Annecy
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.
Get in
By plane
Geneva is the nearest major international airport and is well served from across Europe and beyond. On the motorway, it is just over 35 min away. A little further away is Lyon, a full international airport, and Grenoble, which is focused on low-cost and winter flights. Both are about a one-hour drive by car or bus. Annecy's own airport has no commercial flights.
By train
Ten TER Rhône-Alpes trains operated by SNCF leave daily for Annecy from the Gare de Part-Dieu in Lyon, leaving around every two hours from 07:00 to 21:00. A round-trip ticket is €54.40 (€27.20 one-way) and the trip is around two hours each way.
There are also trains leaving for Annecy from Chambéry, which run more frequently. Eighteen TER trains, a few TGV trains, one Intercités de Nuit train, and one SNCF bus service run between the two towns, taking around an hour each way. A round-trip ticket is €21.20 (€10.60 one-way).
🌍 Train station (Gare d'Annecy).
By bus
Annecy is a popular day trip from nearby Geneva, Switzerland (bring your passport for the border crossing - although checks are not frequent). Buses leave from Geneva's intercity bus station about 5 times/day on Sundays, more frequently on weekdays. A round-trip ticket costs 32 Swiss francs, and the trip takes about an hour in each direction.
🌍 Bus station (Gare routière d'Annecy) (in front of the train station). Bus station served by Ouibus, Eurolines, Alsa, FlixBus, Eurolines Germany and DeinBus.
Get around
See
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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.
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Annecy Castle (Chateau d'Annecy), 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.
Religious buildings
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Saint Peter's Cathedral (Cathédrale Saint-Pierre). 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.
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Saint-Maurice Church (Église Saint-Maurice). Built in flamboyant Gothic style in the 15th century. Its paintings date back to the 15th and 16th century.
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Basilica of the Visitation (Basilique de la 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.
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Saint-Joseph-des-Fins Basilica (Basilique Saint-Joseph-des-Fins). Built during the Second World War by the famous architect Dom Bellot.
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Notre-Dame-de-Liesse (Église Notre-Dame-de-Liesse). Built in the 19th century.
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Saint-François-de-Sales (Église Saint-François de Sales). Built in the 18th century.
Do
- 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 (Along Quai Jules Philippe), ☎ +33 4 50 51 08 40, fax: +33 04 50 51 80 94. 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.
Events
- 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.
Buy
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 (Walking distance from Old Annecy and Jardin de l'europe). A large shopping centre in the middle of town with a wide variety of stores.
Eat
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.
Drink
Sleep
There are Bed & breakfasts, and a youth hostel. Surrounding mountains and lake activities are draining a large number of tourist during the summer and more and more during the winter season. Several winter sport resorts are within a 30-minute drive.
- PV-Holidays Adagio Annecy Centre (next to train station in business district, short walk from the Old Town and lake), ☎ +33 1 58 21 55 84. An aparthotel offering studio style apartments for up to 4 people. A fitness room, sauna and private parking are also available. ~€80.
- Annecy Hostel, 32 Avenue de Loverchy, ☎ +33 9 53 12 02 90, e-mail: contact@annecyhostel.com. A clean hostel about a 15-minute walk from the train/bus station and a 5-minute walk to the historic area of town. They also have a large patio and a full kitchen. From €22/person/night for a dorm bed and from €55/room/night for a 1-2 person private room.
Cope
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.
Go next
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.