Hotels in Gérardmer

Gerardmer is the Pearl of the Vosges, a lake resort in the Grand Est built around the largest natural lake in the Vosges mountains, a 115-hectare glacial basin ringed by a signposted 6 km footpath and used for swimming, sailing and pedalos in summer. In winter the same hills feed the Gerardmer ski area, with 21 pistes across the Mauselaine and Bas-Rupts sectors, modest by Alpine standards but enough for a family week.

The town's history is brutal: in November 1944 retreating German forces set fire to Gerardmer, destroying around 85 percent of its buildings, so almost everything visible today was rebuilt after the war rather than original. It has been a spa and tourist town since the 19th century, and every January it hosts the Gerardmer International Fantastic Film Festival, a well-known horror and sci-fi showcase. Stay near the lake for the promenade and watersports, or up towards Bas-Rupts for ski-season access.