The great lakes of Savoie Mont Blanc

Savoy Mont Blanc certainly has several
of the most beautiful lakes in France.
Le Lake Geneva, the most maritime, calls for travel.
Le Annecy lake, the most invigorating, reveals its purity.
Le Bourget lake, the most rejuvenating, reveals its wild nature.
Le Aiguebelette lake, the most confidential, offers its emerald reflections.

And we're lucky here because we're just a few kilometers from all four lakes. Indeed, Rumilly-Albanais is certainly the ideal base camp for exploring the four lakes of Savoie Mont Blanc.

Lake Annecy (20 minutes)

Lake Annecy collects superlatives. Often described as the most beautiful and purest lake in the Alps! It is also the most invigorating and athletes will be in paradise!

Immortalized by Paul Cézanne and William Turner, Lake Annecy attracts more than 2,5 million tourists each year. People travel from far and wide on August 15th for its annual festival. It is to the lake and its canals, which wind through its historic center, that Annecy owes its nickname, the Venice of the Alps . Some 40 kilometers of shoreline encircle this alpine lake, alternating between towns and villages, orchards and forests, as well as nature reserves, such as the Bout-du-Lac and Roc de Chère reserves, which are very popular with locals.

In its clear waters are reflected on one side the Roc des Bœufs and the Semnoz , emblematic peaks of the Bauges , and on the other, the teeth of Lanfon and the Tournette , extremities of the Bornes massif.

Of course, swimming and water sports (water skiing, wakeboarding, diving, windsurfing, etc.) are among the must-do activities at the site. The town of Sevrier has been awarded the France Station Nautique label. But to discover Lake Annecy and its surroundings, nothing beats sustainable transportation. A 35-km greenway runs along the lake, allowing you to admire its emerald reflections.

Bourget lake (20 minutes away)

20 minutes from Rumilly - Albanais, Lac du Bourget is one of the most popular destinations in the two Savoys. Lauded by many poets, the largest natural lake in France offers an exceptional setting for swimming, water sports, hiking or… lazing around!

At 18 kilometers long, Lake Bourget is like a mountain sea. Sheltered by the Épine, Chambotte, and Bauges mountain ranges, its turquoise waters can reach 26°C in the height of summer. Enough to rival the Mediterranean!

From Rumilly, you only need class of road to go diving in the big blue!
The lake counts ten beaches where to put your towel. Families are in favor of those which are the most accessible, supervised and equipped: play areas for the youngest, balloon fields for the older ones, water points, showers, toilets ...

Fancy a short guided cruise or sailing from one shore to the other? Tempted by the prospect of catching brown trout or Arctic char ? Lake Bourget offers a full range of leisure activities and water sports. The town of Aix-les-Bains is even awarded the "France Station Nautique" label. Generations of regatta sailors have honed their skills on the lake's calm waters before venturing out to sea!

The latest trendy watersports are also booming here. Things like wakeboarding , which is to waterskiing what snowboarding is to downhill skiing, or stand-up paddleboarding . Standing on this floating board, you can embark on a magnificent vertical journey along the water, either along the wild shores of Lake Bourget or at the foot of Hautecombe Abbey.

Praised by Rousseau, Balzac, and Lamartine, Lake Bourget is also a gateway to escaping on foot or by bike. Walkers and cyclists alike revel in the numerous nature trails around or near the lake. In particular, the pleasant greenway connects Aix-les-Bains to Le Bourget-du-Lac along the shore. More unusual and very popular with children is the "Sentier du Fil de l'Eau" (Water's Edge Trail). This short 2 km walk, starting from the Grand Port, provides the incredible sensation of walking on water. The secret? Footbridges built at water level, from which young and old alike can perfectly observe the lake's reedbeds, a haven of incredible biodiversity.

But for those who appreciate contemplation, it is from a higher vantage point that one must discover what Balzac called the "lost turquoise." The best viewpoint? That of La Chambotte , on the border of the Rumilly-Albanais territory, from where Lake Bourget is revealed in its entirety, offering one of the most beautiful panoramas in the Alps.

Lake Aiguebelette (35 minutes away)

The meaning of the name weasel is "beautiful little waters". Indeed, the magnificent color Emerald green the lake gives it magical reflections. You will succumb to peaceful and peace places.
This lake, forbidden to thermal engine boats, has remained very savage. The purity of its waters and the diversity of ecosystems make it a very popular place for fishermen and nature lovers.

Located at an altitude of 360m, Lac d'Aiguebelette is, as Henry Bordeaux wrote, an “emerald pearl set in a mountain setting”.

Aiguebelette is one of the warmest natural lakes in France; the water temperature reaches 28°C in summer! To preserve this natural site, swimming is only allowed on supervised beaches.

Lake Aiguebelette is also a renowned rowing center , home to an international training base. In fact, the site hosted the World Championships in 2015.

This spot is also the ideal place for practicing many outdoor activities :

• 150 km of marked mountain bike trails
• Many routes of Hiking around the lake
• Cycling, including the magnificent Col de l'Épine.
• Cycle path
• Free flight (paragliding) with take-off area on the Épine.

Lake Geneva (55 minutes away)

Located at an altitude of 372 m, Lake Geneva is the largest lake in Western Europe, at 73 kilometers long and 14 kilometers wide. A lake of glacial origin and a link between France and Switzerland, it is crossed by the Rhône from east to west.

From Rumilly-Albanais, after less than an hour's drive, you can stroll through Geneva , on the shores of Lake Geneva. This outing will also be an opportunity for a shopping trip.

On the French side, you will discover must-see sites:

• Le medieval village of Yvoire, classified "Most Beautiful Villages of France".
  The gardens of the castle are home to a plant labyrinth, the Garden of the Five Senses.
• Le Ripaille castle in Thonon-les-Bains, retracing the history of the first Duke of Savoy.
• Evian, its thermal baths, its casino, and its famous golf course.

The shores of Lake Geneva are dotted with beaches. Take the opportunity to have a family picnic and take a dip!