of Saint Claire. In ancient writings it is
styled Clusas Sancti Clari.
The road from Talloires descends into the
valley on its western side, about fo Lir miles
above the gorge. The valley spreads out in
the upper part, and several lateral valleys
open into it, which may be regarded as
branches of the main valley. The valley
is better cultivated than many of the other
paits of Savoy, and the houses also appear
better built and more respectable. It contains
much good corn and pasture land, and
they also raise a considerable quantity of
flax. Though on a level with, and parallel
to, the basin of the lake of Annecy, there
is a great difference in the temperature of
the two valleys. There are no vines raised
here, but the wine is brought from Talloires.
From the narrowness of this valley, and
the reflection of the sun from the rocks, it
is sometimes suffocatingly hot, as I fou’nd
by experience ; but its mean temperature
is considerably below that of Annecy, as
the mountains that impend over it on
the western side throw it into shade for a
considerable part of the day, and they retain
the snow much longer on this side, as they
face the east. This I observed to be the
case; for though it was the latter end of
August, there was still a considerable quantity
of snow on the Tournetts, which forms
part of the western side of the valley ;
though snow had long since disappeared
on the other side of the Tournetts next the
Lake of Annecy. The lower part of the
Tournetts was covered with pastures and
forest-trees, principally pines.
Here, as at the Lake of Annecy, the
mountains on the eastern side of the valley
turn their escarpements towards the west,
but they are more precipitous. There is
one rock which appears like an immense
tower, having a perpendicular face of nearly
2000 feet, without any break whatever, before
it slopes to the vale. It is the largest
unbroken perpendicular mass of limestone
I ever beheld. The head becomes overpowered
and dizzy in looking up to it.*
* This perpendicular rock may be seen from near
Cruseilles, and also in part from Collonges, on the road
from Geneva to Lyons, appeai'ing behind the Vouache.
The Tournetts, called by the country people the Mountain
of St. Catherine, is seen to the right of it from
Collonges.
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