Latest news with #HauteSavoie
The Guardian
2 days ago
- Sport
- The Guardian
Tour de France: Pogacar resists Vingegaard on Ventoux as Paret-Peintre claims stage 16
The Tour de France debutant Valentin Paret-Peintre banished the bitter memories of Julian Alaphilippe's misplaced celebrations in Carcassonne on Sunday by becoming the fifth French rider to win at the summit of Mont Ventoux. For the French, such success on the Giant of Provence, the first in the Tour in 23 years, justified huge celebration and plenty of tears. Paret-Peintre's impressive victory came at the expense of the indefatigable Ben Healy, who was within a hair's breadth of taking his second stage win of the Tour. It was Paret-Peintre's second Grand Tour win, after his stage victory in the 2024 Giro. 'This morning I didn't think this was possible, because I expected [Tadej] Pogacar to want to win,' he said. Yet the absence of his Soudal Quick-Step team leader, Remco Evenepoel, who abandoned the Tour in the Pyrenees, opened a door of opportunity for the climber from the Haute-Savoie. 'I could see that I wasn't strong enough to drop Healy in the finale,' he said, of his team's fourth stage win in this year's race, 'so I focused on trying to beat him in the sprint.' But while Healy and Paret-Peintre were playing out the final moments of a sparring match that had started much further down the mountain, Jonas Vingegaard was keeping his promise to attack the race leader Pogacar. Just 48 hours after Vingegaard's Visma-Lease a Bike team had been lambasted for their lack of cohesion and accused of disloyalty towards the two-time champion by some critics, they were transformed into a cohesive well-drilled unit, working hard to support his efforts to dislodge Pogacar. Sepp Kuss, Wout van Aert and Tiesj Benoot put in lengthy turns pacemaking their leader on the never-ending climb, in the hope of finally cracking Pogacar. 'The team did really amazing today,' Vingegaard said. 'Everybody worked, there was real commitment from everyone.' But the Dane's best efforts, which saw him make several attacks on his rival, came to nothing. On the Ventoux's cruel final bend, perhaps the worst on the climb, the Slovenian again opened up a gap, sneaking clear to increase his overall lead by another couple of seconds. 'He followed me every time he attacked and I followed him,' Vingegaard said after the stage. 'I don't know if I could see any weaknesses today but at least, how good I felt gives me motivation. I will keep trying. 'I was feeling very good, so I'm happy. I didn't get any time, but I take a lot of motivation from it.' Yet insult was added to injury when Vingegaard collided with a photographer on the Ventoux summit's cramped finish line. 'A photographer stepped right in front of me,' he said. 'I don't know what he was doing. I went down. People who are working on the finish line need to be more careful.' However hard he tries, he cannot find any weaknesses in Pogacar's armour. Vingegaard's first attacks, in the forested section of the climb, splintered the main peloton and took him across to his teammate Benoot. For a fleeting moment and for perhaps the first time in this Tour, Pogacar initially showed signs of stress. At Chalet Reynard however, 6km from the top, the pair were still inseparable, although Vingegaard had one more card to play. As they bridged up to another of his teammates, Victor Campenaerts, he had another ally to pace him into the decisive kilometres. But the Dane's next move, with 4km to race, once more failed to dislodge the race leader. The pair's blistering times on Ventoux shattered all precedents. The past record, set by Spain's Iban Mayo in a 2004 time trial, was 55 minutes and 51 seconds. Pogacar beat that mark by a minute and 20 seconds, with Vingegaard just two seconds slower. Afterwards Pogacar, asked what his limits were, appeared offended by the question. 'I don't think we could ride much faster,' he said. 'Jonas and his team did very good pacing. On our aero bikes we go pretty fast, maybe we pick up a couple of seconds. I don't know. What do you want?' He maintained too that, despite appearances, he was no Superman. 'I'm definitely not Superman. I was born in Ljubljana. Today was an epic climb to do and we brought down the gap quite fast. We saw the winners in the last 800 metres, but even for Superman I don't think it would have been possible to catch them.' There were some other shifts in the overall standings, although Kelso's Oscar Onley clung on and remains stubbornly in fourth place overall, after finishing 14th on the stage. But Primoz Roglic, ninth on the Ventoux, is moving up the standings and has now climbed into the top five, while the unflagging Healy remains in the Tour's top 10, in ninth place overall.
