Get to know The Aravis
Get to know The Aravis
What's it all about?
The Aravis is a mountain range on the western edge of the French Alps, running north to south and straddling both the Savoie and Haute-Savoie regions. It’s home to the traditional alpine villages of Le Grand Bornand, La Clusaz, Manigod and St-Jean-de-Sixt, which are as good to visit for skiing in the winter as they are for walking, cycling, climbing and all sorts of other outdoor activities in the summer. It’s also part of the Annecy Mountains region, where you’ll find Lake Annecy, one of France’s prettiest lakes, with some incredibly clean waters, beaches, lots of water sports, and the medieval city of Annecy.
This is a feature from Issue 12 of Charitable Traveller. Click to read more from this issue.
Little Venice
Known as the Venice of the French Alps, the old town of Annecy is laced with cobbled streets, colourful buildings dating back to the Middle Ages, and narrow canals. Must-sees are the Palais de I’île. a medieval prison in the middle of the Thiou River, and the Musée-Château, with its enormous Queen’s Tower dating from the 13th century.
Say Cheese
With all those cows (see the art scene), it’s no surprise cheese features prominently on the local menu. Alpine pastures rich in mountain flowers are idyllic grazing spots in spring and summer, but it’s not just cow’s cheese, goats play their part too, and the farmers turn the milk into Reblochon, Mandgodine, Tomme and Chevrotin, all held in high regard and used in many local dishes.
The lake
Highly praised for its clean water thanks to the mountain springs that feed it, Lake Annecy is a much-loved water playground set among some stunning mountain scenery and can be enjoyed year-round. Particularly in the summer, with its beaches, walking trails, cycling paths and watersports, it becomes a magnet for outdoor’s lovers. Many charming independent hotels and restaurants line the lake and one of the highlights is the Voie Verte Loop, a cycle path that encircles the lake. Covering 42km, it’s possible to pedal round in half a day.
Making a splash in the Aravis Aqua Centre in La Clusaz - it's got both indoor and outdoor pools, and great mountain views
The art scene
In Le Grand Bornand there’s an unexpected arts scene to discover. Dotted among the traditional wooden mountain chalets is an outdoor art gallery, dedicated to the ‘star’ of the Le Grand Bornand, the cow! Follow the trail and discover metal and wooden sculptures, street art, murals, photos, and comics, created with a healthy dose of humour by a range od local artists, and dedicated to the village’s 2,000 bovine residents.
On your bike
Here you’ll find several climbs made famous by the Tour de France, including the Col de la Colombière, Col des Aravis and Col de la Croix Fry. Base yourself in St-Jean-de-Sixt and these epic routes stretch away in every direction among stunning scenery. The quiet road climbs up through flower-filled alpine pastures and forests and while they may initially start quite gently, expert includes 10% as standard
Winter Sports
Visit the Aravis mountains in winter and take your pick between the four villages of Le Grand Bornand, La Clusaz, Manigod, and St-Jean-de-Sixt, linked by bus and with over 200km of slopes between them. Just an hour’s drive from Geneva Airport, or half an hour from the train station in Annecy, the resorts make a great short-break destination or a longer and more relaxed family gateway. La Clusaz is loved for its off-piste terrain and cross-country tracks. Le Grand Bornand is a firm favourite with young children learning to ski.
This is a feature from Issue 13 of Charitable Traveller.
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