The Roc de Chère is a mountain promontory that juts into the lake of Annecy near the villages of Talloires and Menthon Saint-Bernard on the eastern shore of the lake. It is one of the most important natural reserves in the department. It covers an area of 69 hectares and rises to an altitude of 601 meters, plunging steeply into the lake and revealing large cliffs 50 to 70 meters high.
How to get to Roc de Chère?
This natural space is located on the right bank of the lake of Annecy towards Veyrier-du-Lac, you then pass Menthon-Saint-Bernard and at Talloires, you turn right when a sign indicates the golf course of Talloires. You then need to park in the public parking lot before the golf course.
If you come from the end of the lake from Faverges, you need to follow the direction of Doussard then the road to Angon until Talloires. As you climb the hill, you will turn left at the golf course.
The hike of Roc de Chère
Access is from Annecy, passing through Menthon-Saint-Bernard. Once you have passed the village, you need to take the small path marked “Golf du lac d’Annecy” and park in the first parking lot; the second parking lot is reserved for golfers.
The start of the walk begins with a sign that explains the interest of the reserve: fauna, flora, geology, and history. The different circuits are explained, and we recommend the one to the belvedere in green, which is the most complete. Following the path, you enter the woods following the signs. At the top, a magnificent belvedere awaits you, with a view of the Tournette, the bay of Talloires-Montmin, and the Château de Duingt.
The return is via a path that descends. By going straight at the first intersection, you access another viewpoint where you can admire many lizards depending on the season. To return to the parking lot, you need to follow the signs for the green circuit passing by the golf course. Dogs are allowed if kept on a leash.
Educational video on the Roc de Chère reserve
In 1978, the site of Roc de Chère became a natural reserve to protect the great wealth between steep limestone slopes, marshes, a central plateau on sandstone, depressions on calcareous and sandy soil, and also acidic ridges.
There are no less than 560 varieties of plants and flowers from the glacial period, the subalpine level, or belonging to the sub-Mediterranean flora. Many animals have also made their home here, including the magnificent salamander, dear to François 1ᵉʳ.
This reserve is managed in collaboration with the golf of Talloires. The dry meadows are home to orchids, many insects, and a variety of fossil shells.
Photos of Roc de Chère
Information panel present at the start of the different walks at Roc de Chère that guides visitors towards the three proposed paths and provides various advice:
Path of the Belvedere leading to a magnificent panorama of the lake (visible below):
View of the lake accessible by the path of the Belvedere, this part of the lake is called “The small lake”:
The famous salamander of Roc de Chère
You can also discover the Natural Reserve of the End of the Lake, which is located in the municipality of Doussard.
