Annecy

Situated on the northern tip of Lake Annecy, this is a lovely medieval town in a great location with the Alps as a backdrop. In the summer months the whole town is a riot of colour with geraniums in window boxes everywhere.

The town is also known as the "French Venice" and is a wonderful place for exploring on foot and is a popular tourist destination.

There are many lake "beaches" to enjoy, and many have free admission (Annecy Marquisats, Annecy-le-Vieux, Albigny, Veyrier, Doussars and Duingt) and you can hire sailing, rowing boats, canoes or even speed boats. For something a bit more leisurely then opt for a lake excursion on one of the cruise boats.

Annecy has one of the most beautiful settings in the French Alps. Majestic mountains rise up from the clear waters and medieval buildings and castles add to the charm. There are plenty of activities to enjoy with an excellent network of walks, cycle tracks and a great choice of watersports. Annecy is steeped in history and is a delightful mix of bustling streets, interesting shops and street cafés.

Talloires is a quiet, picturesque village founded in the 11th century with its own bathing area. Sevrier is an attractive lakeside village with a traditional feel.

Chamonix

Chamonix is both a narrow valley at the foot of Mont Blanc and a lively alpine town with a wide variety of restaurants, bars and shops. It advertises itself as the "world centre of mountaineering and off-piste skiing".

It is also a major European centre for hiking, mountain-biking, paragliding and most other outdoor sports. It is just 15 minutes from the borders with Switzerland and, using the Mont Blanc tunnel, with Italy.

Chamonix, at the foot of Mont Blanc, is a spectacular destination and the extensive lift network and clearly marked pathways give great access to the superb scenery. A breathtaking cable car ride up to the Aiguille du Midi at 12,000ft is a must, as is the Montenvers Rack Railway train journey that will sweep you up into the heart of the Mer de Glace glacier. Chamonix is an attractive and bustling town, with flower adorned chalets, colourful streets, pavement cafés, good restaurants, boutiques, shops and a huge range of activites for all ages.

Thonon

Set against the backdrop of the Chablais Pre-Alps, Thonon-les-Bains is built on 3 different levels in a naturally arch-shaped bay. The upper town is where most of the shops are to be found and from here there is a superb view of Lake Geneva, giving superb panoramic pictures. Les Thermes (the spa centre) also overlooks the lake.

The "drop" down from the town centre to the lake and the old quarter of Rives is made via steep narrow paths or on the funicular train (invaluable on the way up!). Terraces shaded by plane trees, a long promenade along the shore and en route, the Sailing Club and the municipal beach. Thonon comes to an end at the Domaine de Ripaille, after which there is the nature reserve followed by the mouth of the Dranse river.

Lake Geneva

Some 40km north of Annecy lies the dolphin-shaped expanse of Lake Geneva ("Lac Léman" to the French), forming a natural border with Switzerland.

Over 70km long, 14km wide and an amazing 310m deep, the lake is fed and drained by the Rhône. It's a real inland sea, subject to violent storms, as Byron and Shelley discovered to their discomfort in 1816. On a calm day though, sailing slowly across its silky-smooth surface is a serene experience.

Lake Geneva constitutes the largest fresh water reserve in Western Europe and its sheer volume means that it never freezes over. It has a warming effect on the surrounding climate and vegetation, so much so that the shores of Lake Geneva sometimes have a feel of the south about them.