The Crêt de Châtillon is the summit of the Semnoz, the long wooded mountain that rises above the western shore of Lake Annecy, and from the top, at around 1,700 metres, the view on a clear day is one of the finest in the French Alps: the whole lake below, the Bauges and the Aravis around, and, to the east, Mont Blanc in all its glory. Sites with names like Châtillon and Les Mongets along this shore preserve the remains of villages built on the edge of the lake thousands of years ago.
Lake Annecy is often said to be one of the cleanest lakes in Europe, thanks to a sewage system built around it in the 1960s, and the water is a startling turquoise. In summer, it is warm enough for swimming, and the beaches along the shore are busy. Annecy, at the northern end, is a beautiful old town with canals, flowers and the island prison of the Palais de l'Isle.
For riders, the Semnoz is the attraction. The road up from Annecy or from Leschaux climbs through forest to the open summit, a climb sometimes used by the Tour de France, with good surfaces and steady gradients, and the descent towards Leschaux and the Bauges offers more bends and views. On the other side of the lake, the Col de la Forclaz de Montmin climbs steeply from the lakeside, with a famous viewpoint over the water, popular with paragliders. Around the lake, the roads can be very busy in summer, with cars, cyclists and campervans, so the early morning is the best time to ride.
Saint-Jorioz and Sevrier have fuel, shops and restaurants, and there are many lakeside cafés where you can stop for a drink. Try a tartiflette, the Savoyard dish of potatoes, bacon and reblochon cheese, or fresh lake fish, such as féra, the local whitefish, served with butter. At the summit of the Semnoz, there are a few restaurants and an alpine garden, but the weather can change quickly, so bring warm clothes.