Haute-Savoie (Arpitan :
Savouè d’Amont /
Hiôta-Savouè) is a
FrenchFrance , officially the French Republic , is a country located in Western Europe, with several overseas islands and territories located on other continents. Metropolitan France extends from the Mediterranean Sea to the English Channel and the North Sea, and from the Rhine to the Atlantic Ocean...
department, named for its location in the
AlpsThe Alps are one of the great mountain range systems of Europe, stretching from Austria and Slovenia in the east; through Italy, Switzerland, Liechtenstein and Germany; to France in the west....
mountain rangeA mountain range is a chain of mountains bordered by highlands or separated from other mountains by passes or valleys. Individual mountains within the same mountain range do not necessarily have the same geology, though they often do; they may be a mix of different orogeny, for example volcanoes,...
.
Haute-Savoie (
EnglishEnglish is a West Germanic language that developed in England during the Anglo-Saxon era. As a result of the military, economic, scientific, political, and cultural influence of the British Empire during the 18th, 19th, and early 20th centuries, and of the United States since the mid 20th century,...
: "Upper Savoy") is one of two departments of the region of
SavoySavoy is a region of Europe on the western flank of the Alps that emerged following the collapse of the Frankish Kingdom of Burgundy. The historical land of Savoy is shared between the modern republics of France and Italy.-Background:...
that was annexed by France on 24 March 1860, the other being
SavoieSavoie is a French department located in the Rhône-Alpes region in the French Alps....
. For its history prior to 1860, and details of the annexation and reasons for the current separatist movement in the two departments, see
SavoySavoy is a region of Europe on the western flank of the Alps that emerged following the collapse of the Frankish Kingdom of Burgundy. The historical land of Savoy is shared between the modern republics of France and Italy.-Background:...
.
To the north, Haute-Savoie borders on
SwitzerlandSwitzerland , officially the Swiss Confederation , is a federal republic consisting of 26 states named cantons, with Bern as the seat of the federal authorities...
, with
GenevaGeneva, is the second-most-populous city in Switzerland and is the most populous city of Romandie...
as the closest major town, and
Lake GenevaLake Geneva or Lake Léman is the largest natural freshwater lake in western Europe . In addition it is the largest body of freshwater in continental Europe in term of volume . 60% of it comes under the jurisdiction of Switzerland , and 40% under France...
.
Haute-Savoie (Arpitan :
Savouè d’Amont /
Hiôta-Savouè) is a
FrenchFrance , officially the French Republic , is a country located in Western Europe, with several overseas islands and territories located on other continents. Metropolitan France extends from the Mediterranean Sea to the English Channel and the North Sea, and from the Rhine to the Atlantic Ocean...
department, named for its location in the
AlpsThe Alps are one of the great mountain range systems of Europe, stretching from Austria and Slovenia in the east; through Italy, Switzerland, Liechtenstein and Germany; to France in the west....
mountain rangeA mountain range is a chain of mountains bordered by highlands or separated from other mountains by passes or valleys. Individual mountains within the same mountain range do not necessarily have the same geology, though they often do; they may be a mix of different orogeny, for example volcanoes,...
.
History
Haute-Savoie (
EnglishEnglish is a West Germanic language that developed in England during the Anglo-Saxon era. As a result of the military, economic, scientific, political, and cultural influence of the British Empire during the 18th, 19th, and early 20th centuries, and of the United States since the mid 20th century,...
: "Upper Savoy") is one of two departments of the region of
SavoySavoy is a region of Europe on the western flank of the Alps that emerged following the collapse of the Frankish Kingdom of Burgundy. The historical land of Savoy is shared between the modern republics of France and Italy.-Background:...
that was annexed by France on 24 March 1860, the other being
SavoieSavoie is a French department located in the Rhône-Alpes region in the French Alps....
. For its history prior to 1860, and details of the annexation and reasons for the current separatist movement in the two departments, see
SavoySavoy is a region of Europe on the western flank of the Alps that emerged following the collapse of the Frankish Kingdom of Burgundy. The historical land of Savoy is shared between the modern republics of France and Italy.-Background:...
.
Geography
To the north, Haute-Savoie borders on
SwitzerlandSwitzerland , officially the Swiss Confederation , is a federal republic consisting of 26 states named cantons, with Bern as the seat of the federal authorities...
, with
GenevaGeneva, is the second-most-populous city in Switzerland and is the most populous city of Romandie...
as the closest major town, and
Lake GenevaLake Geneva or Lake Léman is the largest natural freshwater lake in western Europe . In addition it is the largest body of freshwater in continental Europe in term of volume . 60% of it comes under the jurisdiction of Switzerland , and 40% under France...
