Annecy mountains. The French resort town of Annecy, Haute-Savoie. When is the season. When is the best time to go

Annecy is a unique turquoise reservoir, a natural phenomenon of amazing beauty. Filled with the purest drinking quality water, the lake is located in the Haute-Savoie department, France. Annecy in French is Lac d "Annecy, so the name is often spelled Annecy. A natural reservoir is almost as beautiful and popular as its larger neighbors - Lake Geneva and Lac du Bourget.

Where is the amazing lake?

Geographic coordinates of the natural reservoir: 45 ° 51 ′ N 6 ° 10 ′ E The city of Annecy is located on its northern coast. In France, this settlement with a population of over 50 thousand inhabitants is considered the administrative center of Haute Savoy. Another nearest town is Crans-Gevrier. Lake Annecy is located 145 km from Lyon, the capital of the Rhône-Alpes region. The road from Paris to the east, to the Alps, runs through this large city. The natural body of water is located 80.5 km south of Geneva, Switzerland. The road is laid in a beautiful area, it is framed by snow-capped mountains and sunny valleys.

How to get to the city and the lake of the same name

Annecy is from many French and trains and buses leave. There is an option to get from via Aix-les-Bains by rail. From the Swiss city you need to take the train towards Haute-Savoie, France. Annecy has a modern multifunctional railway station, combined with a bus station. Another travel option from Geneva is to drive your own or rented car. The train from Paris takes 3 hours 30 minutes, from Lyon to Annecy Central Station - 1 hour 50 minutes. The station has parking and buses that go to nearby ski resorts as well as to major cities in the region. There is a direct bus from Lyon airport to Annecy.

In this charming area, tourists can stay in comfortable hotels, of which there are more than 40, rent chalets, rent apartments. The north and west coasts in different eras were built up with villas, castles and cottages.

Lake Annecy, France. Origin

A stunning lake with crystal clear water lies at the foot of the Alps, surrounded by mountains and forests. The calm surface reflects the magnificent landscapes. The Annecy Basin owes its origin to ancient glaciation and tectonic movements. During the last cooling of the climate 18-19 thousand years ago and the subsequent melting and retreat of the alpine glaciers, grinding, erosion of stones and sand, filling of gorges and lowlands with melt water took place.

The main characteristics of the lake:

absolute height - 446.6 m;
length from north to south - 14.6 km;
width - 3.3 km;
the average and maximum depths are 41.5 m and 82 m, respectively.

Natural features, climate

All France, including Annecy, lies in a temperate climate zone with sufficient moisture. In summer, during the beach season, the air in the lake area is 25 ° C, the water heats up to 22 ° C. In January, the average water temperature reaches 6 ° C. Precipitation falls evenly throughout the year, there are fogs. Snow and frost are rare.

Seven main streams and mountain springs play an important role in the water supply of the lake. When filling the basin, part of the water goes into the Tiu River, which merges with the river. Fie. That, in turn, carries its waters further into the Rhone, which flows into the Mediterranean Sea. The eastern and northern shores of the lake are protected by mountains. There is enough warmth and moisture in the region for trees, shrubs and flowers to thrive. The lake itself is home to over 20 species of fish, and wild animals are found in the forests on the coast.

Ecology and tourism

Clean air, vineyards and orchards - all this is provincial France. Annecy is the most ecologically safe corner of the country. Stories about an unusual turquoise lake are not a publicity gimmick. The water has a truly striking blue hue, thanks to the special composition of the phytoplankton.

A strict ban on the discharge of industrial and municipal wastewater into the reservoir was introduced in 1960. Since then, the lake has grown in popularity as a beach destination. People come to Annecy all year round, but most tourists prefer summer. Here they fully enjoy swimming in the purest waters, fishing, horseback riding. From the Napoleon III embankment, tourists go on a boat trip along the beautiful lake. Other leisure options:

cycling routes along the perimeter of the lake (40 km);
nearby alpine ski resorts;
thermal towns and spa;
mini golf courses.

