High in France’s Rhone-Alpes region, the Haute-Savoie department is a world of lakes, waterfalls, caves, gorges, glaciers, nature reserves, perfect ski slopes and, of course, majestic mountains. Back in the 18th century, the English came to Haute-Savoie to admire the glaciers. Now, this beautiful natural landscape is a top destination for tourists.

The town of Chamonix is probably one of the most popular Alpine ski resorts, having played host to the first Winter Olympics in 1924.  Nestling in a valley, it is surrounded by stunning mountains – including the famous Mont Blanc - with nine ski areas that offer some of the best skiing in Europe.

The capital of Haute-Savoie is Annecy, an elegant, fashionable city with a friendly ambience. Annecy’s network of canals make it a truly romantic setting – think Venice plus crisp mountain air and snow-capped Alpine peaks! A 15km long lake adds to the romance and is a great setting for hiking, gliding or cycling.

In the north of the Haute-Savoie lies Evian-les-Bains, close to Lake Geneva. Yes, this is the Evian famed for its springs, where water is bottled and sent around the world. A visit to the factory is a must as you can sample the famous water at its source. Also on the lake is the enticing medieval stone village of Thonon-Les-Bains.

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