Talloires is only 13km/8 miles from Annecy at the foot of Dents de Lanfon (1824m/5,984′)…View image, and close to the highest mountain in this area, la Tournette, 2351m/7,713′ and loaded with 4**** star hotels. Hotel Abbaye de Talloires…View image, the famous Auberge du Pere Bise (a Relais & Châteaux Hotel)…View image, Les Pres du Lac, Hotel Cottage Bise and Gourmet restaurants. We didn’t see one menu for under 45 Euro, prix fix…View image, and running up to 80 Euros easily. One of the most beautiful areas we’ve ever seen and if you can afford 250 Euros a night, not including food, go for it. Talloires is a rich, exclusive retreat and known locally as the “Pearl of Lac Annecy.” It has been painted by Paul Cezanne to name just one famous artist.

The architecture of the village is typically Savoyard and walking the narrow streets, we found the Tourist Information Center who gave us walking tips and hikes for the Talloires area, swimming areas, marinas, and Church of Saint Germain du Lac. The church was built by the Monks of the Benedictine abbey in 1016 and has a communion table with a wooden balustrade dating back to the 17th century.

Church of Saint Germain du Lac, Talloires, France
The church visit had a comical twist to it. Upon entering, a dumpy man greeted us in shorts and was very impressed that we were from the United States. When leaving, he asked for a handout. He was a bum and not only did we see him in Talloires but in every Annecy church we visited. He must get transport around the lake on a daily business and probably owns one of the Talloires mansions.

Talloires, France waterfront
Tufts University, Boston has a European center in a former Priory, part of a Benedictine monastery that was founded in the 11th century. The oldest section of the Priory is on the ground floor with Romanesque arches made from volcanic rock that dates from the 12th century. Tufts conducts different summer classes for students and adults who want to improve their beginner or intermediate French language skills, as well as college-level courses on international relations.
There were 30 students present when we visited, 28 girls and two boys, and had a chance to talk to a few both in the Priory and down at the Talloires waterfront…View image…where they were picnicking and relaxing. There were impressive views of the Chateau de Duingt on the other side of the lake….

a luxury hotel in Talloires, France
…along with marvelous private houses, tucked away in the forest, along Lac Annecy, and in the hills….View image. I would have been happy to call one of these “mine.”

a Talloires mansion in the forest, France 

Talloires Rhododendrons in bloom, France
The Information Office also gave us a brochure describing a few, two-hour walks you could do from the center of Talloires. One heads to Angon Waterfall and the Fairies Bridge. There is a warning from the Tourist Information office that …the path is slippery due to the humidity and the fact that it has been trodden on many times by hikers…stay aware. The second leads to the Roc de Chere and the Belvedere with amazing views. We did neither but continued the stroll down the narrow streets of town…View image…lined with old houses…View image, drooled over the gourmand menus, people watched along the lakefront and admired views of the many parapentes in the air (at one time we counted 15 parasailers floating above the mountains) until our boat pulled in for the trip back to Annecy.

Talloires is the town you don’t want to miss on your tour around Lac Annecy.