The most beautiful villages on the French shore of Lake Geneva

Lake Geneva, this large natural lake shared between France and Switzerland is a very varied destination for stays on the shores of a lake. The French shore, backed by the Chablais mountains, is less extensive and less sunny than the Swiss shore, opposite. Nevertheless, it has interesting sites to visit and pleasant towns and villages for seaside holidays. Indeed, its location between lake and mountain will allow you to discover two complementary worlds of the Alpine landscape by traveling very few kilometers.

We are impressed by such a large expanse of water. Opposite, the other rive, in Switzerland, seems very far away as if it were an arm of the sea. Motor boats, large boats carrying dozens of people, sailing boats, fishing boats crisscross the lake in all directions. Lake Geneva is certainly impressive.

Across the street is Switzerland. Whether you are on a sandy beach in Excevenex, or in the small and very photogenic medieval village of Yvoire, across the street is Switzerland.

Whether you are on the esplanade overlooking the port in Thonon les Bains, or on the promenade along the lake in Evian les Bains, opposite is Switzerland.

Whether you are on the heights of Pays Gavot above Evian, or stuck between lake and mountain in Saint Gingolph, opposite is Switzerland.

You admire the sunny shores in the distance Switzerland, the vineyards of Lavaux, the nearby Jura or the city of Lausanne which stretches out in front of you, but also the Vaudois Alps, which overlook the shores of Montreux… But on the bank on which you find yourself, what will you discover?

French cities on the shores of Lake Geneva

You enjoy exploring this strip of land wedged between the shores of Lake Geneva and the first Alpine foothills of the Chablais. First of all, you will discover a pleasant climate all year round. It is cooler than inland in summer, and milder than inland in winter. Lake Geneva plays its role of mitigation specific to large bodies of water.

This gentleness conducive to gardens makes the parks of castles and thermal baths even more beautiful. The estates of the Château de Ripaille near Thonon, or the parks and promenades of Evian les Bains remind you of this at every outing.

Sailing from port to port on the lake allows you to see each of the towns from a more seaside angle: Evian, its promenade, its grand hotels, its casino, its thermal baths, Thonon its small port, and the old town a little higher up, Yvoire whose stone houses seem to enjoy contact with the water of the lake. The Château de Ripaille, in the middle of the vineyards, home of the Counts and Dukes of Savoy is located at the exit of the town. In the direction of Geneva, Yvoire is certainly a gem that you absolutely must visit: there are old alleys, pretty craft shops, a vibrant little port whose promenade is home to excellent restaurants, and above all flowers everywhere. Not far away, in Excevenex, pretty beaches welcome you for a safe swim.

You will complete your stay by going to buy Swiss chocolate in Saint Gingolph, a strange village cut in two by an incongruous border, without forgetting to stock up on local products at the Douvaine market.

The French shore of Lake Geneva is quite short compared to the opposite shore, but it allows you to enjoy the joys of the lake and discover the mountains that border it.

The mountains of the hinterland of Lake Geneva

From Evian you will want to discover the Dent d'Oche from the pretty village of Bernex, or you will go skiing on the Mémises plateau which overlooks the lake at the Thollon les Mémises resort. The entire plateau of Pays Gavot, the hinterland of Evian, faces the lake but lives in the mountains. It snows there, but you can admire the contours of the lake as if from an airplane.

You can also discover the authenticity of the Val d'Abondance. This wide valley bordering Switzerland via the Morgins pass near the very pretty village of Châtel presents its picture-postcard landscape to all visitors: chalets, pastures, small villages nestled around their church and further into the mountain lakes, forests and paths to easily discover the Haute-Savoie mountains.

Châtel is part of one of the largest ski areas, the Portes du Soleil, just like Morzine and Avoriaz, whose slopes start only around thirty kilometres from Thonon.

If you feel like it, you can hike to the peaks of the Vallée Verte above Les Habères and admire Mont Blanc. The hilly landscape, the gentler relief, the proximity of the lake and the city of Geneva make the Vallée Verte a great destination for a family mountain holiday.

However, we enjoy a lake especially in summer when we can swim there. There is no shortage of beaches. Among the prettiest and best equipped, we will remember those of Excevenex, with low water and sandy beaches. But every little corner near a pier gives a chance to find a little secret corner, a space between two rocks or on a small patch of grass, in contact with the water.

A desire for the city? Nothing could be easier, Geneva is right next door, and with a boat ride Lausanne opens its doors to you just opposite Evian.

Summer and winter, Lake Geneva gives you the opportunity to escape to different territories: lake, mountains, skiing, water sports, France, Switzerland. And the French shore, closest to the mountains, is the most suitable for this type of very varied stay.

Activities not to be missed on the French shore of Lake Geneva

Strolling through the alleys of the old City from Yvoire. Guaranteed charm.
Enjoy a long promenade on the shores of the lake in Evian
Shopping in the alleys of the city center from Thonon
Enjoy the view of Lake Geneva from the plateau of Thollon les Mémises, even better in winter on skis!
Laze on the beach from Excenevex, in sand, accessible to all audiences
visit castle from Ripaille
Search… and find in Evian, the Cachat source, the same one that supplies millions of bottles of a well-known mineral water brand 🙂
Visit the singular village of Saint Gingolph, cut in the middle by the Franco-Swiss border
Marvel at the panorama from the summit of Mont Salève: Lake Geneva, Mont Blanc, etc.
Take an excursion in the very traditional Abondance Valley
Visit Geneva, and see its famous water jet
Cross the lake by boat to visit Lausanne ou Montreux in one day

The best webcams of the French shore of Lake Geneva

(click on the name of the village)

Evian les bains : a webcam to enjoy the walk along the lake.
Thonon les Bains: a very beautiful view of the port of Thonon and Lake Geneva.
Excenevex: Excenevex beach and the Vaud Alps.
Thollon les Mémises: magnificent view of the lake from the heights of the Thollon les Mémises ski area. Snow and lake on the menu!