The Lure of the Hills

The Office de Tourisme distributes free pamphlets that describe about a dozen easy, family-oriented hiking and biking excursions in the forests around Annecy. More experienced hikers may wish to pick up a free map with a detailed set of challenging walks.

Walks in both categories last 2 to 6 hours. Some begin in the center of Annecy; others require a trip by car or bus from one of several towns in the area -- such as Saint-Jorioz or Sevrier, to the west, or Talloires, to the east -- to the excursion's origination point. A travel agency in Annecy, Agence Crolard, place de la Gare (tel. 04-50-45-08-12), sells bus tickets to the destinations around Annecy and Lac d'Annecy and Lac Léman. It also arranges excursions by minibus to sites of panoramic interest in July and August.