Les Trésoms Lake and Spa Resort

Rooms and decor

Picture an old 1930s Savoyard building perched on a green hill above Lake Annecy — that is Les Trésoms Lake and Spa Resort. The charm starts with the architecture, which holds onto the feel of old French mountain buildings — the sloping roof, the woodwork, the warm chalet tones — then eases in contemporary comfort. The roughly 50 rooms are decorated to feel easy on the eye, and many have a balcony or large window that opens onto the turquoise lake with the Alps behind it. Guests in a lake-facing room wake to the water glinting below from up high every morning — a sight several reviews say justifies the climb up this hill. Other rooms face the green garden, which feels especially private and quiet. The overall mood is not cold modern sharpness but the warmth of a mountain resort with a story, and anyone who likes vintage character mixed with comfort should take to it.

Food and amenities

The heart of a stay here is spending the whole day up on the hill without going anywhere. The food highlight is that the resort has two restaurants to pick from by mood — a fine-dining room for a special dinner with carefully plated dishes, and an easy bistro for a lighter lunch. Both have the edge of seating that looks over the lake from up high, and the sunset stretch, when golden light spreads across the water, is the romantic peak many guests call the best of the trip. Then there is the spa, a real selling point, with a pool, treatment rooms, a sauna, and a garden-view relaxation area — ideal for a soak after a full day around the lake. There is also a fitness room, a bar and lake-view terrace for an evening drink, and parking for anyone driving in. What sets it apart from an in-town hotel is the green hillside grounds — a wide, quiet garden where you can take a morning coffee or sit in the cool air looking at the lake, without jostling tourists.

Location and getting there

The location is what gives this place its character. The resort sits on the La Corniche hill above Lake Annecy, said to be one of the clearest lakes in Europe. Because it is above town level, the view opens up in full panorama, taking in the turquoise water and the Alps behind it at once. It is quiet here, tucked into green space, a contrast to the busy narrow lanes of the old town — good for anyone who wants a restful trip away from the crowds. Handily, from the resort it is a downhill walk into Annecy's lovely old town (Vieille Ville), about 1.3 km and roughly a 20-minute walk. There you will find the small canals, flower-lined bridges, the Palais de l'Île castle midstream, and stylish shops to explore all day. Annecy train station is only about a 7-minute drive. In short, if you mainly want high-angle views and quiet, then a stroll into the old town now and then, this hilltop setting works very well.

Things to know before booking

To be straight with you, the first thing to weigh is the hillside setting outside the old town. The high-angle view is gorgeous, but if you plan to wander the old-town canal lanes every day, you are looking at a roughly 20-minute walk downhill or a drive in — and the return is uphill. Anyone who dislikes a steep climb should plan to call a taxi or ask about a shuttle; you do not step out the door straight into the shops like a central stay. Second, this is an old building from the 1930s, so some rooms and common areas feel classic but more worn than newer resorts, and certain room types are not especially large; if you expect fully contemporary design everywhere, adjust your expectations. Third, not every room gets the lake view — rooms facing the hillside see only trees, while lake-view rooms and high-season dates push the rate up noticeably. Check the room type and direction carefully when you book, and if the budget allows, go for the water view.

Our take

From reading through a lot of real reviews, Les Trésoms Lake and Spa Resort sells one thing with real character: a panoramic high-angle lake view, the charm of a 1930s Savoyard building, and a spa with two restaurants all in one place. If the trip in your head is waking to the turquoise lake spread below from your balcony, strolling the quiet hillside garden, soaking in the spa, then closing the day with a sunset dinner over the water, this is the kind of stay that sticks with you. But if you want to be among the old-town canal lanes with shops at the doorstep, do not want to walk up and down a hill, or are mainly after brand-new modern rooms, the hillside setting and the building's classic feel may not be the best fit. Overall we give it 8.6/10, best for couples and anyone who values the high-angle lake view and the quiet over the convenience of a central location.