Your French Moments: A French Alps Getaway (Part 1) 🏔️
Inside this FREE Substack: my (re)discovery of the French Alps near Annecy in the Haute-Savoie département + the Tour de France bicycle race.
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Bonjour mes amis!
I arrived in the French Alps last Sunday evening — in the green hills above Annecy — and since then, I’ve been soaking up the peace and fresh air of the mountains.
Yes, it’s been hot, just like everywhere else in France this week.
But thankfully, we’re at altitude, and in the evening a cool breeze tumbles down from the peaks, making the nights a lot more bearable.
No air-con needed — just open windows and the sound of cowbells in the distance.
Because of the heat, I tend to go out either early in the morning or just before sunset, rediscovering paths I hadn’t walked in months and finding little surprises along the way — horses, donkeys, mountain views and flowery meadows.
In today’s letter, I’ll share a few first impressions from this Alpine retreat — part one of my summer postcard, if you will.
I’ll also tell you about a lesser-known feature of Substack you might have missed — especially if you’re curious about my daily photos and travel videos.
And finally, we’ll talk about the start of the Tour de France, which kicked off yesterday. Because yes — July in France means cyclists, mountains, and lots of outdoor fun.
Shall we dive in?
On y va!
✨ Stay tuned for the PAID subscriber edition next Wednesday:
“The Gallic Rooster: France’s Proud, Crowing Symbol”
A bird, a pun, a nation — how an animal that sings with its feet in the mud became the unofficial soul of the French Republic.
Last Wednesday, I shared my post “Marianne: The Woman Who Became France”. Curious? You can still read it!
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Enjoy and à bientôt!
Pierre
My Current Stay in the French Alps (Part 1) 🏔️
As I write these lines, I’m looking out at the mountains of the Bornes massif, rising like a wall above the valley — from a small village north of Annecy, where my parents live.
The air up here feels lighter — and thankfully, a little cooler than in the rest of France.
It’s been a hot week across the country, but the altitude and the evening breeze from the mountains make things much more bearable.
Most of our hikes and excursions have been postponed to cooler days (more on that soon!), but I’ve still managed a few lovely walks, early in the morning or just before sunset, around the little mountain resort of Thorens-Glières.
This village might not be packed with monuments or museums, but it holds a special place in French history: it’s the birthplace of Saint Francis de Sales.
If you’ve spent time in Savoy or Geneva, you’ve probably heard of him — a 17th-century bishop known for his gentle spirituality, now considered the patron saint of writers and journalists.
His legacy is everywhere in this region, from chapels to street names.
And while Thorens-Glières doesn’t have the charm of some postcard villages, there’s one building that stands out: the Château de Thorens.
Its most famous feature? A table. Yes — but not just any table.
This is where Camillo Benso, Count of Cavour, a key figure in the unification of Italy, once sat to plan the future of his country.
It’s a curious but fascinating link between this quiet corner of the Alps and the destiny of a whole nation.
But truth be told, what I enjoy most here has nothing to do with history. It’s the countryside.
The peaceful mix of fields, pastures, little woods and gentle meadows, all resting at the foot of those proud mountains.
The Bornes rise like a fortress above it all — silent, immovable, and incredibly beautiful.
Next Sunday, in Part 2, I’ll take you a bit further into this Alpine corner — with a few more personal impressions, some history of the nearby Plateau des Glières, and maybe (finally!) a proper mountain walk if the weather allows.
In the meantime, if you’re curious about the kind of scenery that makes me fall in love with the Alps every single summer, you might enjoy this video I filmed last year during a stay in the Tarentaise Valley.
Same region, same spirit — just different peaks and different cows!
Substack Notes: A Daily Glimpse into Haute-Savoie 📸
Since arriving in the Annecy region, I’ve been using Substack Notes to share short glimpses of my summer stay — like a photo of an old chapel lost in a field, the sound of birdsong along a shaded forest trail, or the distant echo of cowbells (or church bells!) across the valley.
These Notes are where I post the fleeting moments — the ones too small for a full article, but too lovely not to share.
But what exactly are Substack Notes?
They’re a bit like a social media feed… but quieter, slower, and much nicer.
No ads, no weird algorithms, no doom-scrolling. Just words, pictures, videos, and links shared by writers — and the people who read them.
Personally, I find it far more enjoyable (and peaceful!) than scrolling through Facebook or Twitter.
If you’d like to see what I’ve been posting lately, just head here:
You can even like, share or leave a comment — all you need is a free Substack profile.
Hope to see you there!
The Tour de France Has Begun! 🚴♀️
It’s that time of year again — le Tour de France is sweeping across the country!
The 2025 edition began on Saturday 5 July in Lille, and as you can see from the route map below, this year’s journey takes us from the beaches of Normandy to the mountain roads of the Alps and Pyrenees — with vineyard valleys, medieval towns, and postcard-perfect scenery in between.
From Mont Ventoux to La Plagne and Courchevel, the peloton will climb legendary cols and speed through tiny villages under the summer sun.
The final sprint will reach Paris and the Champs-Élysées on 27 July.
Even if you’re not a cycling enthusiast, it’s hard to resist the thrill of the Tour: colourful jerseys, cheering crowds, helicopter shots of ancient castles, and that contagious sense of excitement winding through the countryside.
I’ve been lucky enough to see the Tour go by many times — the first time as a child in Nancy, in Alsace, and later in the Tarentaise Valley, which is actually on this year’s route (look out for the 25 July stage!).
So yes, I’ll be keeping a close eye on those Alpine moments — and who knows, we might even try to spot the riders live if the timing works out.
Fancy learning French with a personal touch? 🇫🇷
Whether you’re just starting out or want to brush up before your next trip to France, I offer online French lessons via Google Meet — 40 minutes of relaxed, friendly conversation, sprinkled with helpful grammar tips and cultural insights.
Yes, even though I’m currently in the French Alps enjoying some mountain air, my virtual classroom is still open!
All I need is a stable Wi-Fi connection (and maybe an ice-pack against the heatwave 😅), and voilà — we’re good to go.
I already work with wonderful learners from the US, the UK and Australia — and I’d be delighted to welcome you too.
You’ll find all the details on my website. 👇
Or simply reply to this email and say bonjour — I’d love to hear from you!