On the southern shores of Lake Geneva (Lac Leman) not far from Geneva but inside the French border is the magical village of Yvoire.  It well deserves its designation as “One of the Most Beautiful Villages in France”.  It is a popular destination by boat from Geneva and Lausanne across the lake.

A medieval castle sits right on the lake and, within the village’s walls, are shops, restaurants, attractions plus homes.  In summer and fall, the stone buildings in the village are covered with flowers adding to the ambience.  There are a number of hotels within and outside the walls.  My favourite is Hotel le Pre de la Cure, a member of Logis de France.  It has a fabulous restaurant and many of the rooms have magical views over the village, across the lake to the Swiss Alps.

From Yvoire, there are a number of places to explore.  You can drive around the lake, see the Castle of Chillon and the cities of Montreux and Lausanne.  To the south there are the French Alps and the very picturesque town of Annecy, the “Venice of Hauts Savoire”.  I discovered Yvoire by accident in 1984 and have gone back many times since then.  It is never a dissappointment.  For further info, check out:  http://www.yvoiretourism.com/accueil_en.html.