. To the east, Haute-Savoie borders
ItalyItaly , officially the Italian Republic , is a country located on the Italian Peninsula in Southern Europe and on the two largest islands in the Mediterranean Sea, Sicily and Sardinia. Italy shares its northern, Alpine boundary with France, Switzerland, Austria and Slovenia...
, and to the west the department of
AinAin is a department named after the Ain River on the eastern edge of France. Being part of the region Rhône-Alpes and bordered by the rivers Saône and Rhône, the department of Ain enjoys a privileged geographic situation...
. To the south it borders
SavoieSavoie is a French department located in the Rhône-Alpes region in the French Alps....
.
Mont BlancMont Blanc or Monte Bianco is the highest mountain in the Alps and in Western Europe. It rises above sea level and is ranked 11th in the world in topographic prominence...
and
Lake AnnecyLake Annecy is a lake in Haute-Savoie in France.It is the second largest lake in France, after lac du Bourget, except for the French part of lac Léman . It is known as "Europe's cleanest lake" because of strict environmental regulations introduced in the 1960s...
are located in Haute-Savoie, as well as the town of
Évian-les-BainsÉvian-les-Bains or Évian is a commune in the northern part of the Haute-Savoie department in the Rhône-Alpes region in south-eastern France.It lies on the shores of Lake Geneva , opposite Lausanne, Switzerland.-History:...
, the most famous town on the French shore of Lake Geneva, and well-known around the world for its
mineral waterMineral water is water containing minerals or other dissolved substances that alter its taste or give it therapeutic value. Salts, sulfur compounds, and gases are among the substances that can be dissolved in the water. Mineral water can often be effervescent. Mineral water can be prepared or can...
,
EvianEvian is a French brand of mineral water coming from several sources near Évian-les-Bains, on the south shore of Lake Geneva.Today, Evian is owned by Danone Group, a French multinational company. Evian first entered the U.S. market in 1978 where it was served in high-end restaurants, lounges, and...
.
Some of the world's most well-known ski resorts are located in Haute-Savoie. For instance,
ChamonixChamonix-Mont-Blanc or, more commonly, Chamonix is a commune in the Haute-Savoie department in the Rhône-Alpes region in south-eastern France. It was the site of the 1924 Winter Olympics...
— a city where skiing and mountaineering are at the heart of the economic activity, thanks to the Mont-Blanc, Europe's second highest mountain (4808 meters high).
Lakes in Haute-Savoie:
- Lac de l'Aiguillette
- Lac de l'Airon at Carroz
- Lac d'Annecy
- Lac d'Anterne
Lac d'Anterne is a lake near Sixt-Fer-à-Cheval, in the commune of Passy in the Haute-Savoie department of France. It is located in the Sixt-Passy nature preserve....
- Lac Bénit
Lac Bénit is a lake in the Haute-Savoie department of France. It has a surface area of 4.1 ha....
at Mont-SaxonnexMont-Saxonnex is a commune in the Haute-Savoie department in the Rhône-Alpes region in south-eastern France.-References:*...
- Marais de la Braille between Saint-Félix and Bloye
Bloye is a commune in the Haute-Savoie department in the Rhône-Alpes region in south-eastern France.-References:*...
- At Massif du Chablais
- Lac d'Arvouin
Lac d'Arvouin is a lake south of Cornettes de Bise in the Haute-Savoie region of France.It covers an area of 1.8 hectares and its deepest point is 6.3 metres. It is located at an altitude of 1,663 metres....
south of Cornettes de BiseThe Cornettes de Bise is a mountain in the Chablais Alps....
- Lac d'Avoriaz at Avoriaz
Avoriaz is a French mountain resort in the heart of the Portes du Soleil. It is located on the territory of the commune of Morzine. It is easily accessible via the D338 running from Morzine to Avoriaz....
- Lac de Bise, west of Cornettes de Bise
The Cornettes de Bise is a mountain in the Chablais Alps....
- Lac de la Case
Lac de la Case is a lake at Bernex in Haute-Savoie, France....
- Lac de Darbon
Lac de Darbon is a lake in Haute-Savoie, France. Located at an elevation of 1813 m, its surface area is 2 ha....
south of Dent d'Oche
- Lac de Fontaine at Vacheresse
Vacheresse is a commune in the Haute-Savoie department in the Rhône-Alpes region in south-eastern France.-References:*...