The city of Annecy, France. sights

In a quiet provincial part of eastern France, the spirit of medieval romance still hovers. The city of Annecy is a network of narrow cobbled streets, canals and bridges. Three rivers flow through the old part, some houses stand right on the water, which was the reason for comparing the city with Venice. Tourists enjoy walking along the lake and around the city.

Translation guides and detailed tourist maps help solve the problem of what to see in Annecy. France is a country that cares about its rich historical and cultural heritage. The Palais de Lisle castle was declared a part of it. Outwardly, the main architectural landmark of the city resembles the bow of a ship. From the moment of its appearance in the XII century, the building served as a prison, a mint, then it was transferred to the Foundation cultural heritage France. The castle hosts exhibitions, organized excursions to see the former casemates. Other popular Annecy attractions:

the building of the former private hotel de Sal, built at the end of the 17th century;
well of st. Jean;
bell tower of the 16th century;
the former town hall;
the Cathedral of St. Maurice, the patron saint of Annecy, erected in the 15th century;
Church of St. Francis;
statue of the Catholic patron saint of journalists and writers Francis de Sales;
St. Peter's Cathedral, built in 1535;
the former bishop's palace, which now houses the conservatory;
bridge of love.

Connoisseurs of antiquity, lovers of beach and active rest on the water, skiing admire the city and the lake for which Haute-Savoie, France is famous. Annecy was chosen by the Catholic bishop Francis de Sales, who fled from Geneva during the Reformation. This was the first wave of travel to the lake at the beginning of the 16th century. Francis was accompanied by a retinue from the cultural and religious elite of Europe.

Nowadays, the reservoir has gained fame as a prestigious resort. Colorful festivals and holidays attract the attention of tourists. One of the main ones is the annual lake festival. During it, a magnificent pyrotechnic show is organized.

Annecy has a history of several millennia. Due to the presence of lakes, the first settlements in this place arose as early as 4000 BC. The city's name comes from the Latin Annesium. It was first mentioned in letters in 867 under the emperor Lothar. It is from this date that the current history of Annecy begins.

The first city in this place was founded by the Romans in the middle of the 1st century BC. and was called Bute. From X to XV century. A. was the residence of the Counts of Geneva, in 1401 passed to Savoy, and with it in 1860 to France.

Starting from the 11th century, the new city, called "New Annecy" in contrast to the old "Annecy le Vieux", began to develop under the protection of a castle on the Thou Canal. Numerous artisans settle around the canal, using the driving force of the river for their work.
In the 13th century, a count of Geneva settled here, in the 15th century the city passed into the possession of the Dukes of Savoy.

Reformation in Geneva in the early 30s of the 16th century, forces the bishops of Geneva to move to Annecy, where the headquarters of the Geneva diocese will also be located.
In 1602, the accession of Francis de Sales to the office of bishop strengthens the religious and intellectual orientation of the city, which by that time had become a small Catholic citadel in relation to the Protestant Geneva.

Jean-Jacques Rousseau

The unrest of the late 18th century and the first annexation of Savoy to France in 1792 ushered in an era of industrial change, gradually transforming the city into an industrial center. After the period of the First Empire, there was a dynastic strengthening of Maison de Savoie, marked by a kind of conservatism. In 1720, the Maison de Savoie region, which remained Sardinian, became royal after the King of Sardinia was crowned by the Dukes of Savoy.
After the annexation of Savoy to France in 1860, nascent tourism led to a dramatic change in the city's landscape. Tourism has an additional impact on the development of urban activities.

Since the beginning of the 20th century, tourism and industry have been actively developing in the city, and the number of Annecy has increased dramatically.

The city was a candidate to host the 2018 Winter Olympics, but lost to the city of Pyeongchang in South Korea.
Annecy was going to host the 2011/2012 Biathlon World Cup stage, but due to the complete absence of snow and warm weather, the stage was moved to Hochfilzen.

Now it's time to start the story from the beginning.

And in general there were some problems with a full-fledged vacation for travel: the minimum that fell out, we preferred to spend on sports. But we objectively missed a good and interesting trip.

