On Friday, the CILFA students went on a wonderful boat cruise on Lake Annecy.

They were able to admire the fall colors and many famous sites around the lake, such as Yoann CONTE’s ***** hotel and ** restaurant (which he took over from renowned chef Marc VEYRAT): http://www.yoann-conte.com/fr/, the Château de Menthon-Saint-Bernard: https://www.chateau-de-menthon.com/, the Palace de Menthon http://www.palacedementhon.com/fr/ , the Roc de Chère and its mysterious Grand Pertuis Cave (accessible only by boat), or another gourmet restaurant called the Auberge du Père Bise in Talloires: https://www.perebise.com/.

The boat then turned around to pass in front of the Château de Duingt https://fr.wikipedia.org/wiki/Ch%C3%A2teau_de_Ch%C3%A2teauvieux_ (Duingt) located on a peninsula, then it followed the western shore of the lake back to Annecy, passing through St. Jorioz and Sevrier.

Enjoy cruises offered by the Annecy Lake Boat Company (at least one cruise daily and at least two on weekends): http://www.annecy-croisieres.com/

The cruise is wonderful in every season. There is also a shuttle boat service from April through September. Finally, for food lovers, the boat company offers lunch and dinner cruises on the MS Libellule.

A poem by Astolphe de Custine (1841) about Lake Annecy:

“Leaving the world to its worries,
On these stormy shores I have found peace.
Mirror that breaks the desert’s solitude,
Where the reflection of the sky and the hills is imprinted,
Where light shines, the soul of Nature,
Which, hour by hour, lends the mountains a different aspect
And, without changing the landscape, changes its adornment:
Blessed lake, I approach you with holy reverence.
Far from the cold beauties of a world that grimaces,
It is the image of God that is painted upon your surface.”