Ermitage Saint-Germain de Talloires

Talloires-Montmin

Above Talloires, a hamlet clings to the slope, and in the midst of it a small church overlooks Lake Annecy. It preserves the memory of Germain, first prior of the monastery of Talloires in the 11th century. According to the notices consulted, he left community life to live as a hermit in a grotto above the priory. An oratory rose above this grotto as early as the 11th century, and the faithful came to pray to the saint. In 1609, the bishop of Geneva François de Sales visited the chapel and asked the prior to repair it. The building then went through long vicissitudes: rebuilt in 1663, fallen into ruin in the 18th century, bought back then rebuilt in 1829. The inhabitants of the plateau united to found the parish, created in 1836. Bishop Magnin consecrated the enlarged church in 1868. Today the building belongs partly to the commune and partly to the diocesan association, under a deed of 1974. People come above all for the walk, the silence and the view over the lake.

Paroisse Saint-Germain du Lac — Historique de l'église de Saint-Germain-sur-Talloires ↗

Getting there: On the route du Crêt, above Talloires (about 15 km from Annecy; bus line 20 as far as Talloires). Reached on foot by a waymarked loop of 7.3 km (about 2 h 30, 486 m of ascent), or by road. The building is a parish church: the opening times of the interior have not been verified and must be requested from the parish.

Opening times and access details are given as a guide only: check before you set out.

Ambient sound