Annecy Fete du Lac 2009

August events in the French Alps

July was a busy month for events in the Haute-Savoie, with various music and performing arts festivals and sporting events taking place to mark the start of the popular summer season. The calendar for August looks somewhat quieter, perhaps in line with the timings of the great French national exodus for the summer holidays; however don't be misled into thinking that nothing happens in the Alps in August!

August is one of the busiest times of year for the Haute-Savoie, with international and French tourists pouring into the region to enjoy some of the best sporting activities the world has to offer; whether it's extreme climbing or scaling the dizzying heights of Mont Blanc, taking to the air with paragliding, hang-gliding and hot air ballooning, braving the adrenalin-charged rough and tumble of mountain biking over craggy peaks, working your muscles with high altitude hiking and mountaineering or simply taking time to sit back, relax and laze on the beaches around the lakeside, taking in the fabulous views, enjoying the warm sunshine and letting others do all the hard work.

There are two major events in the region in August that are absolute must-sees for your diary. The first is the annual Fete du Lac in Annecy and the second is the strenuous Mont Blanc Ultra-Trail.

Fete du Lac, Annecy 8th August 2009

The Fete du Lac is an annual event in Annecy, a celebration of summer and one of the biggest and best pyrotechnical displays going. The event takes place above the lake, usually on the first Saturday of every August. However because of the dates of the Tour de France in 2009, the Fete du Lac was moved to this weekend, Saturday August 8th.

The annual Fete du Lac began in 1860, to celebrate Savoie becoming part of France. The town of Annecy decided to put on an unforgettable display for Emperor Napoleon III and Empress Eugenie and the tradition stuck. Today the Fete du Lac is one of Europe's largest and most breathtaking pyrotechnic displays, with music, water jets and the surrounding mountains echoing back the booms of the fireworks. This year's theme is the travels of Marco Polo and it is definitely worth getting a seat if you haven't already experienced the event. Be warned, thousands of people come to Annecy to enjoy the display and it is worth finding out more about tickets and where to view on the official Annecy website.

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