What if the true luxury of summer was to gain altitude, to escape the traffic jams on the beaches and the stifling crowds to reach a place that few guides still mention? A suspended spot, somewhere between lake and mountain, where you can finally breathe, where time slows down, and where nature seems to have been undisturbed for centuries.
I discovered this corner almost by chance, leaving the overcrowded shore of the lac d’Annecy to venture into the hinterland. A discreet road, a gentle climb, then a changing atmosphere. The trees grow taller, the views wider, the air purer.
An alpine panorama that takes your breath away
Once arrived, it is a genuine natural amphitheater that unfolds before you. Facing you, high-altitude meadows, deep forests, and in the distance, as if placed on a pedestal, the Aravis mountain range. At certain hours, when the golden light grazes the peaks, the landscape becomes almost unreal. No noise. Just the breath of the wind and a few cow bells below.
Summer differently: between gentle adventure and wild pause
This discreet territory has a gift: it speaks to everyone without ever betraying its soul. Families find accessible walks, athletes challenging trails, contemplatives a place to reconnect.
- Hikes along the ridges with plunging views over the lake
- Mountain biking and paragliding, for thrill-seeking enthusiasts
- Observation of alpine wildlife: marmots, birds of prey, chamois
- And even evenings under the stars, around a fire, far from any light pollution
Far from calibrated tourist zones, this place offers a rare authenticity, made of small producers, alpine chalets, simple smiles, and preserved landscapes.
A committed destination for tomorrow
Here, the future of tourism is thought differently. The village has chosen to limit flows, to favor soft mobility, and to promote human-scale tourism respectful of the environment. One gets there on foot, by bike, sometimes by shuttle. And above all, one takes the time.
And this place, then?
This haven suspended between sky and earth is the plateau of Beauregard, located a few kilometers from La Clusaz, in Haute-Savoie. Few holidaymakers think of it, even fewer in summer. Yet, those who go up once often come back.
My suspended moment
I remember an afternoon spent up there alone, sitting in the grass, facing a sky on fire. No signal, no noise. Just the scent of pines, the breath of the wind, and that feeling of being elsewhere, far from the bustle of the world. It was that day I understood that some destinations do not need big names or advertising campaigns: they speak for themselves, in silence.
The plateau of Beauregard is an invitation to live summer differently. Less noise, more beauty. Less crowd, more emotion. A perfect place to marvel without artifice, in the heart of Haute-Savoie.