And so we decided to take a ride in France, including all my dreams in a week's vacation: the Alps not in winter, the Cote d'Azur and Provence. In general, of course, for all these areas, the second half of September is perhaps not the best choice, since the meadows and lavender have faded, the sea is no longer a bathing sea, but ... it was decided so decided))) At the same time, the dream was mine, but here is the idea of the route - no, the more interesting it is when you fulfill your dreams not yourself, but someone else for you))

Preparing for the trip

Having chosen a convenient week with the seizure of all the weekend, they began to look for tickets to Lyon. We decided not to be greedy and watch flights, first of all, for convenience. And it so happened that convenient options with a departure on Saturday early morning and return on Sunday evening were found at a very humane price.

We decided to book the accommodation according to the situation: we only hung up the reservations for the first and last nights in advance, since we had to return to the airport of departure, where it was clearly not worth traveling from afar. Well, first, so as not to suffer from the road in search of the Internet and housing. And right before leaving, we found a cool place for the second night, we stopped at this for now, as we assumed that there would be adjustments along the route one way or another. We used booking and ostrovok for booking.

The car was found on the recommendation of friends. No matter how I dreamed of driving a ridiculous refrigerator on Fiat500 wheels, prudence won out: despite the fact that we traveled together and lightly, we were afraid that the booger would not pull out the fierce serpentines, and ordered a more powerful diesel engine, again, a little bit of fuel savings, which is from the European the price of gasoline, especially with such a course, was not superfluous. Yes and specific model rental offices never guarantee, so instead of a stylish refrigerator, I didn’t want to get a similar class, but nondescript pukalka.

And of course, descriptions and maps were also loaded from the preparations, and we also found a very convenient feature - Navitel maps for rent. It was expensive to buy, but it was quite reasonable to rent by country.

They decided not to rely on the promised navigation in the car.

Well, everything is ready, you can go.

Road

The first part was described with a run ahead, and now we return to the Zurich airport, where we sit watching the planes take off right into the mountains - apparently, the situation here is not easy for the pilots.

Now our turn has come, they take us by bus and take us to ... I have never experienced this before. The maize is called Dash 8-400, the information sign says it is quiet, but it is never so.

In general, I'm not afraid to fly, but this ... it rattles, makes noise, in general, the hour flight to Lyon brought so much stress. And even on such a short segment, they did not feed, they did not even give a snack ((in general, as a person very sensitive to pressure drops, I understood the deep meaning of food on board - so that it would not be so sausage. thrown into the bag.

Nevertheless, everything is clear, everything is on schedule. We got our luggage from such a tiny airplane pretty quickly, and then we went to the rental car. At Lyon airport, all this is done very competently: a circular shuttle runs between the terminals and rental cars, each stop is a separate rental. We were lucky - we got off the bus first and hardly waited - we got the keys pretty quickly.

We got the Mazda 6. Everything we ordered - diesel, navigation (it came as a gift in our order option, we had Navitel, but looking ahead, I will say that this thing came in handy anyway).

The car is very nice, stuffed with all sorts of options that we have not tried before (warning about a hindrance on the right and other similar buns - very nice). And a pen. How I missed her! At home, it’s clear that I don’t even think about a manual box, since this is masochism in our traffic jams, but still, you get a real thrill from driving only on the handle!

There was one caveat - in the description of the kotsok they confused left and right, but figured it out, entered everything, learned how to return the car at 5 am, sorted out the controls and hit the road. We were reluctant to go on toll roads, so Navitel took us around the airport, but then we nevertheless drove onto the road in the direction of Annecy - the place of our first overnight stay. At the same time, they turned on the standard navigation, but it completely hung - I could not find satellites. I must have been stupid half the way.

And we drove through pretty small towns, saw ancient fortresses.

Finally, we got hungry.

And here we ran into a problem: there seemed to be the inscription "restaurant" on the way, but everything was closed, and not seasonally, but, apparently, permanently. I had to go to the ubiquitous McDuck ((

And our road became more and more picturesque. We rounded Lake Bourget with yachts and luxury hotels on the shore and turned east.

