Voie Verte du Lac d’Annecy

Voie Verte du Lac d’Annecy is a premier greenway in southeastern France, tracing the northern and western shores of the renowned Lac d'Annecy. This fully paved, car-free path stretches approximately 48 kilometers from the historic city of Annecy to the town of Cluses, offering unparalleled access to alpine scenery, charming villages, and cultural sites. Managed by the Département de la Haute-Savoie, it forms a critical segment of the expansive ViaRhôna and EuroVelo international cycling networks, promoting sustainable tourism and outdoor recreation in the French Alps.

Overview

The greenway is celebrated as one of the most scenic and well-developed recreational paths in Europe, seamlessly integrating into the Parc naturel régional du Massif des Bauges. Its creation was driven by a collaborative effort between local authorities, including the Communauté d'agglomération du Grand Annecy, and environmental groups to repurpose former railway corridors for public use. The route provides a safe, family-friendly corridor for non-motorized travel, significantly enhancing the tourism appeal of the Annecy region while preserving the ecological integrity of the lakeshore. It serves as a model for sustainable infrastructure, connecting urban centers with natural landscapes without disrupting local wildlife habitats.

Route and description

Starting at the Pont des Amours in central Annecy, the path winds northward through the gardens of the Parc de l'Europe before following the exact route of the old Chemin de fer du Haut-Rhône railway. It passes through the communes of Sévrier, Saint-Jorioz, and Duingt, offering continuous panoramic views of the lake and the Dent de Lanfon peak. The western leg continues past Menthon-Saint-Bernard and Talloires, skirting the base of the Mont Veyrier and Mont Baron massifs. After Doussard, the trail leaves the lakeshore, following the Rivière du Nom valley through Faverges-Seythenex and Marlens before its terminus at the Gare de Cluses railway station, where it links to the Voie Verte des Hautes-Alpes.

History and development

The greenway's foundation is the historic Ligne d'Annecy à Albertville, a railway opened in 1898 and operated by the Compagnie des chemins de fer de Paris à Lyon et à la Méditerranée. Passenger service ceased in 1988, leading to the track's abandonment. In the early 2000s, the Conseil départemental de la Haute-Savoie, under President Christian Monteil, initiated a major project to convert the corridor, with the first section inaugurated in 2005. Further extensions were completed through partnerships with the Région Auvergne-Rhône-Alpes and funding from the European Union's Interreg program. The final segment to Cluses opened in 2016, creating a continuous route that revitalized this historic transport artery for the 21st century.

Usage and activities

The path is intensively used by cyclists, pedestrians, and rollerbladers, with rental services available from shops in Annecy like Roul' ma Poule. It hosts annual events such as the Annecy Triathlon and stages of the Tour de France. The flat, smooth surface makes it ideal for families, wheelchair users, and cross-country skiers training on roller skis. Numerous access points lead to beaches like Plage d'Albigny, cultural sites including the Château de Menthon-Saint-Bernard, and restaurants serving local Reblochon cheese. The Office de Tourisme du Lac d'Annecy provides detailed maps and guides, promoting the trail as a cornerstone of the area's écotourisme strategy.

Connections to other trails

At its southern end in Annecy, the greenway connects directly to the Coulée Verte du Thiou, a path along the Canal du Thiou towards Cran-Gevrier. Its northern terminus at Cluses provides a seamless junction with the Voie Verte de l'Arve, which continues towards Saint-Gervais-les-Bains and the Mont Blanc region. These links integrate it into the long-distance ViaRhôna cycle route from Lake Geneva to the Mediterranean Sea, and it is also signed as part of EuroVelo 17 (Rhône Cycle Route). This network connectivity encourages multi-day touring, with cyclists often continuing to destinations like Chamonix, Albertville, or Geneva.

Flora and fauna

The corridor traverses diverse habitats, from the reed beds of the Réserve Naturelle du Bout du Lac d'Annecy to mixed deciduous forests of oak and beech. The lakeshore supports significant populations of mute swan, great crested grebe, and the protected European beaver. Upland sections near Faverges-Seythenex are within the foraging range of golden eagles and bearded vultures from the Parc national de la Vanoise. Botanical interest includes orchids like Dactylorhiza sambucina and alpine species from the Massif des Bauges, with conservation managed by the Conservatoire d'espaces naturels de Savoie to minimize human disturbance.