The municipality of Faverges-Seythenex is located at the end of Lake Annecy. It allows access to Savoie via Ugine, then Albertville. Home to 7,869 inhabitants, it offers the opportunity to enjoy Lake Annecy and the nearby mountains, such as the Bauges massif. It is 25 kilometers from Annecy and takes 10 minutes to reach the famous Abbey of Tamié.
History and heritage
Located in the Bauges massif natural park, this municipality close to Savoie has experienced a rich history over the centuries. Its name comes from the Latin word “faber,” which means forge. During the Roman era, the town was called Casuaria, it was a stop between Moutiers and Geneva. An ancient Roman road attests to this route.
A fortification at the site of the castle was erected by barbarian tribes. After the construction of the Faverges castle in the 12th century, a strong artisanal activity settled in the city with tanneries, cutlery shops, and forges.
In 1132, the Abbey of Tamié was founded. Located a few kilometers from Faverges, it still hosts about ten Trappist monks who produce the excellent cheese of Tamié. In the 19th century, the town saw the development of a cotton factory, then silk production. The iron mines of Sambuy were exploited until the end of the 19th century.
In the 20th century, major companies settled in Faverges: S.T. Dupont (luxury lighters and pens), Staübli (textiles and industry), and Bourgeois (stoves and ovens). The visit to the cave and waterfall of Seythenex has been possible since 1906.
The Seythenex bridge built in 1912 allows residents to move around more easily. In the 1960s, the Sambuy station was developed. This is a new economic activity for the Faverges region. In 2021, the town established a photovoltaic park on the site of an old landfill. 20% of its production will be used for local consumption by residents and the local economic fabric. This local energy production loop is a first in Haute-Savoie. The investment is 2.3 million euros. Municipal buildings are connected to this network.
The best-rated hotels
Depending on your budget, we have selected five hotels near Faverges that offer excellent value for money and receive very good customer reviews:
L’Arcalod
Just next to Faverges, in the municipality of Doussard, L’Arcalod is a beautiful hotel offering 38 air-conditioned rooms. The restaurant serves local products. We recommend visiting the natural reserve of Lake Annecy. Open from May to September.
From €78 per night.
Hôtel du Parc – Manoir du Baron Blanc
Located in Faverges, this is an old Piedmontese villa from the 19th century that houses this establishment decorated in the style of the time. You will enjoy its large wooded park and the proximity to the city center for visiting the town. Private parking.
From €78 per night.
Résidence Le Birdie – Escapades
Near Faverges, this beautiful residence is located not far from the Golf of Giez. It offers 80 rooms, including 6 adapted for people with reduced mobility. You can enjoy two swimming pools, a sauna, tennis, and a children’s playground.
From €69 per night.
Au Gay Séjour
This family hotel is located in Giez near Faverges. It offers 10 rooms including one for people with reduced mobility and an excellent restaurant. You can visit the waterfall and cave of Seythenex and hike in the Bauges massif. An excellent address according to customer reviews.
From €90 per night.
Hôtel du Lac
A few kilometers from Faverges, in the municipality of Talloires, this beautiful hotel has been run by the same family for three generations. You will appreciate the view of the lake. It is an ideal starting point to discover the region up to the city of Annecy and the nearby ski resorts.
From €90 per night.
Cultural and sports facilities
Cultural facilities
The cultural structures in the area are numerous and diverse:
- The Faverges-Seythenex media library offers books for loan, reading of the press, online services (videos, self-training), as well as free activities (stories, exhibitions).
Address: 29 rue Simon Tissot-Dupont, 74210 Faverges. - The music school: the local music school offers children and adults the opportunity to learn the flute, trumpet, guitar, piano, percussion, and clarinet. It is one of the oldest associations founded in 1895.
Address: Robert Staübli center, Place de Bühlertal, 74210 Faverges - The Soierie: this is a friendly space for families with workshops on games, environmental health, and convivial moments for seniors.
Address: Route d’Albertville 74210 Faverges. - The Archaeological Museum of Viuz-Faverges: it offers a journey through the last 2,500 years of human occupation in the region. Axes, bronze ornaments, and coins are displayed.
Address: 855 route de Viuz, 74210 Faverges. - The Micro-Folie: this is a cultural platform integrating: a digital museum that projects films, a Caf’Pop which is a place for exchanges, debates, and conferences, and finally the Fabulabo which is a fablab that offers to create projects. This facility is free, open from Wednesday from 2 PM to 5 PM and Saturday from 9 AM to 12 PM.
Finally, Favric’Arts is a cultural project that concerns the entire territory of the Community of Communes of the Sources of the lake. Dance, theater, music, and many other artistic forms are offered to allow the population to flourish. The particularity of this project is the free access to these activities. Young people are the primary focus, with links between schools and the relevant associations.
Sports facilities
To practice many sports disciplines, the city has numerous quality facilities:
- An outdoor fitness area allows for cardio and weight training, starting from 14 years old. It is freely accessible in Simon Berger park.
- A new multisport area is located in the Enfers meadows zone.
- A large multi-sports hall dedicated to athletics, but also to team sports: handball, basketball, volleyball, tennis. The facility also includes an indoor climbing wall, weight training rooms, dance, and martial arts.
- A boulodrome is located on rue de la Fontaine. It is equipped with lighting for night games and six areas for Lyonnaise boules.
- A dojo for practicing martial arts.
- A skatepark for young people, located on the Annecy road.
- A tennis club on the Albertville road.
- A large cycling promenade on a 30 km route connecting Annecy to Marlens.
Education
A multi-reception center named “Les copains d’abord” has 40 places for children from 2.5 months to kindergarten. This site is located Place de Bühlertal in Faverges-Seythenex, open from 7:15 AM to 6 PM.
The “La graine d’éveil” daycare offers parents a temporary childcare option for 10 children from 2.5 months. Located at 105 rue du Bief, it is open on Mondays, Tuesdays, Thursdays, and Fridays from 8 AM to 4:30 PM.
To facilitate connections, a Childcare Assistant Relay is open at 5 voie des Docteurs Joseph et Pierre Mouthon in Faverges.
The city of Faverges-Seythenex has several educational institutions:
- Three nursery and elementary schools.
- The “Jean Lachenal” college.
- The private vocational high school “La Fontaine.”
An original system of extracurricular activities has been implemented: the “cartable-free” Wednesday mornings. These are free sports, cultural, or manual activities offered to students enrolled in nursery and elementary schools in the municipality. They take place at the René Cassin school group, located on rue de la République from 9 AM to 12 PM.
Markets in Faverges-Seythenex
The town offers two regular markets and a summer market. This is an opportunity to buy fresh and local products from short supply chains.
- The regular market takes place every Wednesday morning from 8 AM to 12:30 PM, rue de la République. It offers food products, clothing, as well as flowers and plants.
- The producers’ market takes place every Friday from 4 PM to 8 PM under the Hall, place Carnot. This is an opportunity to discover Haute-Savoie gastronomy and exchange with producers.
- The summer market takes place every Monday from 8:30 AM to 12:30 PM, rue Macherine, in Doussard. From June to early September.
Town Hall
Address: 98 rue de la République
74210 Faverges-Seythenex
Tel. 04 50 32 57 57
Hours: Monday, Tuesday, Wednesday, Thursday, Friday from 8:30 AM to 12 PM and from 1:30 PM to 5 PM.
Official website: www.faverges-seythenex.fr
The tourist office is located at place Marcel Piquant
Official website: www.sources-lac-annecy.com
