Eustache, Saint-Félix, Saint-Ferréol, Saint-Gervais-Les-Bains, Saint-Jean-D'aulps, Saint-Jean-De-Sixt, Saint-Jeoire, Saint-Jorioz, Saint-Julien-En-Genevois, Saint-Martin-Bellevue, Saint-Paul-En-Chablais, Saint-Pierre-En-Faucigny, Sales, Sallanches, Samoens, Saxel, Sciez, Scionzier, Servoz, Sévrier, Seynod, Seyssel, Seythenex, Seytroux, Sixt-Fer-À-Cheval, Talloires, Taninges, Thénésol, Thollon, Thônes, Thonon-Les-Bains, Thorens-Glières, Thyez, Tournon, Vacheresse, Vailly, Vallières, Vallorcine, Veigy-Foncenex, Verchaix, Vers, Vétraz-Monthoux, Veyrier-Du-Lac, Villard, Ville-En-Sallaz, Ville-La-Grand, Villy-Le-Pelloux, Viry, Viuz-En-Sallaz, Viuz-La-Chiésaz, Yvoire.