Annecy, in the north of the French Alps, is called "the Venice of Savoie" — a well-deserved title. The medieval town centre built around a 14th-century chateau is dissected by small canals and streams running out of Lac Annecy, which is clean, fresh and a wonderful azure colour. Annecy is the prefecture of the département of Haute-Savoie.
- Palais de l'Isle. Jun-Sep: daily 10:30-18:00; Oct-May: W-M 10:00-12:00 and 14:00-17:00. A former palace turned prison. As the name says, it sits on an island between the canals. €5.50.
- Annecy Castle, Place du Château. Jun-Sep: daily 10:30-18:00, Oct-May: W-M 10:00-12:00 and 14:00-17:00. On a hill overlooking the city and the surroundings. The building houses a museum with a varied collection of medieval, nineteenth-century, and contemporary art; traditional local furniture; and natural history.
- Museum of Animated Film, 18 avenue du Trésum (within the Conservatoire d'Art et d'Histoire, a short walk downhill from the Château. Limited bus services, +33 4 50 33 87 30. Feb-May and Oct-Dec: daily 10:00-12:00 and 14:00-17:00. Jun-Sep: daily 10:30-18:00. Closed Jan. Small but interesting and free-to-visit museum of animation tying in to the annual festival. Original cels, drawings, storyboards, and stop-motion props, short films to watch, and early animation devices to try hands-on. Free.
- Saint Peter's Cathedral. Erected at the beginning of the 16th century by Jacques Rossel as a chapel for a Franciscan priory. It has many examplars of Baroque art and also features a splendid organ of the 19th century.
- Saint-Maurice Church. Built in flamboyant Gothic style in the 15th century. Its paintings date back to the 15th and 16th century.
- Basilica of the Visitation. Built it 1909 and houses the tombs of Saint Francis de Sales and Saint Joan of Chantal. And also offers beautiful views from its esplanade.
- Saint-Joseph-des-Fins Basilica. Built during the Second World War by the famous architect Dom Bellot.
- Notre-Dame-de-Liesse. Built in the 19th century.
- Saint-François-de-Sales. Built in the 18th century.
Saint Peter's Cathedral. Erected at the beginning of the 16th century by Jacques Rossel as a chapel for a Franciscan priory. It has many examplars of Baroque art and also features a splendid organ of the 19th century.
Saint-Maurice Church. Built in flamboyant Gothic style in the 15th century. Its paintings date back to the 15th and 16th century.
Basilica of the Visitation. Built it 1909 and houses the tombs of Saint Francis de Sales and Saint Joan of Chantal. And also offers beautiful views from its esplanade.
Saint-Joseph-des-Fins Basilica. Built during the Second World War by the famous architect Dom Bellot.
Notre-Dame-de-Liesse. Built in the 19th century.
Saint-François-de-Sales. Built in the 18th century.
Palais de l'Isle. Jun-Sep: daily 10:30-18:00; Oct-May: W-M 10:00-12:00 and 14:00-17:00. A former palace turned prison. As the name says, it sits on an island between the canals. €5.50.
Annecy Castle, Place du Château. Jun-Sep: daily 10:30-18:00, Oct-May: W-M 10:00-12:00 and 14:00-17:00. On a hill overlooking the city and the surroundings. The building houses a museum with a varied collection of medieval, nineteenth-century, and contemporary art; traditional local furniture; and natural history.
Museum of Animated Film, 18 avenue du Trésum (within the Conservatoire d'Art et d'Histoire, a short walk downhill from the Château. Limited bus services, +33 4 50 33 87 30. Feb-May and Oct-Dec: daily 10:00-12:00 and 14:00-17:00. Jun-Sep: daily 10:30-18:00. Closed Jan. Small but interesting and free-to-visit museum of animation tying in to the annual festival. Original cels, drawings, storyboards, and stop-motion props, short films to watch, and early animation devices to try hands-on. Free.
- Swim, row or sail on the lake. The city provides free public beaches for swimming in addition to some pay beaches.
- Hike on the mountains around the city. The tourist information office provides maps and information for local trails.
- Bike around the lake, or up in the mountains if you are in good shape.
