In short: Gîte du Cruet is a group gîte for 8 people in Saint-Eustache, a village in the Bauges Regional Nature Park, a UNESCO Global Geopark. Trails start from the hamlet, Lake Annecy is 10 minutes away and Le Semnoz ski area 25 minutes. The Fromagerie de la Cochette opposite delivers raclette and fondue baskets to order.
The Bauges, a still-wild mountain range
Between Annecy, Chambéry and Albertville, the Bauges massif has been a Regional Nature Park since 1995 and is a UNESCO Global Geopark, recognised for its limestone landscapes and geological heritage. Saint-Eustache is part of it: "from the lakeshore to the summit of Le Semnoz, the west-shore villages are an integral part of the Park", notes the Lake Annecy tourist office.
The village has fewer than 500 inhabitants, spread between the main village and a few hamlets, including Le Cruet. No tower blocks, no traffic: alpine pastures, forests, and the outline of the Roc des Bœufs above the rooftops.
A gîte cut out for groups of 8
A group needs space to get together and privacy to rest. The gîte offers both:
- 4 bedrooms with double or twin beds
- 2 bathrooms and 2 separate toilets
- A cathedral-ceilinged living room and a table for 8 for long meals
- A kitchen equipped for 8, with a raclette and fondue set
- Board games, Bluetooth speaker and smart TV for the evenings
Maximum capacity is 8 people, and the gîte does not host parties or noisy events: it is part of a lived-in former farm, in a quiet spot.
Activities for every level
Hiking from the hamlet
No need for a car to go walking. The Montagne d'Entrevernes (1,338 m) can be climbed from the gîte, with a bird's-eye view of the lake. For families, the Fournis loop starts from the village church. Find all our ideas in our hiking guide.
Lake, bike, paragliding
Lake Annecy is 10 minutes away: swimming, paddleboarding, kayaking, cycling around the lake. The more daring can take a tandem paragliding flight from the Col de la Forclaz, one of Europe's most famous free-flight sites.
Winter at Le Semnoz
25 minutes away, Le Semnoz offers family-friendly downhill skiing, 35 km of cross-country trails, snowshoe routes and a sledging area. Details on our winter page.
A cheese dairy right across the road
It is a real treat for a group stay: the Fromagerie de la Cochette, an artisan cheese dairy just opposite the gîte, sells cheese, cured meats, vegetables, meat and honey from the village. To order, it prepares raclette or Savoyard fondue baskets for 8. You get back from your hike and dinner is ready in ten minutes.
Planning your stay
- Check-in from 3 pm, check-out by 11 am; cleaning, bed linen and towels included.
- Book early for school holidays and the long weekends in May.
- Outside school holidays, short 2-night stays are often possible: check the calendar.
- For a business group, see our off-site seminar page instead.
