Talloires

French commune
nomcommune=Talloires
Lake Annecy in Talloires
région=Rhône-Alpes
département=Haute-Savoie
arrondissement=Annecy
canton=Annecy-le-Vieux
insee=74275|cp=74290|maire=Jean Favrot
mandat=2001-2008]
intercomm=Communauté de
communes de la Tournette
longitude=6.214444
latitude=45.841111
alt moy=447 m|alt mini=440 m
alt maxi=2,320 m
hectares=2,069
km²=20.69
sans=1,448
date-sans=1999|dens=70|date-dens=1999

Talloires is a small town and commune of the Haute-Savoie "département", in the Rhône-Alpes "région" of eastern France.

Geography

Talloires is located south of Geneva, Switzerland, on Lake Annecy and 13km from the local "prefecture" Annecy, near the border of Italy. The town is situated on the hills, along a bay on the east side of the lake.

Tourism

At least one travel book calls Talloires the "most romantic village" in France. The main business of the town is tourism, although it is still a complete community in its own right, with a central church, post office, bank, library, and a small general store.

Tourists in Talloires come from all over France and neighbouring European countries. The village is 13km away from Annecy, which is only 3h30 from Paris thanks to the TGV (French high speed train, departures every 2-3 hours from Gare de Lyon in Paris) and has an airport. Geneva and its international airport are also only 50min away with the A43 highway.

The residents are less likely to speak English than might be expected in more metropolitan areas of France. Visitors may find that speaking French, at least in short phrases, will be necessary, even when ordering meals at the major restaurants in the town.

Although more famous for summer activities in and around the lake such as sports (swimming, water skiing, sailing, trekking in the surrounding Alps, golf, tennis, canyoning, horse back riding, paragliding...) and events (pyroconcerts, Fête du Lac) it is also quite close to ski resorts in winter.

Education and conferences

Tufts University maintains its European Center in the local 11th century (former) Benedictine priory. The property serves as a conference center and campus for both visiting college and high school students. With beautiful views of Le Lac d'Annecy, lush gardens, and a millennia of history, Le Prieure is truly a focal point of the village. [http://ase.tufts.edu/frenchalps/]

Several international conferences have been conducted in Talloires, especially within the educational community. At least one international declaration was created in Talloires. The town was the birthplace of "The Talloires Declaration: University Presidents for a Sustainable Future," [http://www.iisd.org/educate/declarat/talloire.htm] an influential declaration on actions required by university leaders to reverse "environmental pollution and degradation, and the depletion of natural resources." Also, several conferences of the Weatherhead Center for International Affairs, Harvard University [http://www.luisedruke.com/talloires/index.html] , have been held in Talloires.

External links

* http://www.talloires.fr/
* http://www.webcam-talloires.com/
* http://www.welcomeannecy.com/
* http://www.talloires-lac-annecy.com/