Yahoo
05-07-2025
- Yahoo
French doctor handed 10-year jail term for abusing patients
A French court sentenced a doctor to a 10-year prison term on Saturday for raping nine of his patients during medical consultations, according to a lawyer representing some of the victims. Thirty women filed complaints against the gynaecologist, in his 60s, accusing him of sexual assault during medical exams. The Haute-Savoie Court in eastern France found him guilty on Saturday of raping nine of the plaintiffs, said lawyer, Aurelie Zakar. Four of the plaintiffs accused the gynaecologist of penetration with his genitals, while others complained of unjustified rectal exams and "vaginal massages" that they said the doctor presented as medically necessary. "The penetration suffered during consultations was not medical in nature and was, in fact, sexualised," said Zakar. "My three clients have been recognised as victims, they have been heard and believed. They can now rebuild their lives," she said. The doctor, from the eastern town of Bonneville, has denied all allegations. The debate was particularly "heated on the notion of intent", said a lawyer for three other plaintiffs, including two women who were minors at the time. The defendant presented the acts "as justified or never having happened," said Patricia Lyonnaz, adding that all the victims came to testify at the trial. "These are not women seeking revenge," said Lyonnaz. The defendant has 10 days to appeal. mla-ahe/ekf/cw
Al Arabiya
05-07-2025
- Al Arabiya
French doctor handed 10-year jail term for abusing patients
A French court sentenced a doctor to a 10-year prison term on Saturday for raping nine of his patients during medical consultations, according to a lawyer representing some of the victims. Thirty women filed complaints against the gynecologist, in his 60s, accusing him of sexual assault during medical exams. The Haute-Savoie Court in eastern France found him guilty on Saturday of raping nine of the plaintiffs, said lawyer, Aurelie Zakar. Four of the plaintiffs accused the gynecologist of penetration with his genitals, while others complained of unjustified rectal exams and 'vaginal massages' that they said the doctor presented as medically necessary. 'The penetration suffered during consultations was not medical in nature and was, in fact, sexualized,' said Zakar. 'My three clients have been recognized as victims, they have been heard and believed. They can now rebuild their lives,' she said. The doctor, from the eastern town of Bonneville, has denied all allegations. The debate was particularly 'heated on the notion of intent', said a lawyer for three other plaintiffs, including two women who were minors at the time. The defendant presented the acts 'as justified or never having happened,' said Patricia Lyonnaz, adding that all the victims came to testify at the trial. 'These are not women seeking revenge,' said Lyonnaz. The defendant has 10 days to appeal.
France 24
05-07-2025
- France 24
French doctor handed 10-year jail term for abusing patients
Thirty women filed complaints against the gynaecologist, in his 60s, accusing him of sexual assault during medical exams. The Haute-Savoie Court in eastern France found him guilty on Saturday of raping nine of the plaintiffs, said lawyer, Aurelie Zakar. Four of the plaintiffs accused the gynaecologist of penetration with his genitals, while others complained of unjustified rectal exams and "vaginal massages" that they said the doctor presented as medically necessary. "The penetration suffered during consultations was not medical in nature and was, in fact, sexualised," said Zakar. "My three clients have been recognised as victims, they have been heard and believed. They can now rebuild their lives," she said. The doctor, from the eastern town of Bonneville, has denied all allegations. The debate was particularly "heated on the notion of intent", said a lawyer for three other plaintiffs, including two women who were minors at the time. The defendant presented the acts "as justified or never having happened," said Patricia Lyonnaz, adding that all the victims came to testify at the trial. "These are not women seeking revenge," said Lyonnaz. The defendant has 10 days to appeal.