- Lac du Jotty at La Baume
La Baume is a commune in the Haute-Savoie department in the Rhône-Alpes region in south-eastern France.-Geography:It is situated in the High Savoy between Thonon-les-Bains and Morzine...
- Lac de Montriond
Lac de Montriond is a lake at Montriond in the Haute-Savoie department of France. It has a surface area of 32 ha....
at MontriondMontriond is a commune in the Haute-Savoie department in the Rhône-Alpes region in south-eastern France.It is just north of the ski resorts of Morzine and Avoriaz in the Portes du Soleil ski resorts area. Just east lies Lac du Montriond, a small lake....
- Lac de la Mouille at Châtel
Châtel is a commune in the Haute-Savoie department in the Rhône-Alpes region in south-eastern France.It is situated in the northern French Alps on the French/Swiss border and is a popular ski resort...
- Lac des Plagnes at Abondance
- Lac de Tavaneuse
Lac de Tavaneuse is a lake at Abondance in Haute-Savoie, France....
at Abondance
- Lac de Vallon
Lac de Vallon is a lake at Bellevaux in the Haute-Savoie department of France. The lake formed in 1943 when a landslide blocked the course of the Brévon river....
at Bellevaux
- Lac de Vonnes
Lac de Vonnes is an artificial lake at Châtel in Haute-Savoie, France....
at ChâtelChâtel is a commune in the Haute-Savoie department in the Rhône-Alpes region in south-eastern France.It is situated in the northern French Alps on the French/Swiss border and is a popular ski resort...
|
- At Chamonix
Chamonix-Mont-Blanc or, more commonly, Chamonix is a commune in the Haute-Savoie department in the Rhône-Alpes region in south-eastern France. It was the site of the 1924 Winter Olympics...
- Lac à l'Anglais
- Lac Blanc at the Aiguilles Rouges
The Aiguilles Rouges is a crystalline mountainous massif of the northern Alps, opposite the Mont Blanc massif. The name is justified by the characteristic color of the granite, which redden in the morning light. The highest peak of the massif is the aiguille du Belvédère at 2965 m...
- Lac du Brévent
Lac du Brévent is a lake in the municipality of Chamonix, Haute-Savoie, France. It is located below the Le Brévent peak, at an elevation of approx. 2125 m....
- Lac de Charamillon
- Lac de Champraz
- Lac Cornu
Lac Cornu is a lake in the Aiguilles Rouges massif of Haute-Savoie, France. It is located at an elevation of 2276 m with a surface area of 5.4 ha.Petit Lac Cornu is located 500 m North West, at an elevation of 2243 m. Its surface area is 4700 m²....
- Lac des Gaillands
- Lac Noir des Aiguilles Rouges at the Aiguilles Rouges
The Aiguilles Rouges is a crystalline mountainous massif of the northern Alps, opposite the Mont Blanc massif. The name is justified by the characteristic color of the granite, which redden in the morning light. The highest peak of the massif is the aiguille du Belvédère at 2965 m...
- Lac des Praz
- Lac de Tardevent
- Lac des Chambres
- Lac des Confins
Lac des Confins is located just below the station of La Clusaz. The lake is situated at the foot of the Aravis Range. Nearby is the Pointe Percée....
, massif des Aravis at La ClusazLa Clusaz is a commune in the Haute-Savoie department in the Rhône-Alpes region in south-eastern France.It is a ski resort in the Alps near the Swiss border. The commune of La Clusaz is part of the Haute-Savoie département. An old village, La Clusaz has been hosting winter sports since 1907. It is...
- Lac des Dronières at Cruseilles
Cruseilles is a commune in the Haute-Savoie department in the Rhône-Alpes region in south-eastern France.-Notable people:Notable as the birth place of Louis Armand director of the SNCF, Euratom and a resistance fighter.-References:*...
- Lac de Flaine
Lac de Flaine is a lake at Flaine in Haute-Savoie, France. Its surface and depth vary seasonly. Maximum depth can reach 10.5 m in May and only 0.75 m in winter, while the surface area varies from 12 ha to 1.5 ha....
at FlaineFlaine is the name of a ski area in the Haute Savoie region of the French Alps, and is a part of the linked Grand Massif domain. It is in the territory of the communes of Magland and Arâches. Flaine is linked to Samoëns, Morillon, Les Carroz and Sixt-Fer-à-Cheval, with 267 km of pistes in total...
- Lac de Génissiat at Génissiat dam
- Lac des Gorges-du-Fier at Montrottier
Montrottier is a commune in the Rhône department in eastern France.-References:*...