Finally, we reached the town of Annecy. The road with a detour of the toll highway took decently, about 3 hours. The average speed because of the towns and serpentines was not high, but the path was very pleasant.

First evening and first day. Annecy. City and lake.

We drive through the city and drive along the lake to the hotel.

Choosing a place for the first night, we really wanted to have a good view. The town itself is full of accommodation, but we booked a hotel in the suburb of Annecy - Annecy le Vieux, right on the lake.

The hotel is called Marina Bay
The hotel has its own parking lot, and this, of course, was also important to us. We left the car and checked into the room. The room was overlooking the lake in the upper attic floor. Everything is pretty, but very cramped. And then they celebrated for the first time, and then they faced it more than once: there is very little light. Perhaps I am such a lover of bright lighting, but somehow I wanted at least one brighter mirror.

Leaving our things, we went for a walk. In general, the maps showed that the center of Annecy was a couple of kilometers away, but we were tired of the car, especially since the path lay along the shore of a beautiful lake - it's a sin not to take a walk!

The first step was to go ashore, where, apparently, invisibly various floating facilities. Water sports are very common here. There was a sign for a wakeboarding school right on our pier, but we saw a bunch of skating boats, and they were all with skiers. Apparently, everything is like with winter shells: the French are conservative and prefer skis to all boards)

The path to the center is beautiful: the blue waters of the lake, the mountains surrounding it, in the distance on the mountain the majestic Basilica of the Visitation and a wonderful sunset!

The whole journey took us about 20 minutes, which is very, very little. Until we got there, it began to get dark, lights lit up in the city and painted it into a pleasant warm light.

This place is very ancient: the first settlements appeared here 2.5 thousand years BC, but the city that has survived to this day was founded in the 12th century.

From the main street that runs along the lake, we turned into alleys and plunged into the medieval atmosphere. Old houses, a canal, a bubbling river and flowers everywhere - there is just some incredible amount of them: on the windows, on the bars, on the embankments, on bridges. It's a sight for sore eyes!

And there are very, very quiet corners where there is not a soul, but there are places where people - both locals and tourists - congregate. This is the very heart of the town and its main "postcard" view - the castle on the island - Pale l "Ile... This amazing building was a prison, a palace of justice, and now there is a museum.

In search of dinner, we walked around a couple of blocks, finding a table on Saturday night was not such an easy task, and this is in the obviously non-tourist season. As a result, we sat down in a wonderful restaurant in an old house on the river bank. There were no empty seats inside, and we, like true walruses, landed on the veranda, where the heaters were turned on for us, and the cool September evening became very warm. Wine and cheese fondue made him even warmer and more beautiful)

We also went back on foot. The path was, of course, cool, but still close and pleasant.

The next morning we had breakfast at the hotel. Unfortunately, we did not manage to sit on the beautiful summer veranda overlooking the lake, it is still cold in the morning, but the breakfast itself was very pleasant and satisfying, although we had doubts afterwards ... At least you can sell your soul for the freshest croissants)) )

After breakfast we checked out of the hotel and drove to Annecy by car to check it out. While leaving, we noticed several fire trucks and guys wearing bright leggings.

We left the car in a paid parking lot near the center and realized that our car was one of the largest here)

Several millennia ago, numerous lakes with clean life-giving water gave life to the settlement that received the name, or as it is also called Annecy (Latin Annesium). The official foundation date is 876, when the village was first mentioned in documents created during the reign of the French emperor Lothar.

At various times, the city was the fiefdom of the Counts of Geneva (X-XIV centuries), the Dukes of Savoy (XV century), after the Geneva reforms, bishops moved here and the headquarters of their diocese was settled (30s of the XVI century), which significantly increases religiosity population and allows raising education to a new level. In parallel, the city is expanding, a castle is being built, and many craft workshops are formed in the Tew Canal area.

Myrabella

Annecy became the object of attention of Jean-Jacques Rousseau: in his work "Confession", published in 1765, he described the quiet and modest life of a small town, similar to life in the countryside. However, since the end of the 18th century, a number of events have taken place leading to the industrialization of this place, and a century later, a tourist infrastructure begins to build in the city, which subsequently affected all types of activities that existed at that time.