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Travel + Leisure
22-06-2025
- Travel + Leisure
This French Town Is Known as the ‘Venice of the Alps' With Beautiful Canals, a Turquoise Lake, and Michelin-starred Restaurants
Splurge on a stay at L'Auberge du Père Bise in the tranquil lakeside town of Talloires, an easy and scenic boat ride from Annecy. Rent a bike and hit the Lake Annecy Greenway, cycling through villages and past beaches along the western shore. Sip regional wines and dine on locally inspired small plates at neo-bistro Choral, known for inventive dishes that nod to the chef's acclaimed background. Sample and shop cheese at acclaimed Meilleur Ouvrier de France Fromagerie Gay, where the basement cheese cave is visible through the shop's glass floor. After crossing Annecy's own castle off the list, visit one of the other Savoyard stunners like nearby Château de Menthon-Saint-Bernard, believed to have inspired Disney's "Sleeping Beauty." Annecy, the scenic mountain town near the Swiss border, has long been a favorite in France for its beautifully preserved medieval old town crisscrossed by canals and stone footbridges—earning it the nickname 'Venice of the Alps.' The capital of Haute-Savoie is the gateway to swanky ski towns like Chamonix and Megève, as well as the namesake Lake Annecy, which is an unreal shade of turquoise is so captivating, it inspired masterpieces by the likes of Paul Cézanne. Yet, outside of Europe, this stretch of southeastern France is off the tourist trail. 'While France remains the most visited country in the world, the vast majority don't go beyond Paris,' says T+L A-List Travel Advisor and France specialist Mark Bonte, of French Side Travel. 'Annecy is the perfect example of a destination beloved by the French but often overlooked by those visiting from abroad.' Paris is considered the capital of gastronomy, but the Lake Annecy area has emerged as the lake with the most Michelin stars in Europe thanks to Franck Derouet of Le Clos des Sens and Jean Sulpice's L'Auberge du Père Bise—both of whom place local and Savoyard-specific ingredients on a pedestal. 'Savoie has all the beauty of everything people love about Switzerland—green mountains, alpine cheeses, crystal-clear lakes, cows—but at a fraction of the price,' adds Paris-based Catherine Down, a James Beard Award-nominated food and travel writer and culinary tour guide who visits Annecy on cheese-based pilgrimages. As a writer who has lived in France for more than a decade, this is a city that continues to surprise me—and one that can truly check off all the boxes, whether that be culture and cuisine or outdoor adventure spanning from lakeside beaches to the mountains. A quick escape from Paris, here's everything you need to plan a trip to Annecy—plus insider tips from local experts. A guest room in Hotel Clos Des Sens. Hovering on the edge of the lake a short stroll away from Annecy's city center, the Belle Époque beauty is a favorite in summer, when you can dip in the nearby Plage d'Annecy or catch jazz and classical concerts on the lakeside terrace. Attracting everyone from sultans and princes to Charlie Caplin and Winston Churchill in its glory days, Impérial Palace is still the place to be more than a century later—and the views don't get better than the top floor Imperial Suite, where a terrace shows off 360-degree vistas of Lake Annecy. Tucked away in leafy Annecy-le-Vieux (not to be confused with Annecy's old town), historic manor-turned-hotel Le Clos des Sens is an intimate, rustic-chic retreat housing just 11 rooms that unfold around an infinity pool overlooking Lake Annecy. The eponymous, three-Michelin-starred restaurant helmed by Chef Franck Derouet is a destination in itself, paying homage to the natural surroundings with a meat-free menu heavy on fish from local lakes. Lakeside retreat L'Auberge du Père Bise in Talloires is a quick boat ride away from Annecy. Run by Chef Jean Sulpice and his wife, Magali, the onsite two-Michelin-starred restaurant, bistro, and delicatessen have made the former family home a must-visit in Savoie. 'As a general philosophy, I often opt for properties outside the center of the action as this gives travelers the ability to unwind in a peaceful environment after a busy day,' says Bonte. 'L'Auberge du Père Bise is the perfect example—just 25 minutes south of Annecy, guests can enjoy stunning views of the surrounding French Alps with Lake Annecy right at their feet.' The sister spot to L'Auberge du Père Bise, neighboring Cottage Bise also had a gastronomic start that it maintains today at panoramic Les Terrasses on the shores of Lake Annecy. The family-run property's 36 rooms and suites are scattered throughout three homes overlooking the water, and, despite its small size, offers amenities worthy of a larger resort, from the lakeside Boat Bar (a favorite at sunset) to a spa complete with an infrared sauna and body wrap cabin. The ancient, thousand-year-old Abbaye de Talloires, tucked along Talloires Bay, claims past guests like Mark Twain and Paul Cézanne, whose painting of the lake currently hangs at the Courtauld Institute of Art in London. 