Talloires
Talloires and Annecy
The charming, idyllic resort village of Talloires (pronounced “Tal-whar,” from "Tall’eur" in Celtic, meaning “facing the moon”) is located on the shores of Lake Annecy at the foot of the French Alps in the Haute-Savoie region of France (bordered by Italy and Switzerland). The village preserves a heritage dating back to 1018 when it became the site of a Benedictine priory. This lakeside village’s natural beauty and the surrounding mountains have inspired artists such as Paul Cézanne. Today, Talloires is dotted with courtyards, gardens, beaches, hiking trails, small cafés, and shops, offering respite from the hustle and bustle of city life. In addition to being a popular resort destination for European vacationers, it is also a summertime center of intellectual activity. The former priory (Le Prieure) is now home to Tufts University’s European Center and its various academic programs and conferences.
Just a few minutes away is the city of Annecy, known as the “Venice of France” with its distinctly Italian feel. Annecy’s small medieval quarter is laced with canals, flower-covered bridges, and cobblestone streets. Its quaint cafés, open-air markets, museums, and castles give you a taste of old France. Annecy and Talloires have been featured in the New York Times Bestseller "1,000 Places to See Before You Die: A Traveler's Life List" by Patricia Schultz. Schultz hails the region as "A Lakeside Jewel in the Savoy Alps".
Directions to Talloires
Flying into Geneva
Talloires is best reached by flying into Geneva, Switzerland. The airport in Geneva is just a 1 hour car or bus ride from Talloires. The Geneva airport is serviced by Swiss, KLM (Northwest), and Lufthansa.
See Geneva Airport
Directions by Car
If you are renting a car from the airport or driving on your own, exit the airport and follow the GREEN highway signs towards France. Continue to follow signs to Annecy.
After you pass the French/Swiss border, follow the sign to Annecy (marked N201). You are exiting the highway to the right, following direction Lyon, Dijon, Paris. Shortly thereafter, take Sortie 13, following the GREEN (not blue) Annecy sign. Go around the rotary until you see the sign “Annecy par R.N.” Avoid all BLUE signs indicating Annecy (these take you on the highway, which takes longer and is expensive).
Stay on the N201, which takes you through the towns of Cruseilles and Pringy. After leaving Pringy and as you approach Annecy, turn left toward Thônes. Continue straight, passing an ESSO station on your left. Enter a rotary and exit on the opposite end again, following the sign to Thônes. Continue straight, through a traffic light. You are now on Avenue de la Plaine.
Enter a second rotary. Go through the flashing yellow light in the rotary and exit following the sign to Thônes and L’Imperial. Go straight through the next light. When the road ends (Lake Annecy and the Imperial Hotel/Casino are directly in front of you), turn left (onto the D909) headed toward Thônes and Veyrier. Continue on this road, with the lake on your right, for about 5km, until you pass through the town of Veyrier.
After the center of Veyrier, the D909 branches to the right toward Talloires. Take this right and follow the road through the village of Menthon St. Bernard, through Echarvines, and down the steep, windy road into Talloires. As you approach Talloires, turn right at the sign marked “Centre et Port.” Follow the narrow road through town, turning right again in the center of town heading toward the Port. Pass the hotel Le Cottage on your right, the Père Bise on your left. Just before the Hotel de l’Abbaye, turn right onto the Chemin de la Colombière. The entrance to the European Center is the second driveway on the left.
Flying into Paris
From the Charles de Gaulle or Paris Orly airports, travel to the downtown train station (Gare de Lyon). There is a TGV (train à grande vitesse — rapid train) that leaves the Gare de Lyon station for Annecy several times daily. The trip takes three hours and forty minutes. The one-way train costs approximately $60-100 per person. You must make reservations for the TGV. These can be made in the U.S., at World Travel Partners or any travel agency, if you make them at least two weeks before you travel by TGV, or they can be made in France on shorter notice.
Once at the Annecy train station, take the "Voyages Crolard" bus to Talloires. Schedules are posted outside the Crolard office door, and schedules are also online in English. The cost of the bus between Annecy and Talloires is approximately 2.70 euros (about $4.30).
Flying into Lyon
Talloires can also be reached by flying into Lyon, France. The Lyon-Saint Exupéry airport is just under two hours from Talloires. The Lyon Airport is serviced by Delta and Air France and boasts a direct flight from New York City. Both bus and train service link the Lyon-Saint Exupéry airport to Annecy.