- Lac de la Griaz at Houches
Les Houches is a commune in the Haute-Savoie department in the Rhône-Alpes region in south-eastern France.It is a ski-resort, and is located 6 kilometres from Chamonix with a ski domain which extends from an altitude of 950 metres up to 1900 metres. The skiing combines long descents through...
- Lacs Jovet at Contamines-Monjoie
Les Contamines-Montjoie' is a commune in the Haute-Savoie department in the Rhône-Alpes region in south-eastern France.-History:The history of Les Contamines :The name of the village originates from ancient local dialect...
- Lacs des Laouchets
- Lac de Lessy
Lac de Lessy is a lake at Le Petit-Bornand-les-Glières in the Haute-Savoie, France....
at col de la Forclaz-Lessy, below Pic de Jallouvre
- Étang de Machilly at Machilly
Machilly is a commune in the Haute-Savoie department in the Rhône-Alpes region in south-eastern France.-References:*...
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- Lacs de Passy
- Lacs de la Cavettaz named Lacs de Passy at Passy
- Lac Bleu
- Lac de Pormenaz
Lac de Pormenaz is a lake in the Passy nature preserve of the Haute-Savoie department of France. Its surface area of 4.4 ha is at an elevation of 1945 m.The lake can be reached by foot from the village of Servoz....
in the Passy nature preserve
- Lac Vert de Passy at Passy
- Lac de Pététoz
Lac de Pététoz is a lake in Haute-Savoie, France....
above La Chèvrerie La Chèvrerie is a commune in the Charente department in south-western France.-See also:*Communes of the Charente department...
- At Vallée du Giffre
- Lac de Gers
Lac de Gers is a lake above Samoëns in Haute-Savoie, France. The lake's water level varies seasonally up by 2 m. Its maximum surface area is 6.5 ha....
at SamoënsSamoëns is a commune in the Haute-Savoie department in the Rhône-Alpes region in south-eastern France.The village of Samoëns is located in the Vallée du Giffre in the French Alps and carries the designation of a "ville fleurie" distinguishing it as one of the most beautiful towns in France...
- Lac de Roy
Lac de Roy is a lake in Haute-Savoie, France. It is located 2 km west of le Praz-du-Lys ski resort, in the commune of Taninges....
- Lac du Jotty Vallée d'Aulps
- Lac des Jovets Contamines Monjoie
- Lac du Môle at Ville-en-Sallaz
Ville-en-Sallaz is a commune in the Haute-Savoie department in the Rhône-Alpes region in south-eastern France.-References:*...
- Lac de Préssy at Taninges
Taninges is a commune in the Haute-Savoie department in the Rhône-Alpes region in south-eastern France.-References:*...
- Plan du Rocher at Gets
Les Gets is a commune in the Haute-Savoie department in the Rhône-Alpes region in south-eastern France.The village's first single person chair lift was opened in 1938 with the first chair lift on Mont Chery in 1954.-Geography:...
- Lac de Vogealle at Sixt-Fer-à-Cheval
Sixt-Fer-à-Cheval is a commune in the Haute-Savoie department in the Rhône-Alpes region in south-eastern France.-Geography:The town ranges in altitude from 765 to 1600m, and three quarters of its area are part of a natural reserve and thus completely uninhabited...
- Lac de Vallon
Lac de Vallon is a lake at Bellevaux in the Haute-Savoie department of France. The lake formed in 1943 when a landslide blocked the course of the Brévon river....
at La Chèvrerie La Chèvrerie is a commune in the Charente department in south-western France.-See also:*Communes of the Charente department...
- Lac de Vernant at Carroz
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Miscellaneous topics
- The area is famous for the entrance to the Mont Blanc Tunnel
The Mont Blanc Tunnel is a road tunnel in the Alps under the Mont Blanc mountain, linking Chamonix, Haute-Savoie, France , and Courmayeur, Aosta Valley, Italy . It is one of the major trans-Alpine transport routes, particularly for Italy, which relies on the tunnel for transporting as much as...
to ItalyItaly , officially the Italian Republic , is a country located on the Italian Peninsula in Southern Europe and on the two largest islands in the Mediterranean Sea, Sicily and Sardinia. Italy shares its northern, Alpine boundary with France, Switzerland, Austria and Slovenia...
and is also home to ChamonixChamonix-Mont-Blanc or, more commonly, Chamonix is a commune in the Haute-Savoie department in the Rhône-Alpes region in south-eastern France. It was the site of the 1924 Winter Olympics...
and other notable ski resorts.
