Which shore and which village to choose around Lake Annecy?
Renting a villa on the shores of Lake Annecy begins with choosing a setting. The lake stretches for almost fifteen kilometres between Annecy, to the north, and Doussard, to the south. Two roads run alongside it, one on each shore, and every village has its own character, its own light and its own pace.
So before you compare houses, compare places: the address decides when the sun leaves the terrace, how much time you spend in the car and what you can do on foot.
Eastern shore or western shore: which should you choose?
The eastern shore, from Veyrier-du-Lac to Talloires, has its back to the mountain and faces the sunset. Terraces here hold the sun until evening, the villages are residential and quiet, and several fine restaurants have made their home along it. The western shore, from Sevrier to Duingt, catches the morning light. It is followed by the voie verte, the greenway much loved by cyclists, and its mood is more family-oriented. At the end of the day, the sun slips behind the Semnoz earlier on this side.
There is no wrong side, only different priorities: evening light and tranquillity on one, cycling and family beaches on the other. For a detailed comparison, village by village and according to the make-up of your party, see our feature on where to stay on Lake Annecy.
Talloires, the most sought-after village on the eastern shore
Talloires sits in a sheltered bay, facing the setting sun. Its former abbey at the water's edge, its jetties and the Roc de Chère nature reserve, which closes the bay to the north, give it an atmosphere all of its own, elegant and peaceful. The Golf du Lac d'Annecy spreads across the heights above the village, and two restaurants with two Michelin stars each lie within the commune of Talloires-Montmin.
This is where Villa Tomar stands, above the bay, two minutes from the lake. To plan your days here, read our article on what to do in Talloires, or the page devoted to Talloires and Lake Annecy as seen from the villa.
Menthon-Saint-Bernard and Veyrier-du-Lac
Heading back up towards Annecy, Menthon-Saint-Bernard is recognisable by its château, which looks out over the lake from its hill. Veyrier-du-Lac, closer to town, is lined with handsome properties at the foot of Mont Veyrier. These two villages are a compromise between the town and the bay of Talloires: what you gain in proximity to Annecy you lose a little in calm, since the lakeside road grows busier the nearer you come to town.
Annecy, the town on the water
To the north, Annecy combines canals, arcades and large parks that open onto the lake. People come for the old town market, the museums, the shops and the café terraces, and it is easy to reach by train. For a couple on a weekend break, it makes an excellent base. For a group, the limits soon show: parking is scarce, the streets are lively in season, and large houses with a garden and pool are rare. Many travellers therefore choose to stay in a village and come into town for the day.
Sevrier, Saint-Jorioz, Duingt: how does the western shore compare?
Sevrier and Saint-Jorioz stretch along the voie verte, the cycle path that follows the shore from Annecy. The beaches here are wide and well suited to children, and rental properties are plentiful and varied. Further south, Duingt marks the narrows that separate the Grand Lac from the Petit Lac, with its château set on a peninsula directly opposite Talloires. The western shore suits sporty families and holidays shaped around cycling. Those who dream of late dinners in the sun will prefer the shore across the water.
The head of the lake: Doussard and Lathuile
At its southern tip, the lake turns wilder. Around Doussard and Lathuile, a nature reserve borders the shoreline, facing the Bauges massif. People come here for hiking, paragliding and the sense of being at the end of the world. The trade-off is that Annecy lies at the far end of the lake: this area is less suited to those who wish to dine in town several evenings a week.
Why rent a villa rather than stay in a hotel?
The lakeside hotels offer round-the-clock service, but also separate rooms, set hours and spaces shared with other guests. A villa offers what no hotel can promise: a place that is entirely your own. You live at your own pace, with a pool you share with no one, a kitchen, generous living spaces and no timetable to keep.
Once you are travelling as a party of six or eight, or across several generations, it is often the only arrangement that lets everyone find their place: the children in the water, the grandparents in the shade of the pergola, and everyone around the same table in the evening.
