A week in the French Alps
Last May I spent a week in the French Alps. My purpose: write a story for Ensemble Magazine. This trip was as luxurious as it sounds, and rightfully so I titled my piece “Travelling like Royalty in the French Alps.” Though I can’t share the story due to my contract, I can share my itinerary. Here’s how to explore the infamous Rhône-Alpes region.
A Week in the French Alps
Day 1 & 2- Eating my way through Lyon
My journey began with first class on Air France. Champagne upon arrival, a pod to myself, an in-flight menu that resembled a restaurant. Flying first class on Air France was par excellence. After a second, shorter flight from Paris to Lyon I finally arrived.
Lyon is the third-largest city in France. Between the food and history, there’s never a dull moment. It’s the first city in Europe to have the title of Smart Tourism (received the same time as Helsinki), and is considered The Capital of Gastronomy. Lyon is also a UNESCO World Heritage Site — a 500 hectares stretch of architecture developed from the Roman times. It’s balance between past and present is one to be celebrated. And so we spent our first night eating in a typical Lyonnaise restaurant, discussing the wonders of the city.
What to do in Lyon
• Wander around Lyon, a UNESCO World Heritage Site
• Eat at a typical Lyonnaise restaurant like Le Bouchon Sully
• Eat your way through Les Halles Paul Bocuse, the biggest covered market in Lyon
• Shop in the city centre
• Enjoy drinks overlooking the Rhone river at the Sofitel Hotel
Day 3 – Relaxing in Aix-Les Bains Riviera des Alpes
Nestled between the tranquility of the French Alps is Aix-Les Bains, a peaceful town that’s synonymous with healthy and wellness. First we took a boat ride to the Haute Combe Abbey, a former Cistercian monastery. Here my press group and I were given a private tour of the private garden. I’m a sucker for florals, so naturally I photographed as much as I could.
Following our visit we took a boat ride to Chanaz (another place with beautiful florals). Small and quaint, Chanaz was a stark contrast to Lyon, but equally as pleasing. I highly recommend wandering up the hill to view some of the local artisans.
We ended the day by visiting an organic family-run winery called Xavier Jacqueline, and eating at Le Belvédère restaurant. The wine was amazing, and the food and view at Le Belvédère restaurant was intoxicating.
What to do in Aix-Les Bains Riviera des Alpes
• Take a lake cruise through Lac du Bourget, one of France’s largest and deepest lakes
• Visit the Haute Combe Abbey
• Take a boat ride to Chanaz, a cozy atmosphere where you can enjoy lunch as you overlook the Canal de Savières
• Explore the local artisans in Chanaz
• Do a wine tasting at Xavier Jacqueline
• Enjoy dinner overlooking the mountains at Le Belvédère restaurant, originally built in 1882 to get the attention of Queen Victoria
Day 4 – Medieval adventure in Annecy
Next we visited the medieval town of Annecy, once part of the Roman Empire. A glittering canal flows right through the town, inspiring the nickname ‘Venice of the Alps.’
Lac d’Annecy is the cleanest in Europe (though it wasn’t always this way). With strict city rules controlling the quality of the water, residents and visitors can be assured that the lake and the city stream will always be beautiful and clear.
After wandering the streets and shopping at the local market, we hopped on a boat tour. Scattered across the scenic view were private castles and people paragliding. Annecy, as with the rest of the Alps, is a picturesque destination that has a tendency to create pinch-me moments. My boat ride was one of them.
I wish I could have photographed more, but when our free time arrived I found myself glued to the view, exhaustion kicking in and flurry of unread emails building up.
What to do in Annecy
• Tour the medieval city and the city market, hosted on Sundays (this is where I found my beloved French sun hat!)
• Go for a boat cruise through Lake Annecy
• Walk along the lake, the cleanest in Europe
• Eat at Brasserie Brunet, owned by Laurent Petit, Michelin-starred chef
• Visit the prison, which is now a museum, where you can see original writings from prisoners engraved on the walls
• Visit the casino
• Stay at hotel Les Tresoms, a 4-star resort with an incredible view of Lake Annecy
Day 5 – Yvoire & Evian
Originally a fishing village, Yvoire is now one of the International Laureates of Floral decorations and is a member of the Association of the Most Beautiful Villages in France. This small idyllic town sits on Lac Léman (also known as Lake Geneva). Winding cobble stone roads and small cafés greet you with charm, while the Garden of the Five Senses gives an enchanting experience.
The Garden of the Five Senses (Jardin des Cinq Sens) is an enchanting garden that plays on smell, touch, taste, feel, and look. Some of the plants make noise while others fill the air with fragrance. This was right up my alley so naturally I splurged at the gift shop, purchasing candles, soap and room fragrance.
After Yvoire we took a private boat ride to the final and last destination, a town most known for the spring water it produces, Evian.
Evian is where the quintessential French Alps live. It screams royalty – as if the alpine towns couldn’t get any more luxurious — and every inch of my experience had me feeling spoiled. First we visited The Cachat Spring, a natural spring built in 1903, then made our way to the Évian Resort.
Hôtel Royal and Hôtel Ermitage (both a part of Évian Resort) are a royal and celebrity hotspot. In 2003 the 29th G8 summit was hosted at the Hôtel Royal. It was initially built for guests like King Edward VII but today you can find families and couples enjoying their stay.
Oversized corridors decorated with the finest furniture welcomed me. In my room, a bottle of Moet and a view of Lake Geneva (a.k.a Lac Leman) said hello. That night I ate at Hôtel Ermitage, laughing with my press trip colleagues and sipping on French wine.
By the end, I was still debating whether this was real or a dream. So instead of photographing the most beautiful hotel I’ve ever stepped foot in, I decided to put the camera down and live in the moment. It’s not every day that you stay in a hotel built for a king!
What to do in Yvoire & Evian
• Wander through the streets of Yvoire and visit the local shops. My favourite was a soap shop with countless scented soaps
• Visit The Garden of the Five Senses
• Enjoy a roof top lunch at Jardins du Léman
• Take a boat ride to Evian
• Take a walk along the waterfront
• Fill your water bottle from The Cachat spring
• Take a photo by the Evian sign, a large letter block that is similar to signs in Amsterdam and Toronto
• Visit City Hall, former home of the Lumière Brothers
• Stay at The Royal Evian Hotel (even if for one night, you won’t regret it!)
• Eat at La Table restaurant in Evian’s Hôtel Ermitage
• Visit the Evian Casino
Day 6 – Home
I flew home the next day, carrying with me with inspiration and a desire to return to the French Alps. Next time though, I would be spending more than one week.
Shop the look
XoXo,
Tee
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