Your sightseeing holiday
Cities of art, lakes, vineyards and mountains, from La Ferme de La Tour
Old town of Annecy © Elenarts, Magnific
An ideal starting point
You can reach La Ferme de La Tour by car on your own. Alternatively, with two weeks’ advance booking, we can arrange transport for you from Lyon, Geneva, and the TGV stations of Bourg-en-Bresse or Bellegarde, by taxi or minibus.
By avoiding hotel changes, Ferme de La Tour is an ideal and centrally located base for visiting the iconic tourist attractions of the Rhône-Alpes and Romandie regions, all within a two-hour drive. We also invite you to discover nearby, lesser-known local gems which, in good weather and without the crowds, are sure to enchant you.
You can plan your stay independently. Below, you will find a series of suggested itineraries to alternate, or not, with walks and hikes in the immediate vicinity of the haven of pure nature and luxury that is Ferme de La Tour. These numerous sites can also be explored during a second week of your stay, especially if your vacation includes relaxing days in the enchanting setting of the farm.
For these sightseeing excursions, we can provide a bilingual guide, provided we are notified sufficiently in advance.
This day trip program can be complemented by catering services in partnership with local companies, which are optional.
A typical day
From 7:30 am
Breakfast, provided by our service provider, or not.
9:00 am
1:00 pm
Snack at the site visited, or lunch at a local restaurant.
From 6:30 pm
From 7:30 pm
After dinner
Geneva © ITU Pictures, Flickr
Our suggested destinations
The day’s program below can be adjusted according to your interests and the weather, which these days is reliably predictable about a week in advance. Some city visits can even be adapted to overcast weather, focusing instead on their museums and monuments, both civil and religious.
Geneva
1 h 15Can be visited even in poor weather
Guided tour available
- An international capital despite its 500,000 inhabitants (Republic and Canton).
- Old Town, St. Peter’s Cathedral, Museum of the Reformation, Palace of Nations.
- Harbor, boat trip on “Mouettes” (a type of riverboat) or a historic boat on the lake (lunch included).
- Museum of Art and History, Patek Philippe Museum, Museum of Ethnography.
- Geneva Reformed Protestant service on Sundays at 10:00 AM at the Cathedral.
Lyon
1 h 15Can be visited even in poor weather
Guided tour available
- Capital of Gaul and a regional capital (1.8 million inhabitants in the metropolitan area).
- Old Town, St. John’s Cathedral, Basilica of Fourvière, Roman Museum.
- Peninsula, sightseeing cruise (lunch), Rhône and Saône river quays.
- Museum of Fine Arts, Silk Museum, Museum of Contemporary Art.
- Paul Bocuse Market, world-renowned gastronomy.
Bourg-en-Bresse & Brou Monastery
1 hCan be visited even in poor weather
Guided tour available
- Capital of the department and the Savoy Bresse (65,000 inhabitants in the metropolitan area).
- Royal Brou Monastery, a jewel of Flamboyant Gothic architecture, and Museum of Fine Arts.
- Old town, Notre-Dame Cathedral, historic Brasserie Le Français (lunch).
- Typical atmosphere of a quiet French provincial town. Renowned gastronomy.
- Very pleasant market on Saturdays and especially on Wednesdays.
Annecy
1 h 30Can be visited even in poor weather
Guided tour available
- Historic and vibrant capital of Haute-Savoie (200,000 inhabitants in the metropolitan area).
- Old town, cathedral, and ancient churches. Castle overlooking the town and its museum.
- Walks along and on the lake (lunch included). Lake tour.
- High-quality gastronomy in Menthon-Saint-Bernard and Talloires.
- Annecy often suffers from overtourism in July and August.
Pérouges & Châtillon-sur-Chalaronne
1 h - 1 h 15Can be visited even in poor weather
Guided tour available
- Two small medieval gems, each with a different character, 30 minutes apart.
- Pérouges is a medieval town that has become almost a living museum. Lunch available.
- Cross the Dombes region with its 1,000 ponds. Bird park for children.
- Châtillon-sur-Chalaronne is a small, lively medieval town. Magnificent covered market.
- Flower-filled stroll along the Chalaronne. Saint-André Church. Saturday morning market!
The vineyards
Vineyards are best visited in good weather. The major vineyards have their own routes, widely available through dedicated apps or various tourist maps. Except for the nearby vineyards of Bugey, often overlooked, we are unable to provide a guide for these visits, which we leave to your own devices as you explore their picturesque villages…
Beaujolais
1 h 30Capital: Belleville-sur-Saône (population 10,000). To be discovered through its picturesque wine villages.
Mâconnais
1 h 15Capital: the peaceful town of Mâcon (population 35,000). To be discovered through its picturesque wine villages.
Côte Chalonnaise
1 h 30Jura
1 h 45The Bugey vineyards
Our selectionWith or without a guide
We would be delighted to show them to you, with or without a guide.
- The morning can be spent at the spectacular Cerdon site and its copper works.
- After lunch in La Tour, we’ll descend into the lower Bugey vineyards via the Valromey.
- We’ll stop in Champagne-en-Valromey before reaching the wine-growing village of Vongnes.
- Visit the Vine Museum and the Bugey wine cellar, producer of the famous Manicle.
- Return via the other side of the charming Valromey, a truly forgotten land of plenty.
Vongnes vineyards © Laurent Madelon, CC Bugey-Sud
Beaune
1 h 50Can be visited even in poor weather
Guided tour available
- A small town of 20,000 inhabitants, the true heart of the Burgundy wine region…
- Magnificent historic Hospices de Beaune, auction site for the finest wines.
