Lake Annecy
As seen from the take off ramp.

An ariel view of lake Annecy
and the surrounding mountains.

Setting up the landing
The landing field is just below here
at the southern end of the lake.

ANNECY , FRANCE.

Annecy, what a wonderful place. I love it. I love the warm lake and the high mountains that surround it. I love the food in the old town. I love the place.

Situated about a half hour's drive south of Geneva, Annecy is one of the most scenic areas in the whole of France. The lake in summer is so blue that you won't believe it. When I first saw it I had to keep looking at it to convince myself that it was real. It is the same colour as the caribbean sea but it's a fresh water lake. Amazing.

The take off is at the Col de la Forclaz which is on the north side of the lake and is accessable by a road out of Talloires. The Col is 2,000 ft above the lake and the view is spectacular. There are a series of wooden ramps which are very sturdy and have rigging areas behind them. These rigging areas are not large and get crowded with only half a dozen gliders. The take-off can be very daunting for anyone who is not used to ramps and you have to be very commited to the launch. Many people have come to grief here as a result of stalling on take-off.

Thermals can be quite strong here and the 'house' thermal is usually found to the right of the take-off in a large bowl above the road. Once hooked into it you can be virtually assured of a trip to the top of the spine-back ridge, another 800 ft above. Once on this spine you can use it to cross to the higher teeth shaped rocks at around 5,000 ft above the lake. Crossing the lake is no problem and there is another spine back on the other side which is also a great thermal generator.

Landing is at the end of the lake just below the take-off. The field is just beside the road and has a little cafe beside it. This field can be a bit tricky to get into and there is a raised section half way across it which has caught many people out. This rise varies from about 5 ft to 2 ft high across the field. It can also get pretty turbulent in the valley wind which can change direction pretty quickly. There is another very large grassy area across the other side of the lake which offers a more forgiving landing and less chance of turbulent air. Just make sure you brief the retrieve driver where the field is. It's a bit tricky to see from the main road but easy to see from the air.

Camping:
There is a camp site at the southern end of the lake near the landing field and another one in the town of Talloires, half way down the lake. Both of them are very good with showers, toilets and hot water.

XC potential is good. Many epic flights have been made here and the views are second to none in the world. There are roads through all the valleys so retrieves should not be a problem.

Warning...
This place is usualy swarming with paragliders. A lot of french paraglider pilots don't seem to look where they are going and frequently fly straight at you as though you were invisible. Be very wary of them. You will also see the rescue helicopter out practicaly every day here plucking them off the side of the hill. There are probably more paragliding accidents here than anywhere else in the world.