We know everything there is to know about Small Luxury Hotels, but we don’t know much about this big luxury hotel overlooking Lake Annecy. Since the 19th century, the Abbaye de Talloires has welcomed tourists yearning for a haven of peace on the shores of Lake Annecy. Behind the scenes of this 1,000-year-old building, Isabelle Chauvris’ family is keeping busy. In 1998, her parents took over the hotel’s business, yet nothing predestined Isabelle Chauvris to enter the hotel trade. With a degree in finance, she went on to work in real estate in Lyon and Bordeaux. But with the management team nearing the end of their careers, her family offered her the chance to take up the reins of a popular resort whose magical setting has charmed Napoleon III, Mark Twain, Paul Cézanne, Jean Reno and Bruce Willis. The hotel exudes an old-fashioned charm and an atmosphere far different from that of the countless luxury hotel chains that overrun the area. With so much charm and history, its waterfront location and the numerous water sports available, we can’t recommend this place highly enough while it’s under the radar.