The Natural Resources of Wellness in The Annecy Mountains
It descends from the mountains cradling the valleys and rises through plants from the earth. It oozes from the clean waters flowing along rivers, gushes down waterfalls and poses as Lake Annecy in a picture postcard. This is wellness in the Annecy Mountains. Here there are natural reserves for mindful walking, yoga practises in harmonious corners. You will find networks of hiking and cycling trails and workshops on prolonging the benefits of local natural products. A wellness destination in every sense.
Cultural Appetite
Walking tours of Annecy old town provide an in-depth history of this French medieval town, aptly known as the Venice of the Alps. The Château d’Annecy is a restored castle and now a museum. Situated at the top of a hill, it is well worth the walk for the views. From the Gothic Cathedral of Saint Pierre to modern structures there are a number of churches. Some date back to the Middle Agee. Église Saint-Maurice is the oldest church here. The old prison built in the 12th century is unlocked and now a key attraction sitting in the middle of the Thiou Canal. At the end of the 16th century, the Palais de l’Île served as a court house and a prison. Today it houses the Architecture and Heritage Interpretation Centre.
Capturing the life of years gone-by are colourful houses in Piedmontese style, emblematic buildings, traditional wooden architecture and water flowing under the church. There are arcades to explore, a myriad of passages to stroll through and window boxes drenched in floral displays. It’s no surprise to learn there are over 100 gardeners to keep the area so colourful. There are channels of water meandering along the narrow streets fringed with restaurants and al fresco dining. And of course, Pont des Amoures, the romantic footbridge with an equally romantic past.
Lake Annecy
This delightfully quaint town lies on the edge of the alpine Le lac de Annecy. The transparent, crystal clean lake, 14.6 km in length, serves as a central focal attraction to the villages it circumvents. You can sail on it, drive around it or paraglide over it. Biking takes two hours, hiking, much longer. Alternatively, simply enjoy its changing rhythm and stunning views – the sunsets, sunrises, silhouettes of boats and natural reflections. And thanks to protective measures taken over the last 50 years, it is now the purest of all urban lakes in Europe. It was formed 18,000 years ago, when the large alpine glaciers melted. Today, it is the third-largest lake in France.
Relax And Unwind
Wrapping around the lake are carpets of green landscapes, wooden houses dotted on the hillslopes and church spires glinting and adding shape to skylines. Hidden chalets, farmstays edging the forest, camping, glamping and B&Bs, accommodation is varied. Les Ô d’Annecy proved to be a delight with homemade offerings of preserves and breads, a hearty breakfast served on the edge of the garden flooded with spectacular views of the lake with a backdrop of its own 1867 country house. It supports sustainability by heating with wood. A massage room is housed in a shepherds hut while visiting deers roam the grounds packed with pine trees. Hotel La Ferme is located in the middle of the slope, overlooking the village of La Clusaz. This hotel-restaurant offers traditional cuisine served in a cosy candlelit dining area or on its surrounding terraces which savour views of the ski lifts traversing the Aravis mountain range.
A Wellness Hotel
Villa Caroline is the first dedicated wellness hotel. Sitting on the shores of Lake Annecy, this chic establishment offers 18 rooms, a detox menu, choice of massages tailored to requirements and fitness room. It also doubles as an ideal yoga retreat.
Outdoor Wellness
A preserved area on the shoreline of Lake Annecy is the Bout du Lac nature reserve. This reserve is a wetland area crossed by two rivers which feed Lake Annecy. Wet forests, reedbeds, meadows and alkaline peat bogs make up this ecosystem. It is a sanctuary for rare animals and plant species. Mindful walks are encouraged with regular signs to remind walkers to listen to nature. Other activities in the area take the shape of paddle yoga, excellent for mental strength, invigorated by the energy of the mountain environment. And cycling, following the tracks of the Tour de France which, since 1939, has made 16 stops in the area. As you journey up into the mountains, towns include Thônes, a half-way point between Annecy and the ski resorts. The villages of St Jean De Sixt, La Clusaz, Le Grand Bornand and Manigod provide an insight into alpine life.
The Tibetan Wellness Practice Of Tuomo Yoga
Fresh mountain air and cool fresh rivers, are an ideal conditions for Tuomo yoga. This is an ancient art practiced by Tibetan Buddhist monks. It helps to strengthen our immunity, resistance to cold and to overcome our fears. It is also a method used to defeat negativity and obstacles in our life. Here in Annecy Mountains, it starts with walking barefoot on stoney pathways. Rehearsing breathing techniques, mantras and visualization follows to prepare for voluntary submersion in cold water. Ten minutes in ten degrees – nearly! It certainly calls on will-power to relight an inner fire and mental control.
Wellness Workshops Using Natural Resources
Who would know the lengthy and complex process in making a bar of soap and tailoring it for different skin types. Soap workshops are offered in Alex village providing an insight into sustainable medicinal plant production in this mountain area. Laetitia Hespel trained at the French Institute for Herbalism. She hand-picks her own homegrown organic plants or those she finds growing wild. These she then dries at a low temperature to conserve all the qualities. The botanical herb garden sits at 800m altitude where she grows around thirty different varieties These are sold to laboratories or herbalists such as Clarins.
Artisan Medicinal Liqueurs
Distilleries such as the local family Distillerie des Aravis produces traditional herbal liqueurs using Génépi. This is an aperitif popularized in this Alpine area. It is based on an old monks’ recipe back in 1878 which included 27 plants when it promised treatments for headache, stomach and mood.
Mental Fun To Honour Local Heroes
Cow Art is alive and well around the village resort of Le Grand Bornand. And it’s in the form of an outdoor art gallery. Adding fun and colour, this walking tour showcases art works of cows in metal, wood and milk containers scattered in and around places. Why cows? In the year 2000, Le Grand-Bornand had 2000 inhabitants, 2000 cows, pastures at nearly 2000 meters altitude. It’s a tribute to the old forgotten trades of the valleys with cows representing arts and crafts. The village also sits in the region of cheese making. Reblechon Cheese is made in the area.
Edible Wellness
Al fresco eating is fashionable, whether it is riverside, open meadows or on top of a mountain. Dishes of local natural produce are often served decorated with edible flowers. In Buvette de Paccaly, proprietor and mountain guide, Astrid Marty, is a specialist in edible plants and flowers. She picks the flowers locally at various altitudes to ensure she has a good variety. These include campanula, wild thyme, willowherb, clover, wild oregano and nasturtium. She prepares and scatters them as toppings on dishes. These add taste, colour and additional nutrition to the menu of Chalet de Paccaly.
Outdoor, artisan, medicinal and edible, wellness in the Annecy Mountains takes many forms, a destination rich in natural culture and more than a breath of fresh air.
This pocket of SW France has found fame in a number of annual events:
The international Animated Film Festival: This takes place in June when professionals of the industry from around the world showcase their movies, ranging from 3D animated graphics to traditional animations
Venetian Carnival: Every year, usually in March, hundreds of people dressed with magnificent costumes parade in the streets of Annecy.
Yoga Festival: The village resort of La Clusaz is the location for the annual yoga festival