Annecy received more active development at the beginning of the last century, population growth and the pace of construction of industrial enterprises increased, and tourism became one of the key sectors of the area, which has something to show and offer to discerning travelers.

Temples and palaces of ancient Annecy

Such a rich historical experience and the participation of many original nationalities in the creation of the city simply could not but affect its appearance. Among the sights of Annecy in France, legendary architectural monuments are famous, each of which has its own fascinating history. If you are visiting, be sure to check out Annecy! The list of the most popular of them includes such masterpieces as:

Palais de Lisle Island Palace;
Annecy Castle;
Church of St. Francis de Sales;
Cathedral of St. Petra
Church of Saint Maurice and many other monuments in the vicinity of the city.

St. Peter's Basilica in Annecy Martin Stone

It is believed that to visit the city and not take a photo at the palace on the island is a waste of time. The structure was built in the XII-XIII centuries on a small island in the middle of the Tew Canal, which flows between the lake and the Fewer River. The originality is that during its construction every centimeter of the island was used, the structure repeats its shape, so one of the facades looks like the bow of a sailing ship. The building was conceived as an office for collecting fees when crossing the bridge, then its quality factor, and the fact that it is surrounded on all sides by water played a role - it became a good-quality prison. However, a century later, the same qualities prompted the community to get rid of the casemate and create a mint in the palace. The building has been a residence for the nobility, an almshouse, an orphanage, a drawing school, a gymnasium, a palace of justice (in fact, that is why it still bears this proud name, despite its quite mundane functions). Finally, a city bath was almost built in its place, but the beginning of the twentieth century was a period of revival of the ancient palace, it began to be protected as a historical architectural monument.

Palace of the Old Golden Island - Palais de Lisle in France Frans Berkelaar

Unfortunately, the Second World War made these walls remember the groaning of the prisoners, it again became a prison, but after the war it did not lose its popularity. At the end of the last century, it was restored a second time and still enjoys the sympathy of travelers.

City castle complex

Built in the 12th century in the capital of the County of Geneva, Annecy Castle received the status of a count's residence, as befits a building of this type. Its foundation was a fortress that stood in this place for about four centuries. Fires raged in it several times, but the castle was always restored. During the period when it was owned by the Dukes of Savoy, the most beautiful tower of the Perrier complex was erected. The defensive capacity of the fortress improved, which, however, did not prevent the French army from seizing it at the beginning of the 17th century, turning it first into a barracks, then into a warehouse.

Silex

In the end, the abandoned castle became a haven for the poor and homeless. The black stripe for him was interrupted only in the middle of the last century, when he was taken under protection as a historical monument. The buildings were put in order and today an interesting collection of the museum is located here, which invites visitors to enjoy the unique spirit of the exhibits that have a long history. The area around it was transformed, it was surrounded by many beautiful squares, restored, though not so large, but no less interesting historical sights. The castle walls offer a panoramic view of the city of Annecy and a picturesque view of the lake of the same name.

Check out the beautiful places of Annecy in this great video!

Attractions Annecy: Alpine Venice

This is what Europeans often call this city, and they are partly right. Three rivers and many canals, houses surrounded on all sides by water, involuntarily refer us to the Italian miracle on the water. Considering the colorful photographs of the sights of Annecy, France and many European countries, they assessed the town with an apt expression, calling it “the most beautiful French village”.

View of Lake Annecy in Dingy France

An enviable competition for the architectural delights of the settlement is Lake Annecy. Its picturesque surroundings delight many tourists who, having once visited here, return to admire the beauty of the lake again and again. Travelers are offered almost three thousand hectares of crystal clear water surface 15 km long and up to 3 km wide, surrounded by incredibly beautiful slopes and cliffs covered with forests. It is considered the cleanest body of water in the world, because it owes its origin in ancient times to the glaciers of the Alps, the melt waters of which have filled and continue to replenish the bowl from small mountain rivers and streams.

