There are places in France that people only speak of in hushed tones, as if they should remain secret. A village you won’t find in a tourist brochure, but rather along an unexpected journey, or on the recommendation of a local who, in a half-whisper, tells you: “if you’re looking for beauty without the crowds, go there…”
This place truly exists. Just a few kilometers from the crowded shores of Annecy, it offers such a spectacular setting and such rare tranquility that it seems suspended between lake and sky. You reach it via a winding road lined with forests, and as you climb higher, the view clears, sounds fade away, and weightlessness takes hold.
A haven of peace far from the hustle
There, no honking horns or dense crowds. Instead, silence punctuated by the ripple of water, the bells of a herd descending from the alpine pastures, or the gentle breeze in the leaves. The village stretches gracefully along a sheltered bay, where the ochre facades of houses are reflected in a lake of unreal blue. Passersby stroll unhurriedly, terraces overflow with flowers, and the old walls seem to tell centuries of serenity. But will it last? This village is becoming more and more well-known…
Spectacular nature within reach
It is a dream starting point to discover one of the most beautiful facets of Haute-Savoie. Just above the village, trails rise to natural balconies with plunging views over turquoise waters. The Tournette, majestic and imposing, reigns over the landscape, while the Roc de Chère nature reserve spreads out like a green lung where wild orchids, rare butterflies, and intact silence flourish.
Land of simple and true pleasures
There you can hike at dawn, paddleboard on a lake as smooth as a mirror, and even paraglide for those who want to be carried by the air currents. But you can also simply take a nap in the shade of plane trees, or swim at one of the small discreet beaches, far from the hustle and bustle.
The revelation of an alpine gem
This village that people barely dare to talk about, for fear it might lose its soul, is Talloires-Montmin. Gracefully perched on the east shore of Lake Annecy, it is both a balcony over the peaks and a gateway to the depths of the lake. Its millenary abbey turned boutique hotel, its quiet lanes, its markets where you find farm reblochon cheese and blueberry tarts… Everything breathes authenticity.
An unforgettable experience
I still remember that summer morning, barely awakened by the sun, sitting on the terrace of a guesthouse. The lake shimmered gently, the mountains reflected in the water, and everything seemed frozen in absolute peace. At that moment, I understood what “living differently” meant. That stay in Talloires-Montmin was not just a getaway, it was a parenthesis, an invitation to slow down, to breathe — to dream. It was a few years ago and it is probably what decided me to settle in Haute-Savoie.
Talloires-Montmin, that name is not yet on everyone’s lips, and maybe that’s for the best. Because those who come here do not seek the hustle but harmony. And when one discovers this rare balance between nature, heritage, and the sweetness of life, it quickly becomes clear why some have never left.