- The first Winter Olympic Games
The Winter Olympic Games is a winter multi-sport event held every four years. They feature winter sports held on snow or ice, such as Alpine skiing, cross-country skiing, figure skating, bobsledding and ice hockey. Cross-country skiing, figure skating, ice hockey, Nordic combined, ski jumping, and...
were held in ChamonixChamonix-Mont-Blanc or, more commonly, Chamonix is a commune in the Haute-Savoie department in the Rhône-Alpes region in south-eastern France. It was the site of the 1924 Winter Olympics...
from 25 January to 5 February 1924.
History
- Savoy
Savoy is a region of Europe on the western flank of the Alps that emerged following the collapse of the Frankish Kingdom of Burgundy. The historical land of Savoy is shared between the modern republics of France and Italy.-Background:...
- Historical region
- House of Savoy
The House of Savoy was formed in the early eleventh century in the historical Savoy region. Through gradual expansion, it grew from ruling a small county in that region to eventually rule the Kingdom of Italy until the end of the Second World War...
- Ruling dynasty of Savoy from 1032 to 1860
- Duchy of Savoy
From 1416 to 1714, the territories of the House of Savoy were known as the Duchy of Savoy . The Duchy was a state in the northern part of the Italian Peninsula, with some territories that are now in France...
- Rulers of Savoy region from 1416 to 1720
- Kingdom of Sardinia
Kingdom of Sardinia, also known as Piedmont-Sardinia or Sardinia-Piedmont, was the name given to the possessions of the House of Savoy in 1720, when the crown of Sardinia was awarded by the Treaty of London to Duke Victor Amadeus II of Savoy to compensate him for the loss of the crown of Sicily to...
- 1720 to 1860.
Places
- Communes of the Haute-Savoie department
- Arrondissements of the Haute-Savoie department
- Cantons of the Haute-Savoie department
- Annecy
Annecy is a commune in the Haute-Savoie department in the Rhône-Alpes region in south-eastern France.It lies on northern tip of Lake Annecy , 35 kilometres south of Geneva....
- Capital
- Lake Annecy
Lake Annecy is a lake in Haute-Savoie in France.It is the second largest lake in France, after lac du Bourget, except for the French part of lac Léman . It is known as "Europe's cleanest lake" because of strict environmental regulations introduced in the 1960s...
- The second largest lake in France.
- Lake Geneva
Lake Geneva or Lake Léman is the largest natural freshwater lake in western Europe . In addition it is the largest body of freshwater in continental Europe in term of volume . 60% of it comes under the jurisdiction of Switzerland , and 40% under France...
- Lake divided between France and Switzerland.
- Mont Blanc
Mont Blanc or Monte Bianco is the highest mountain in the Alps and in Western Europe. It rises above sea level and is ranked 11th in the world in topographic prominence...
- Tallest mountain in European Union.
- Mont Blanc Tunnel
The Mont Blanc Tunnel is a road tunnel in the Alps under the Mont Blanc mountain, linking Chamonix, Haute-Savoie, France , and Courmayeur, Aosta Valley, Italy . It is one of the major trans-Alpine transport routes, particularly for Italy, which relies on the tunnel for transporting as much as...
- The tunnel through the French Alps.
Wine
- French wine
French wine is produced in several regions throughout France, in quantities between 50 and 60 million hectolitres per year . France has the world's largest wine production ahead of Italy and the second-largest total vineyard area behind Spain...
- Haute-Savoie AOC Wines
- Savoy wine
Savoy or, in French, Savoie is a wine region situated in the Savoy region in eastern France, and is sometimes referred to as the country of the Allobroges.The Savoy landscape is distinctly alpine...
or Wine of Savoie Allobrogie
- Duchy of Savoy
From 1416 to 1714, the territories of the House of Savoy were known as the Duchy of Savoy . The Duchy was a state in the northern part of the Italian Peninsula, with some territories that are now in France...
- House of Savoy
The House of Savoy was formed in the early eleventh century in the historical Savoy region. Through gradual expansion, it grew from ruling a small county in that region to eventually rule the Kingdom of Italy until the end of the Second World War...
- Kingdom of Sardinia
Kingdom of Sardinia, also known as Piedmont-Sardinia or Sardinia-Piedmont, was the name given to the possessions of the House of Savoy in 1720, when the crown of Sardinia was awarded by the Treaty of London to Duke Victor Amadeus II of Savoy to compensate him for the loss of the crown of Sicily to...
External links
General Council website Prefecture website Upper Savoy Tourism Guide