We packed the hiking boots and poles away for the duration of the trip since it was seriously hot with today’s high forecasted to be 86F., and going up in increments each day. Hiking is foolhardy in this heat and with exposed conditions in the mountains. Even without the hiking, it already appeared that there was enough activity in Annecy, France to keep us occupied.

Breakfast in the Hotel de Paris’ adorable breakfast room with croissants, bread, yogurt, fruit, juice and good coffee while trying to decide what to do today. Since it’s gorgeous and hot, what better excursion than the Lac Annecy boat cruise at 10:30 a.m. called the “circuit omnibus.” Here’s an all French link to the boat company but they do speak fluent English in their office. A circular tour of Lac Annecy costs 15.40 Euros which entitles you to get on and/or off the boat at any stop and reboard. The kicker is there are only three sailings a day and it would be unrealistic to think you could do any more than one or two stops at the most. Compagnie des Bateaux.

map of Lac Annecy, France and its towns 

children taking a field trip on the Allobroge with us in Annecy, France
Boat tours on the vivid turquoise…View image and extremely clean Lac Annecy are popular. You can take a one-hour tour from Easter to late October for 11 Euros or a two-hour tour for 15.40 Euros. Announcements are made throughout in French and English telling about the sights. Tours depart between one and six times a day, depending on the season, and there are also dinner cruises.

The “circuit omnibus” on the “Allobroge” stops at Veyrier-du-Lac, Menthon St. Bernard, Talloires, Doussard (the end of the lake) – all on the east side of the lake before heading back on the west side with stops at Duingt with its 15th century castle perched on a tiny peninsula, St. Jorioz, Servrier and back to Annecy.

on the way back to Annecy at the end of the cruise
This entire circuit of Lac Annecy takes two hours and the boat arrived in Talloires at 11:15 a.m. We got off, explored Talloires, and reboarded on the afternoon circuit at 3:00 p.m. (Read about Talloires tomorrow.) Very pleasant to sit in the sun (or go inside when the sun became a little too much) while admiring the sights both around and in the lake. Sailers, paddle boats…View image, kayakers, old hotels…View image, castles and mountains.

ex-Marine enjoying the sights from the Allobroges on Lac Annecy, France 

the 15th century Deignt Castle on Lac Annecy, France
Here are Lac Annecy Statistics: altitude is 447m/1,466′; lake is 14 km/8.7 miles long; widest point is 3.5 km/2/1 ,o;es; narrowest point is 800m/2,614′; and average depth 42m/137′. The port of Annecy is the beginning of Le Thiou River, one of the shortest rivers in France. Le Thiou is only 5 kms/3.1 miles in length and flows into the Fier which then joins the Rhone.

The stop before Talloires is Menthon Saint Bernard and several passsengers got off here to visit the Chateau de Menthon St. Bernard, a medieval fortress that is still lived in by the descendents of the Lords of Menthon since the 11th century. These tourists then walked from here to Talloires and they related that the descent into Talloires was “interesting” to say the least. I always interpret “interesting” as another word for “difficult.”

Chateau de Menthon St. Bernard, France
On a personal note, we thought the east side of the lake was more scenic and interesting…View image…then the east side, with the exception of Duingt Castle that is definitely movie set material.