Plage des Marquisats, Lac d'Annecy

Plage des Marquisats is a free pebble and lawn beach on the eastern shore of Lac d'Annecy, reached from Allee du Petit Port in Annecy, Haute-Savoie, about 140 km east of Lyon in France's Auvergne-Rhone-Alpes region. It is a popular day-trip swim for Lyon residents and is used heavily by locals too. The shore combines a narrow strip of pebbles with grassy lawns that run down towards the water, so most visitors sit on the grass and enter the lake from the stones. Lac d'Annecy is known for its clear, cool water, which is usually blue-green and comfortable for swimming in midsummer, although it stays cold early in the season. The lake has no tide or surf; the setting is calm, and the view across the water to the surrounding mountains is a major draw. Facilities include showers, toilets, shade from trees on the lawn and supervised swimming in summer, with cafes nearby for food and drink. Entry costs nothing, which keeps the beach crowded on hot weekends, particularly in July and August. The atmosphere is relaxed and local, with families, students and groups of friends rather than a resort-style party scene. From Lyon, the TER train from Part-Dieu to Annecy takes about 1 hour 50 minutes; from the station, a Sibra bus or a roughly 30-minute walk along the lake leads to the beach. Drivers will find that central parking near the lake is limited and busy in peak season, so using the train is often easier. The swimming season runs from June to mid-September, with supervised swimming during the summer. Visitors should bring a towel, water shoes for the pebbles and sun protection. Information on the lake and the surrounding area is published by the Annecy tourist office at lac-annecy.com.