Dmitry Dzhu

On the shores of Annecy, a beach holiday is organized for residents of the city and its guests, because the air temperature in July-August reaches +27 degrees, and the water warms up to +24. The abbey on the shore of the lake, where the monks used to live, has been converted into a comfortable hotel. The beginning of August is marked by an influx of tourists who want to enjoy an interesting holiday, accompanied by fireworks and water shows.

Annecy romantic spots

The small town just breathes romance, thanks to medieval architecture, picturesque streets and parks. This feeling is also emphasized by the Pont de Amour - the bridge over the canal, where the lovers make appointments. Couples strive to pass along it different generations, those who have the whole love story yet to come, and those who have something to remember for a long and happy life together.

Pont de Amour - a meeting place for couples in love Dingy

In 1863, not far from the junction of the canal and the lake, an English-style park was laid out, which was called the "Garden of Europe". Visitors are simply mesmerized by the unique landscape design, sculptural compositions, amazingly beautiful vegetation. You can find out about the origin and type of trees by the information plates for each of them. An island has been created in the park lake, where snow-white swans live and tourists can enjoy their majestic beauty and grace. The park itself has several attractions, for example, the first sundial with a gnomon - a column invented by the Capuchin monk Father Arsen - has been preserved on the embankment.

Resting place in the park of Annecy Guilhem Vellut

Often, excursion routes that are formed in Geneva, Grenoble, Lyon include a visit to Annecy. But, having set foot on the streets of this city, many tourists prefer to stay here for a few days, fortunately, this desire is facilitated by the whole environment: many comfortable hotels, cafes, restaurants, casinos that will solve the problem of accommodation, food and evening entertainment. Well, in the afternoon in Annecy there is always something to admire.

The town of Annecy stands on the shores of the lake of the same name, in the eastern part of France and about fifty kilometers from the Swiss border. This place, seemingly unremarkable in nothing, has earned resounding fame among tourists from all over the world. Travelers rush here to stroll through "the most beautiful village in France" and have a bite by the water, surrounded by carnivally catchy flowers that literally adorn the entire center of Annecy. Well, a photo against the background of the Island Palace is an obligatory attribute, without which a trip to Annecy is simply unthinkable. Annecy is called the "Venice of Savoy": the town is pierced by many canals and streams that originate in the lake. And the Michelin guide gives this small town as a tourist destination three full stars.

How to get to Annecy

The easiest way to get to Annecy is not from French territory, but from Geneva. Regular buses run here about 5 times a day on Sundays, and even more often on weekdays. Travel time is about an hour. The nearest international airport is also in Geneva, and it is just over half an hour's drive from the new expressway to Annecy. A little further are the airports of Lyon and Grenoble, but even from them it takes no more than an hour to go. Annecy also has its own airport; it only accepts flights from Paris. In addition, Annecy can be reached by direct train from Paris or Lyon (railway station right in the center of the town).

Search for flights to Geneva (nearest airport to Annecy)

Annecy weather essentials

A bit of history

It's hard to believe it now, but Annecy was once the main city of the Duchy of Geneva. After the French Revolution, Savoy went to France along with Annecy; after the restoration of the Bourbon dynasty, for some time the city belonged to the kingdom of Sardinia, but then it was again sold to France as part of Savoy in the second half of the 19th century.

Guides in Annecy

Annecy entertainment and attractions

Annecy is the Alpine beauty without Swiss-Alpine prices and the opportunity to admire the lake surface against the background of snow-capped peaks without the need to stay in luxury hotels in the absence of others. On the other hand, there is a cute, premium medieval entourage with cobbled lanes, canals, boats and old houses in the center. The pedestrian area in the Old Town of Annecy is charm itself, and of course, it is always crowded with people. Round Italian wells, embankments, mansions and churches - on the whole, everything looks very harmonious, especially strewn with crimson and purple flowers of potted plants.

