Palace de Menthon

It’s clear at a glance that Le Palace de Menthon is no newcomer to the Lake Annecy luxury-hotel scene; this early-20th-century edifice is a slice of old-world heaven right by the water’s edge. And while its historical romance is still very much in evidence, it’s seen some substantial upgrades, and is today on a level with the best 21st-century luxury hotels — though with a character few of them can match.