- City of the Climats and Wines of Burgundy; Burgundy Wine Museums.
- Numerous wine cellars to visit (reservations required), as well as the historic Fallot mustard factory.
- Notre-Dame Collegiate Church, Old Town, Ramparts. Rich gastronomy.
Chamonix
2 hBest visited in good weather (spectacular views)
Guided tour available
- The Montenvers train to the Mer de Glace glacier. Aiguille du Midi cable car.
- A charming resort with old hotels and their gourmet restaurants.
- Magnificent Mont Blanc Museum. Crystal Museum.
- Visit Argentière, a lesser-known resort with spectacular views of the Drus.
- Chamonix often suffers from overtourism in both summer and winter.
Chambéry, Aix-les-Bains & Lake Bourget
1 h 15 - 1 h 30Best visited in good weather
Guided tour available
- Chambéry is the former capital of the Duchy of Savoy (60,000 inhabitants).
- Castle of the Dukes, Collegiate Church of Saint-François, old town center and its typical allées.
- Aix-les-Bains, the Riviera of the Alps (35,000 inhabitants), is a spa town with a beautiful casino.
- Boat trip on the lake to Hautecombe Abbey or to Chanaz, a canalside village.
- View of the lake from the Revard belvedere. Restaurants with lake views.
Lausanne
1 h 50Can be visited even in poor weather
Guided tour available
- Capital of the canton of Vaud and French-speaking Switzerland: 450,000 inhabitants.
- Notre-Dame, an imposing Gothic cathedral. Picturesque old town with three hills.
- Historic boat trip on the lake departing from Ouchy (lunch included). Castle, grand hotels.
- Olympic Museum, Cantonal Museum of Fine Arts, Photography, and Applied Arts.
- Hermitage Foundation. Gastronomy of French-speaking Switzerland and its fine Swiss wines.
The Swiss shores of Lake Geneva
1 h 20Best visited in good weather
Departing from Nyon
Guided tour available
- The journey starts at the small medieval town of Nyon (local castle museum).
- National Museum and magnificent gardens at Prangins Castle. Lunch on its terrace.
- Visit Rolle, a historic Savoyard town with a beautiful lakeside castle (Île de la Harpe).
- Visit the medieval village of Saint-Prex, Morges with its castle, and its lakeside promenade.
- Return to La Tour via the motorway from Morges in 1 hour 30 minutes.
The French shores of Lake Geneva
1 h 45Best visited in good weather
Departing from Yvoire
Guided tour available
- The day begins with the small town of Yvoire and its medieval garden.
- Lunch in the Fresco Room of the Hotel Royal in Evian, a spa town with 10,000 inhabitants.
- Other possible visits: Evian Source Cachat hall. Palais Lumière. Lakeside. Casino.
- In the afternoon, visit to the grand Savoyard castle of Ripaille in Thonon-les-Bains.
- Return to La Tour from Thonon in 1 hour 50 minutes.
Vienne
1 h 45Roman history & gastronomy
Guided tour available
- Ancient city 35 km south of Lyon, capital of Gaul (100,000 inhabitants in the metropolitan area).
- Amphitheater. Temple of Augustus and Livia. Forum in the Gardens of Cybele…
- Gallo-Roman Museum of Saint-Romain-en-Gal. Château / Castrum de la Bâtie.
- Saint-Maurice Cathedral. Abbey of Saint-André-le-Bas. Condrieu vineyards.
- Second largest market in France on Saturdays. Numerous gourmet restaurants.
What if the weather isn't nice?
The environment of La Ferme de la Tour has its charms in all seasons, whether it be a cheerful spring, a bucolic summer, a romantic autumn, or an austere winter.
It’s clear that a hike or sightseeing trip in pouring rain isn’t the most pleasant experience. However, the interior of La Ferme de La Tour has been specifically designed to make a stay as comfortable as possible in inclement weather.
If you are an enthusiast, you will appreciate the quality and harmony of its 400-year-old architecture, its furniture and paintings, each perfectly restored, showcasing the work of regional artists and craftsmen.
You can pull a classic or historical book from one of its two bookcases—a book you’ve never had time to read—and savor it, perhaps accompanied by music of your choice played on high-performance Cabasse speakers. You’ll then discover the barn’s remarkable acoustics. The same is true if you decide to play the piano or sing.
The games room and sauna are sure to entice you. Both the barn and the main living room feature large-screen TVs and comfortable sofas where you can watch your favourite movies with friends or family. Not to mention the Mah Jong lounge and its meditation space overlooking nature and the elements.
In fact, like its grounds, the interior of La Ferme de la Tour is also worth a stay of pure relaxation for body and mind… even without sightseeing excursions!
Rates
Our partners
La Ferme de La Tour offers accommodation only. Catering services, equipment rentals, hiking instructors, and tour guides are billed separately by these local partners. We do not receive any commission from them whatsoever.
We have selected them for their quality, which we cannot, however, guarantee, but also for their reasonable prices. These service providers must be booked/reserved at least two weeks in advance through us for better coordination. We will then send you their quotes, putting you in direct contact with them.
Accommodation rates
7-day week: arrival on the first day at 10:00 am, departure at 5:00 pm on the last day
For shorter or longer stays: please contact us depending on the length of your stay.
Payment terms
30% upon booking by bank transfer, non-refundable in case of cancellation, and 70% at the end of your stay.
Security Deposit
La Ferme de La Tour has been furnished with high-quality furniture, paintings, and decorative objects. As a result, a security deposit of €5,000 is also required at the time of reservation. If there are no damages, it will be returned within the week following your stay.
Without actual payment of the deposit and security deposit, the reservation will not be taken into account.