- Hanglide above the lake from the Col de la Forclaz (~20 km)
- Shop the many boutiques lining the narrow stone-paved streets. A large, modern mall can also be found in the newer part of the city.
- Films a theatre near the large mall showing multiple films for your enjoyment.
- Boat Trips, +33 4 50 51 08 40. They offer discovery cruises of lake, a water taxi service to the towns around the lake and dinner cruises. Prices start at €13.40 for the one-hour cruise.
- April: A cozy village festival is held, a great place to bring the family. Rides and vendors are abundant, along with the great French cuisine. The festival lines Lac Annecy and is very peaceful and beautiful.
- June : One of the biggest animation festivals is held in Annecy (6 days)
- July : Noctibules festival during the nights (4 days)
- The first week-end of August is the Lake Festival (Fête du Lac) with attractions around the lake and a great fireworks. This event brings more than 100,000 spectators.
- October : "Descente des Alpages" or "Return from Alpine Pastures". Occurs once a year on the second Saturday of October. This is a traditional farmers' festival with local music, food and entertainment.
April: A cozy village festival is held, a great place to bring the family. Rides and vendors are abundant, along with the great French cuisine. The festival lines Lac Annecy and is very peaceful and beautiful.
June : One of the biggest animation festivals is held in Annecy (6 days)
July : Noctibules festival during the nights (4 days)
The first week-end of August is the Lake Festival (Fête du Lac) with attractions around the lake and a great fireworks. This event brings more than 100,000 spectators.
October : "Descente des Alpages" or "Return from Alpine Pastures". Occurs once a year on the second Saturday of October. This is a traditional farmers' festival with local music, food and entertainment.
Swim, row or sail on the lake. The city provides free public beaches for swimming in addition to some pay beaches.
Hike on the mountains around the city. The tourist information office provides maps and information for local trails.
Bike around the lake, or up in the mountains if you are in good shape.
Hanglide above the lake from the Col de la Forclaz (~20 km)
Shop the many boutiques lining the narrow stone-paved streets. A large, modern mall can also be found in the newer part of the city.
Films a theatre near the large mall showing multiple films for your enjoyment.
Boat Trips, +33 4 50 51 08 40. They offer discovery cruises of lake, a water taxi service to the towns around the lake and dinner cruises. Prices start at €13.40 for the one-hour cruise.
Annecy has a number of local artisan shops as well as many European chain boutiques.
There is a market (marché) each Sunday morning in the pedestrian streets of the medieval city. Le marché is an open air market with the freshest fruits and vegetables.
- Courier. A large shopping centre in the middle of town with a wide variety of stores.
Courier. A large shopping centre in the middle of town with a wide variety of stores.
For between meals try the ice cream shops, favored by the locals, located on the numerous pedestrian-only by-ways that weave the city and river together.
- Glacier des Alpes, 16 rue Perrière, +33 4 50 51 08 86. The best hand-made ice creams in the city, with more than 40 different tastes.
Another suggestion is the brioche (sweet roll) and other goodies to be found at the boulangeries (bakeries) in town.
And of course, Haute-Savoie is famous for its cheese recipes:
- Le Fréti, 12 rue Sainte Claire, +33 4 50 51 29 52. The restaurant in Annecy for cheese specialities: fondue, raclette, etc.
Glacier des Alpes, 16 rue Perrière, +33 4 50 51 08 86. The best hand-made ice creams in the city, with more than 40 different tastes.
Le Fréti, 12 rue Sainte Claire, +33 4 50 51 29 52. The restaurant in Annecy for cheese specialities: fondue, raclette, etc.
The town gets ridiculously busy in July but September brings fewer people - visit then when the air is clearer and the views to the mountains are better.
If you want to get away from the crowds, try the far side of the lake. The best way to get around is by bike.
- Discover small towns nearby in the Alps such as Thônes, La Clusaz, Le Grand-Bornand, Menthon St. Bernard, Duingt, Faverges
- Use the place as a base to visit other places of the Alps such as Chamonix (~80 km), Geneva (45 km), Chambery (40 km), Yvoire (60 km), Thonon, Evian, Val d'Isère, Aosta (IT, 100 km).
- A shuttle bus connects the Annecy train station directly to the Geneva Airport.