Rent a holiday home in the French Alps: hike high mountain passes and unwind on Annecy’s café-lined quays

The French Alps are a region of rugged, picture-book beauty. Steep barren peaks, lakes, forests, gorges and glaciers follow one another in quick succession. From a holiday home in the French Alps you’ll be spoiled not only by the mountain scenery but also by charming towns with wonderful atmospheres. Think of the village of Yvoire on Lake Geneva, where you stroll through lanes draped with flowers and ivy, or the cosy terraces along the canals of Annecy. In the Gorge du Fier you’ll enjoy a magical play of light and waterfalls tumbling like rain. Visit Grenoble for a panoramic view and then head off across some truly impressive mountain passes!

Walk past mountain lakes and glaciers from your French Alps holiday home

Nature parks in the French Alps, such as Mercantour National Park, are beloved both in summer and winter. In winter, kilometres of pistes promise plenty of ski fun; in summer, the snow gives way to superb hiking terrain. A far-reaching network of trails lets you enjoy alpine lakes, forests and meadows. In Mercantour you’ll find an impressive mountain pass that, at over 2,500 metres, offers a fantastic panorama. Look around—maybe you’ll spot an ibex or an eagle. The natural splendour is just as overwhelming in Parc National des Écrins, where visitors marvel at the easily accessible Glacier Blanc.

Visit the handsome citadel town of Briançon

Briançon, with medieval roots, is a wonderful town to visit. From the outside you can still clearly see its former role as a defensive stronghold. The old centre also deserves a look, welcoming visitors with cafés and little shops along picturesque streets. At the foot of the town, where a wall rises, lies a tiered, star-shaped line of fortifications. Briançon and its proud church with stately twin towers sit in a beautiful setting—be sure to admire the town from a walk in the surrounding hills.

Grenoble: ride the ‘walnut bubble’ to the top

Grenoble has an attraction that whisks you up for sweeping views over the city valley and surrounding mountains. Just a few minutes in a spherical capsule—the famous “bubble”—bring you to a lookout some 500 metres above the city. The contrast between the mountains and the urban panorama is striking, and on clear days you can even see Mont Blanc with the naked eye. The Isère River flows around the city; its valley is renowned for walnut cultivation, a staple in local gastronomy.

Head to Lake Geneva from your French Alps holiday home

The foothills of the French Alps reach all the way to Lake Geneva. While most towns sit on the Swiss shore, you’ll find delightful villages on the French side too—one of them is colourful Yvoire. A castle and a church are part of the skyline, and much of the old town hides behind medieval gates. Window boxes and ivy brighten the granite cottages. As you wander the flower-lined lanes, distant views of the lake feel like the romantic cover of a jigsaw box.

Annecy: the most charming town in the French Alps

Annecy belongs on your list if you’re seeking a lively highlight from your holiday home in the French Alps. Many of the colourful houses have foundations set right in the canals, with café terraces in between—giving the town a vibrant, storybook feel. Its nickname, the “Venice of the Alps,” truly resonates when you’re seated on a terrace looking out at a tiny castle-island in the middle of the town canal. Flower boxes on the railings and the striking turquoise water make a leisurely stroll here a pure delight.

Hike or paddle through the idyllic Gorge du Fier

Annecy’s appeal extends beyond the old town. Nearby you’ll find the natural spectacle of the Gorge du Fier, a jagged canyon carved by the River Fier. A boardwalk threads through the gorge to make this erosion wonder accessible. It’s a fascinating walk—rock walls constantly change shape and, in places, the stone shows bizarre erosion patterns. Especially magical are the showers of waterfall spray and sunbeams filtering through the trees. Eventually you leave the gorge and continue on the plateau above. The Gorge du Fier is popular with walkers and can also be explored by canoe.

Bonneval-sur-Arc: a rustic base for hikes in Parc National de la Vanoise

If you’re looking for an authentic Alpine village, consider Bonneval-sur-Arc. Packed with stone houses, it sits in the Maurienne Valley, ringed by snow-capped peaks. From the village you can set out on hikes in Parc National de la Vanoise. Here you’ll encounter a glacier that drops like a cliff into a mountain lake. Ibex are familiar residents, and marmots are said to be easy to spot. There’s also a waterfall plunging from a gentle plateau into the depths. Visiting in spring? The mountain slopes are sprinkled with wildflowers.

Rent a holiday home in the French Alps

The French Alps are a heartbreakingly beautiful region that combines a wild mountain world with other highlights such as the colourful towns of Annecy and Yvoire. Want to enjoy vistas that impress both near and far? Book a holiday home in the French Alps and seek out unforgettable sights: a glacier wall in Parc National de la Vanoise, “rainfall” waterfalls in the Gorge du Fier, and the fluffy alpine marmot.