It was a beautiful spring afternoon for our students, who went on a hike to the Talabar clearing last week.
It was very mild this Wednesday, and the sun was shining. After stopping in front of the house where the writer Eugène Sue lived in the 19th century, the students took advantage of the shade of the forest to make a leisurely climb up to Talabar, where an old sheepfold is located.
Eugène Sue was a French novelist who was exiled to Savoy in 1853 following a coup d’état in December 1852 (Savoy became part of France a few years later, in 1860). In one of his novels, he wrote the following lines about this house and Lake Annecy:
“The little house is white, and its shutters are green
At the foot of the Veyrier, she is sitting and daydreaming
On Lake Annecy, whose shores are lined with
From yellowing walnut trees: its diaphanous wave
Clear mirror frame, reflects beauty
“An alpine landscape with its rocks that are blackish in color.”
Thanks to his novels, Eugène Sue helped launch the Annecy craze in the capital.
During the hike, we took a break to talk in French as a Foreign Language about the mountains in the students’ home countries. They also talked about the sports played there. In this way, we took a virtual trip to Japan, the United States, Great Britain, Germany, and Austria. This activity, which is accessible to everyone, offers spectacular views of the lake and the city of Annecy.
Did you know there’s a long-distance hiking trail that goes all the way around Lake Annecy? Depending on the route you choose, the hike can take 5 or 6 days.
More info here: http://www.savoie-mont-blanc.com/offre/fiche/tour-du-lac-d-annecy-gr-p-6-jours/196151
It’s also possible to walk around the lake by following the shoreline as closely as possible—several of our students have already done it!
More info here: http://www.tourisme-annecy.net/tour-lac-annecy-pied.html
Our hike continued on Mont Veyrier. Some students took the opportunity to ask the two teachers who were with us some grammar questions, but the atmosphere remained very relaxed!
This educational activity organized by CILFA wrapped up with a drink, on a terrace overlooking the lake.
If you’re looking for suggestions for mountain hikes during your weekends in and around Annecy, feel free to ask the instructors for advice. You can also borrow hiking maps from the CILFA resource center.
Other activities offered by our school: https://www.tezdev.cilfa.fr/activites-pedagogiques/
A hiking trip in fall: https://www.tezdev.cilfa.fr/cilfa-randonnee-veyrier/
A photo recap of last Wednesday’s activity:
