Veyrier-Du-Lac: Lakeside, Trails and Heritage

Veyrier-du-Lac lies on the slopes of 1,293-metre-high Mont Veyrier and overlooks the lake. The village offers several ways to shape your stay: swimming spots by the water, trails, water sports and historic landmarks. You can combine time by the shore with a walk exploring the village’s history, or focus on a longer mountain hike. Which destinations are right for you depends on whether you are looking for swimming, local history or a challenging hike.

Swimming spots by the lake

Plage de La Brune is a grassy beach with a sandbar and a gently sloping entrance to the water. It has a children’s playground, showers and toilets. A swimming chair provided free of charge makes it easier for people with reduced mobility to access the water. As facilities may change, check what is currently available before your visit.

In July and August, lifeguards supervise swimming at Plage de La Brune from 11 a.m. to 7 p.m. Check these seasonal hours again before travelling. Plage du Plant, by contrast, is an unsupervised swimming area near the sailing club. If supervision is important to your plans, keep this difference in mind; you should also check access and local regulations before your visit.

Trails, views and water sports

For a walk, the municipality provides the “au-bord-du-leau” route as a downloadable trail. A longer hiking option is the Boucle pédestre du Mont Veyrier: this difficult loop is 13.6 kilometres long, takes 6 hours and 30 minutes according to the stated estimate, and starts in Annecy. It passes over the heights of Veyrier-du-Lac and returns to the marina of Annecy-le-Vieux. A viewpoint offers views of the lake, the Bauges, the Aravis and Mont Blanc; two orientation tables add to the panorama. Allow for the stated duration and check seasonal mountain conditions before setting out.

There are also different options on the water. The Veyrier Club Nautique at Plage du Plant offers courses for all age groups, nautical equipment rental and tailor-made events from May to September. As seasonal opening periods may change, it is advisable to check the current dates. Tennis enthusiasts will find the Tennis Club very close to Plage de La Brune. It has five outdoor tennis courts, a practice wall and court rentals open to everyone year-round.

Historic buildings and village history

Château de Fésigny is partially protected as a historic monument. The protection covers the façades and roofs, two painted ceilings on the first floor and two small towers in the park; it was listed on 22 June 1993. The present-day Église Saint-Maurice was built between 1852 and 1855. The Romanesque base of the bell tower is all that remains of its predecessor church. A carved wooden statue of the Vierge à l’Enfant dates from the 15th century and was designated a historic monument in 1963.

The Fontaine de Morat also connects visible details with the village’s history: it reuses a monolithic limestone sarcophagus, considered an ancient find from the Morat necropolis. The necropolis is dated to the 7th to 8th centuries. This date refers to the necropolis, not to a separate dating of the sarcophagus.

The Veyrier-Patrimoine historical and cultural trail is signposted with information panels and is supplemented by a small leaflet introducing the village. The panels and leaflet give your visit a distinct focus: instead of a longer hike, you can concentrate on buildings, monuments and village history.

Harbour and practical information

The present-day landing stage in the port of Veyrier was funded by the state in 1862. It was intended to facilitate the transfer of passengers and goods, which had previously been carried out by small boats from the steamships. The harbour’s history thus adds an earlier function of the village to the picture of the lake and today’s lakeside attractions. The Veyrier-du-Lac Tourist Information Office sells hiking guides, hiking maps and tickets for local public transport. Check opening hours before visiting.

Discover more destinations: Bonnevaux, Bonneville, Chevenoz, Annecy-Le-Vieux, Douvaine, Menthonnex-en-Bornes, Thônes, Giez.

For the broader travel overview: Haute-Savoie.