'Inside the hotel, take a look at temporary exhibitions in the corridors,' recommends Annecy-raised Allison Gay, co-founder of Paris-based Blossom Art Agency. 'The restaurant also serves great locally inspired cuisine that's not too expensive for a three-course 'bistronomique' menu.' A cheese shop in Annecy, France. Chelsea Loren/Travel + Leisure Cruise beneath the Pont des Amours (Lovers' Bridge) in a sleek mahogany electric boat on an hour-long tour through the tree-encased Vassé Canal and into Lake Annecy, where you can eye waterfront villas lining the shore. 'For just €30, it's a great way to learn a bit of local history while soaking up the sights, skimming across Lake Annecy with only 11 others,' Down says. Once the home of the Counts of Geneva in the 13th and 14th centuries, the restored Musée-Château d'Annecy stands tall over the old town and blends medieval and Renaissance architecture—the result of its shifting state from a residence to military barracks. 'Enjoy a beautiful view over the city and spend time in the museum, which blends history and contemporary art,' suggests Gay, who recommends ending with a visit to the old prisons in the ship-shaped Palais de l'Ile. Vieille Ville, with its cobbled streets and pastel-colored buildings, is a place worth getting lost in as you discover its history through landmarks and areas like the five bell towers district and Le Pâquier, considered the 'Central Park of Annecy.' Shop local, picking up souvenirs like Opinel folding pocket knives and cheese at the many fromageries before indulging in ice cream at Le Glacier des Alpes, which Gay claims is one of the best in town. The canals of Annecy. Chelsea Loren/Travel + Leisure One of France's oldest greenways, the lakeside route runs nearly 20 miles along the western shore between Annecy and Val de Chaise. Cycle, rollerblade, or stroll the greenway, admiring views of the surrounding mountains or stopping off at one of the tiny villages or beaches along the way. If you're visiting in the summer, pause at the Prieuré de Talloires, 'a hidden gem that not a lot of people know about,' says Gay, adding that you can pop in for a tour or catch an exhibition or concert in July and August. 'Annecy is the capital of the Haute-Savoie, which is famous for its fondue and wines, so it would be a shame not to taste some during your visit,' says Bonte, adding that the Meilleur Ouvrier de France cheese shop Fromagerie Gay is not to be missed, since it's one of the best spots to sample famous cheeses from the region, like Reblochon and Beaufort. 'We can elevate this experience by organizing for a sommelier to introduce you to some of the wines typical to the region, including aromatic and fruity whites like Jacquère, Altesse, Roussette de Savoie, and Chignin-Bergeron or red wines like Mondeuse or Pinot Noir.' For a quick dive into the region's wines, Down also recommends stopping into wine shop Java des Flacons. In addition to indulging in the fantastic fromage, be sure to sample crozets , square-shaped buckwheat pasta. And for one of the top boulangeries, seek out Pan & Gatô, perfect for sourcing picnic fare and strolling over to the lake. Close up ornate dining tables in La Table by Yoann Conte. At Bloomer, an airy, mid-century modern bistro near the train station, the credo is simple: ' Boire, manger, boire ' (drink, eat, drink). And it's not hard to do just that thanks to the standout selection of regional wines, with a few harder-to-find bottles from neighboring Switzerland. Plates champion some of the best local and seasonal ingredients for shareable dishes like white asparagus with pickled strawberries and goat cheese or bluefin tuna with garden peas and grilled padron peppers with pil pil sauce. Take a seat at one of the wooden tables by the expansive windows, where sun bathes the Scandinavian-inspired cave à manger in natural light. Galopin's menu is heavy on plant-based plates inspired by chef-owner Julien Pradinaud's local producers—all designed to be shared and washed down with a bottle of natural wine. 'Grab a bottle to go, since the restaurant doubles as a wine shop,' recommends locally based Fiona Perrin, CEO and owner of modern Champagne brand Champagne Rendez-Vous. The area has no shortage of starred restaurants, but one that constantly tops lists is La Table de Yoann Conte in nearby Veyrier-du-Lac. 