Lathuile, Lac Annecy, Haute Savoie, Tuesday 30th July 2013

 

The beautiful view from Lathuile Motorhone aire

 

 

We didn’t make it to Hauteville-Lompness as we had planned simply because it was too hot to try that hill and it seemed more sensible to head for the lakes instead. So we set the Tomtom for Le Bourget-du-Lac and we got there for 11.30am, with plenty of time to enjoy a swim and a cold beer before lunch.

 

Camping International de l’Ile aux Cygnes

 

The motorhome aire at Bourget-du-Lac, just north of Chambery, is right outside the Camping International de L’IIe aux Cygnes and we paid €21 for 2 nights, with full access to the campsite facilities, including the lake and and free wifi. The system operates by card payment in advance and you get a gate code for going in and out. The pitches are of a reasonable size (big enough to get the awning out) and they are separated by logs screwed onto the ground. We were lucky to park under a tree, which provided welcome and much needed shade.

 

The motorhome aire outside Camping International de l’Ile aux Cygnes

 

It was very hot when we arrived and we enjoyed several swims in the lake throughout the day, but in the evening the storm approached through the mountains, accompanied by heavy rain, which didn’t stop until lunchtime the following day. There was one particular clap of thunder that was right above us in the night which shook the van and made me sit up in bed, as it felt like a bomb had gone off nearby. Fortunately, the storm moved away, if not the rain, and I eventually fell asleep sometime in the wee hours of the morning.

 

Enjoying the sun at Lac de Bourget before the storm

 

Before the storm, however, we met a lovely couple from Manchester, Julie and John, and had a very pleasant evening chatting, drinking and swapping experiences with them.

 

Part of the Marina at Lac du Bourget

 

As it was such a wet morning yesterday, I took the opportunity to catch up with my FB friends and family, as well as checking my mail and Twitter messages.

 

The gardens at the Priory at Bourget du Lac

 

The relaxing Priory Gardens, Bourget du Lac

 

The weather improved in the afternoon and we went for a stroll around the town of Bourget-du-Lac and visited the priory and Thomas II Chateau, which at one point, from 1438 to 1456, belonged to the Seyssel family, of local renown and power! Are we related to this family? One can only speculate…

 

Thomas II Chateau, which was entrusted to the Seysselfamily for a few years before fire struck

 

Chateau entrusted to the Seyssel family until fire struck

 

Mr Saysell at the Seyssel Chateau

 

The views from Thomas II chateau

 

After enjoying the beauty and tranquillity of Lac du Bourget for 2 days and saying goodbye to Julie and John, we left this morning for Lac Annecy. We were planning to stay at the campsite Les Rives du Lac at Sévrier, but it was full, so we kept driving around the lake until we found something suitable, so here we are at this motorhome aire at Lathuile (190 Route de la Porte, 74210), an organic farm just by Bout du Lac, or end of the lake, on the far south shore of Lac Annecy, and very nice it is too! We have water, electricity and plenty of shade under the oak trees, with a short stroll of just over 5 minutes to the lake itself. It costs €8 per night, plus €2 for electricity, collected by the farmer, Michèle Cavagnod, at around 7.30pm.

 

The motorhome aire at Lathuile, Bout du Lac, Lac Annecy.  Plenty of shade here.

 

We might stay here more than one night before heading south again, slowly making our way to Provence.