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Perched on a forested spur above Lake Annecy, Château de Menthon-Saint-Bernard looks as if it burst from the pages of a storybook. Its tuxedo-tower roofs, 13th-century ramparts and manicured terraces frame sweeping views over turquoise water and the snow-dusted Aravis range.

Inside, more than 100 rooms unveil Savoyard tapestries, a medieval kitchen still blackened by open-hearth fires and a walnut-panelled library said to have inspired Walt Disney’s Sleeping Beauty. Guided visits weave legend with history—Saint Bernard was born here in 1008—and summer evenings often feature open-air theatre or classical concerts, turning a simple tour into a cultural event.

Because public buses stop in the village four kilometres below and roadside parking fills quickly in high season, a private driver can transform logistics into pure leisure. You’re dropped right at the drawbridge, avoiding the steep climb and freeing you from parking time limits.

While you explore, any valuables or picnic hampers stay secure in the vehicle, and the driver can coordinate a seamless itinerary—perhaps a lakeside lunch in Talloires followed by a boat cruise from Annecy’s vieille ville. No wrestling with narrow mountain roads, no deciphering French parking meters—just uninterrupted immersion in one of Haute-Savoie’s most enchanting landmarks.