'It's a hidden gem for those who value understated luxury and culinary excellence,' says Perrin of the chalet-like space overlooking Lake Annecy. 'The chef delivers a masterful interpretation of the region's terroir—each dish is a thoughtful homage to local flavors, crafted with precision and passion.' Choral's chef-sommelier team Alban Chanteloup and Aymeric Velluz have passed through the starred kitchens of Le Clos des Sens and L'Auberge du Père Bise, so plates and pairings are elevated, yet still feel approachable. The neo-bistro wine list leans on the natural side, and the affordable tasting menus feature playful spins like kimchi-topped oysters and grilled green beans with fresh green almonds and ajo blanco. When you're ready for a break from fine dining, Mazette!'s traditional bistro fare like homemade pâté en croûte and sausage with green lentils does the trick. The ever-changing chalkboard menu is scribbled with a selection of seasonally shifting plates, but you'll always find classics like tourte de volaille (chicken pie) and andouillette (tripe sausage). Aerial view of Visitation Basilica in Annecy, France. My first trip to Annecy was paired with glacier trekking in Chamonix, and while the nearby ski slopes and Christmas markets make the area a favorite in winter (it's truly like stepping inside a snow globe), ask a local, and they'll say the best time to visit is between May and September. From June onward, the lake is warm enough for swimming or basking on the beaches, and the list of summer sports is nearly endless—wakeboarding, kayaking, and catamaran sailing are just the start. June is also when one of the annual highlights, the Annecy International Animated Film Festival, takes place with open-air movie screenings near the lake at Pâquier Park. Road signs pointing toward Annecy. ChiccoDodiFC/Getty Images If you're planning to fly, Geneva International Airport is the closest option—about a 35-minute drive without traffic—and offers easy access to Annecy by bus in less than an hour or via direct train, which takes a little over 90 minutes. Once you arrive, you can also hop in a taxi at the airport or reserve with a ride-share app like Uber. From Lyon, it's around two hours by bus or direct train, and tickets start as low as $14. While I've flown from Paris, I prefer taking the direct, high-speed TGV INOUI train, which reaches Annecy in less than four hours, with one-way tickets starting at $44. Once you arrive, it's a quick stroll into the center of town. Colorful buildings in a small village. Chelsea Loren/Travel + Leisure 'What I've come to love even more than Annecy itself is Talloires, a small lakeside village just around the bend,' Down says. 'You don't get the same crowds as Annecy, and it has an absurdly high concentration of gastronomic restaurants for a tiny village, including Jean Suplice's L'Auberge du Père Bise and Auberge de Montmin.' For a more affordable taste of Sulpice's cuisine, book sister spot The 1903, where you can dine on hearty sharing plates while soaking up panoramic lake views. Or, pop into the onsite shop for something sweet like homemade ice cream to enjoy on a nearby waterfront bench. 'Annecy is an incredibly beautiful city, with its colorful houses in the historic town, but the villages around the lake are the places you shouldn't miss,' says Gay, citing Menthon-Saint-Bernard as one of her top picks. 'The landscape is breathtaking, and it's where you'll find the most authentic experiences.' Dominated by the namesake château, which has been inhabited by the same family since the 11th century and is said to have inspired the castle in Disney's "Sleeping Beauty," Menthon-Saint-Bernard sits on the edge of Lake Annecy and is a favorite for its views—especially from the gardens of five-star hotel Le Palace de Menthon. The perched medieval walled city is a popular stop for travelers heading from France's culinary capital of Lyon, says Bonte. Dubbed one of the Plus Beaux Villages de France (Most Beautiful Villages in France), Pérouges's architecture dates back to the 13th and 14th centuries and is some of the best-preserved in the country. The town has become just as famous for its storybook-like buildings as its namesake, butter- and sugar-slathered galette pastry, only found in Pérouges. A bicycle parked on a quaint street in Annecy. Chelsea Loren/Travel + Leisure You'll quickly notice Annecy is a city best explored on the back of a bike. More than 80 miles of dedicated cycling paths run throughout the area and around the lake, and you'll find plenty of rental shops right in town. No judgment if you opt for an e-bike and spend less energy pedaling and more time admiring the scenery.