6 things to do in Annecy:

Take a walk along the rue Saint-Clair with its romantic arcades from the 17th and 18th centuries.
Throw a coin into the Saint-Jean Fountain on Royal Street in the heart of the modern city.
Kiss on the lovers' iron bridge.
Take the same photo against the background of the palace.
Eat Italian ice cream in one of the pedestrian streets. It would be supposed to eat a brioche or something like that, but the locals prefer the Italian ice cream parlors as one - and they know what they are doing.
Find the shop of Jean-Jacques Gamblot, a florist artist. This place is truly capable of capturing the imagination, even if you are not going to buy anything - just look at the entrance to the store.

The medieval castle on the hill occupies a more or less central position in the city. It was built, according to rough estimates, around the 12th-16th centuries; the Counts of Geneva and the Dukes of Savoy lived here. The castle burned several times, in the 17th century it was abandoned by the owners and then used as military barracks until the end of World War II. But then the city bought and restored the chateau, and today there is a museum of popular Alpine art there. His collection includes many sculptures and paintings by local authors, as well as furniture from the 15th century, a photo archive and models of Alpine chalets. The oldest part of the structure of the castle is the powerful Queen's Tower, built in 12; its walls are more than 4 m thick. An observatory is now open in the tower. And the terrace in front of the castle offers a charming view of Old city Annecy.

Annecy does not have any authentic urban souvenirs, but there are many shops and art shops of local artists, sculptors, ceramists, and so on.

The notorious 12th century Annecy Island Palace, generally speaking, does not look very much like a palace. Although it was indeed built on an island in the Thiou canal (in fact, the palace occupies the entire area of the island) and really served as the residence of the Geneva counts. Subsequently, this powerful fortified building was used as a prison and as a court, and today it houses a tourist office. The sharp stone corner of the Island Palace, which cuts into the water of the canal, flanked by houses on the neighboring embankments is the most famous view of Annecy.

The Bridge of Lovers is as replicated as the Island Palace, although in comparison with it it is a pure remake. It is considered obligatory to walk along the bridge, but it looks prettier from a distance, with colorful boats in the foreground and a lake surface framed by willows in the background. Local artists know about this and from the very morning they place easels on the embankment of the canal leading to the bridge.

Annecy Cathedral was built in the 16th century as a Franciscan chapel. This explains the rather modest appearance and small size of the cathedral. The church received its cathedral status only in 1822. Nevertheless, inside there is a very good organ by Nicolas-Antoine Lethe, the royal master, created in the 40s. 19th century.

There are a lot of tourists in Annecy, really a lot. And do not be deceived by the pastoral charm of a provincial town: there are also, alas, enough pickpockets here. At all iconic points (especially at the castle and on the bridge overlooking the Island Palace), it is better to take good care of your pockets.

Another noteworthy church in Annecy is the Roman Catholic Church of St. Maurice, the oldest in the city. Initially, in the first half of the 15th century, it was built in the Gothic style as a Dominican chapel. In the interior of the chapel, there is a remarkable painting of the 15th century, which is to the left of the choir: it creates an optical illusion of three-dimensionality. And another interesting church is dedicated to Our Lady and built in the neoclassical style. The church is distinguished by a rectangular clock tower from the 16th century with three rows with ten beautiful Gothic windows. The church is easily recognizable by the gilded statue of the Virgin Mary crowning it.

Popular hotels in Annecy

Annecy Events

In April, the city hosts a cozy farming festival, great fun for the whole family. June hosts a six-day Animated Film Festival and July a 4-night Blues Night Festival. The most crowded gathering awaits guests of the city on the first weekend of August: the Lake Festival with magnificent fireworks that attract more than 100,000 spectators annually. And in October, the second Sunday of the month, the Alpine Harvest Festival is celebrated with folk music, food and entertainment.

Annecy neighborhood

Lake Annecy is the pearl of the French Alps and the Savoy region. Its length is about 17 km, its depth is about 45 m; the water here is one of the cleanest in Europe, dark, like in the sea, and the air is amazingly clean. With its small size compared to Lake Geneva, all the opportunities for recreation for every taste are created here: picturesque towns on the coast, sports centers, nice beaches, first-class restaurants, many hiking and cycling trails. A regular bus, departing from Annecy, goes around the lake, and this journey becomes even more pleasant with a rented car.