Sévrier on Lake Annecy: Heritage and activities

When choosing where to stay in Sévrier, you can start by deciding whether you’d like to explore bell founding and pile-dwelling history, or focus on activities on Lake Annecy. Cultural highlights include the Musée PACCARD, the Ecomusée du Lac d’Annecy and several archaeological sites. On the water, options include sailing and kayaking, as well as a guided summer excursion.

Bell founding and Savoy history

The Musée PACCARD is dedicated to the Paccard bell foundry. The foundry was established in 1796 and moved to Sévrier in 1989. Guided tours of the workshops introduce you to bell-making techniques. Check the current tour dates in advance if you’re planning a visit to the museum.

At the Ecomusée du Lac d’Annecy, an intimate museographic setting presents the daily life of Savoyards in the 19th century, as well as the small and grand history of Savoy. The Ecomusée du Lac d’Annecy has a panoramic terrace for interpreting the area’s geology. This brings together everyday history and views of the geology as distinct themes. Check the current access conditions for the terrace before your visit.

Pile dwellings on Lake Annecy

There are three UNESCO-classified pile-dwelling sites on Lake Annecy, two of which are in Sévrier. The Crêt de Chatillon pile-dwelling site is on an underwater island, more than 800 metres from the shore. The Les Mongets area is one of the very rare sites dating from the Early Bronze Age.

The submerged Les Mongets site includes remains of human settlement in a wetland. Still-visible piles once supported wooden structures there. The archaeological site dates to the 19th and 18th centuries BC. Crêt de Chatillon and Les Mongets therefore offer different points of interest: the description of Crêt de Chatillon is shaped by its location on an underwater island, while Les Mongets is notable for its settlement remains and their dating.

At the Crêt de Chatillon and Les Mongets sites, buoys mark the areas where anchoring is prohibited; diving and anchoring are forbidden there. If you’re out on the lake by boat, check the current lake regulations in advance.

Trails, kayaking and sailing

The Voie Verte runs alongside the entrance to Sévrier’s municipal beach. It can be reached by bicycle, on foot or by scooter. For kayaking, the Canoë Kayak Club de Sévrier is a place to start: from the age of ten, it offers lessons, rentals and introductory courses. The reception period is listed as summer; reservations are required for the activities.

The Cercle de Voile de Sévrier is also open to young people and adults who would like to discover and learn to sail on Lake Annecy. The club season is listed as running from March to October. For planning purposes, the schedules of the two water sports can be distinguished as follows: kayaking activities are offered in summer, while the club’s sailing season runs from March to October.

Guided summer excursion on the lake

The “Entre Lac et Montagne” offering includes two-hour guided discovery excursions once a week in summer to places on the western shore of Lake Annecy. Destinations listed include the Les Mongets pile-dwelling site and the Marais de l’Enfer Natura 2000 area. The excursions take place on a schooner or a catamaran; booking in advance is recommended. As this is a seasonal offering, check the current dates and booking conditions before planning your visit.

Discover more destinations: Viuz-La-Chiésaz, Sales, Cervens, Thyez, Lyaud, Bluffy, Novel, Saint-Martin-Bellevue

For the regional travel overview: Haute-Savoie.