Overview

Glaciers and lakes, pretty villages and historic towns, this study area has the lot!

Just one hour from Geneva and set amidst stunning scenery the medieval town of Annecy provides the setting for our alpine studies. Located at the head of the glacial Lac d’Annecy the town has a quaint pedestrian centre and yet is a busy industrial and administrative centre for the region. Within easy reach of our base in Faverges, locations such as Chamonix, La Clusaz and Albertville are all possible destinations for our study units. There are a wide range of investigations that are possible in the region, together with leisure activities that ensures a happy balance between work and play. We would recommend that groups travel between May and October.

Accommodation

Chateau de Faverges

2 Star

The chateau is located in the village of Faverges to the south of Lake Annecy and is well positioned to reach the study areas. It occupies an elevated position overlooking the village and valley and dates from the 13^th century – only the tower now remains. Its chequered history includes being a military hospital in both the first and second World Wars, although it was originally built in its present form for an Italian aristocratic family!

Student rooms are multi-bedded for 3-5 persons with private facilities. Teachers will have twin/single rooms that are en-suite. Depending upon the time of year, and size of the group, meals may be taken on the sunny terrace or in a delightful dining room with vaulted ceiling. The restaurant is very good and the meals prepared area high standard and varied and usually includes a regional speciality one evening. Facilities include a spacious lounge bar area with table football and billiards, a table tennis room, classroom/meeting room and a library. Outside there is a large enclosed garden with volleyball court, boules and a small swimming pool for the use of guests during the summer.

Sample Itinerary

• Day 1

  Depart from school for overnight journey to France.
• Day 2

  Arrive at the accommodation in time to settle in and for dinner. It may be possible to do a local activity depending upon the arrival time.
• Day 3

  Visit Annecy. Land use survey of the town centre and a honey-pot site. A tourist questionnaire provides the main source of date – in French of course! Begin to understand the local landscape with boat trip on the lake and visit the glacial overflow channel at the Gorge du Fier.

  Eve: Bowling
• Day 4

  This is it! Chamonix. Glaciers and tourism are inextricably mixed. About 1-2 hours from the accommodation it is worth combining activities during a long day.
  Travel by cable car to the summit of the Aiguille du Midi and Mont Blanc.
  Take a gondola trip over the ice fields to Italy
  Walk the Balcon Nord to the Mer de Glace and return by train to Chamonix. Field sketching.
  Time permitting and according to the visits of the day there is the opportunity for some shopping at the end of the day.

  Eve: In-house
• Day 5

  Hauteluce and Les Saisies settlement study.

  Eve: Meal out
• Day 6

  A morning study or shopping in Faverges before lunch and departure to the UK

  Overnight travel
• Day 7

  Arrive back at school

  This is a suggested itinerary only and can be of any length, combined in a variety of ways and be tailored to include the geographical excursions and visits that you require. Any quotation will INCLUDE excursion and entry fees as stated in the itinerary. We will provide a guide price for any additional visits/activities

Excursions

GLACIATION.

The mountaineering capital of the Alps, Chamonix is a busy winter and summer destination for visitors. Dominated by Mont Blanc and its glaciers, there is definitely a wow factor here. Studies can be combined with recreation in a variety of ways and every student will want to get close to the ice. The Aiguille du Midi cable car takes you to the closest point to Mont Blanc. From here descend to the gondola station that takes you to Helbronner in Italy over the Glacier du Géant as an optional extension of your trip. Or return to Plan d’Aigulle and walk the Balcon Nord where the whole range of valley glacier landforms can be appreciated along this easy route (best after May when all snow has melted) At the end is the Mer de Glace where there are plenty of field sketching opportunities. Take time to visit the ice caves and sculptures before returning to Chamonix by mountain railway.

TOURISM.

There are plenty of opportunities to study tourism within the area.  Chamonix provides a location where copious amounts of data can be collected. The medieval city of Annecy with its network of narrow pedestrian streets and quaint alleys is bustling with visitors in the summer months. The Savoie village of La Clusaz also lends itself to a study of tourist facilities. Investigations examine the clustering of facilities and land use, questionnaires, car park surveys. Based upon predetermined hypotheses the data can be analysed and presented as diagrams and graphs to reach conclusions about the interests and characteristics of visitors to the region.

SLOPE STUDIES.

Les Saisies, a ski station is the location for this investigation. Here it is possible to undertake infiltration studies on and off a ski piste to understand the impacts of compaction. On the same or similar slopes it is also possible for a soil transect study and the changing profile down slope.

SETTLEMENT STUDIES.

These units can be studied in a variety of places and combined with other study units in the same locality.
In Annecy recording the land use to assess the importance of tourism is popular.
Land use transects can also be completed to delimit the CBD. Is it the same as textbook theory? Is it the same as a UK city?
For AS and A2 students a study of shopping hierarchy is also possible and entails both a land use survey and a shopping questionnaire.
Hauteluce is an alpine village unchanged for decades. The Winter Olympics of 1992 has seen some growth. Students undertake a mapping exercise to determine age and growth of this compact village before visiting Les Saisies which hosted the cross country skiing and biathlon in 1992. A comparison between the villages enables the students to see the different in service provision. There are also plenty of relaxation opportunities in Saisies eg mini golf, crazy golf, a summer toboggan and karting

RIVER STUDIES.

This study unit explores a section of a mountain river near Les Saisies. River channel morphology that includes a steep section, small meander and braiding are within easy reach of each other and accessible from the bank. Data collection will include measurement of width, depth, velocity and gradient.
An interesting visit is that of the Gorges du Fier, a glacial overflow channel. The short route is a spectacular walk 70m above the water and the visit can be part of a day to Annecy.

UNITED NATIONS VISIT, GENEVA.

A guided tour of the impressive buildings and grounds in Geneva. Live debates can be observed and students start to appreciate the work of the UN by negotiation to promote world peace.

Additional visits include:
The medieval town of Conflans in Albertville.
Milk production.
Cheese making.
Megeve.
Glacier de Bionnasay.