You must visit Annecy-le-Vieux while you are staying with us. Located to the north-west of Annecy, this pretty town, also on the lake's edge, is a great place for walking. Strolling around the historic centre of the village, you can admire its famous bell tower, one of the region's few and most beautiful examples of Romanesque architecture. Built in the 12th century, the top part of this listed bell tower has two floors of twin windows and a 700 kg bronze bell, also listed. During your walks, you can also admire several castles and fortified manor houses where numerous famous figures have stayed, including Eugène Sue and Gabriel Fauré.

A walk or ride around the lake is one of the unmissable joys of any visit to Annecy. From the centre, go through the Europe gardens, then cross the Amours bridge to the Pâquier gardens. This large green space is a perfect place to relax, admire the peaks overlooking the lake or hire a boat or pedalo to sail on the lake. Then walk down Avenue d'Albigny, lined with ancient plane trees, to the Impérial Palace, built in the early 20th century and now home to a casino and conference centre. Near the hotel, there is a children's play area and tennis courts.

Annecy is set at the heart of the Alps, next to not only the lake, but also three imposing mountain ranges: Bauges, Aravis and Bornes. Some of their majestic peaks are visible from the shores of the lake, such as Mont Veyrier with its steep cliffs, La Tournette, which rises to 2,351 metres, Le Semnoz and its wooded slopes, and La Sambuy. To the south of the lake, the Aravis mountain range is a hiker's paradise. This protected natural area boasts extraordinary flora and fauna, and is used as a nesting ground by the golden eagle and bearded vulture.