Annecy in France .. What to see and do in the Venice of the Alps

Annecy in france

Annecy in France. What to see and do in French Venice

Author of the entry:Kucavanera family
Post publication:11/12/2019
Entry Category:France / Trips
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Table of Contents

Annecy in France

What to see and do in French Venice. The 8 best plans + Annecy special at Christmas + Annecy special in motorhome

Annecy in France, little Venice at the foot of the Alps

Annecy, France, is the gateway to the great French Alps and is often called the "Little Venice of France." It is undoubtedly one of the most beautiful medieval cities in the French Savoy region and one of the most historically significant in the area.

But above all, it's a city where harmony, beauty, tranquility, and nature permeate the air. Today, it combines this peace with a thriving tourism industry, as its appearance makes it one of the most beautiful fairytale towns in France.

A perfect city to visit on a 3-day bridge. Or to take advantage of a holiday of more days and combine it with the entire French Alps.

Annecy in France, what to see and do. The 8 best plans

1 Stroll through little French Venice. Emnanales

Annecy is famous for its beautiful old town, full of picturesque colorful houses with geraniums and flowers on their balconies, ancient cobblestone streets, and alleyways with low archways. But it's not only famous for that, but also for the canals that run through it.

That's why the city is also known as the Venice of the Alps or the French Venice. And not only because of its canals, but also because it adopted something else from Venice: the Venetian carnival, spectacular with handcrafted masks (around the end of February and beginning of March).

A stroll through the streets of Annecy's old town is a must . It's the liveliest part of Annecy, France, brimming with souvenir shops and restaurants. Depending on the day you visit, you might also stumble upon the market in the old town, where you can buy excellent local products. If the market schedule hasn't changed, it used to be held on Tuesday, Friday, and Sunday mornings.

One way to make sure you don't miss anything in the old town and during your visit to Annecy is to book a guided tour. We recommend this 4,5-hour tour departing from Geneva with Civitatis, a very comprehensive tour offering great value for money: Book your guided tour to Annecy here

2 Annecy lake in France

The image every French person has of Annecy in France is always the same: Lake Annecy surrounded by the imposing mountains at the entrance to the Alps. Mountains that are reflected in the clear, clean waters of this large lake, a result of glacial melt.

The lake covers 27 square kilometers and is one of the largest in France and among the clearest in Europe and the world. It is undoubtedly the main recreation and leisure center of Savoy, especially in summer.

The lake can be explored by road , a beautiful route full of incredible landscapes, small villages and must-see sights such as Duingt Castle and the Marais du Bot nature reserve.

So walking along the shores of this spectacular paradise lake is a must for this trip.

There are countless activities to enjoy on the lake. You can swim at its many beaches, rent a pedal boat or motorboat (half an hour, €15-€30), take a cruise and even have lunch on board (at the Libellule restaurant boat in Annecy ), stroll along the lake taking beautiful photos, admire the ducks and swans from the Lovers' Bridge, cycle along the bike path, or take a Segway tour along the shore of Lake Annecy in France (90 minutes, €50). Another popular activity in the area is paragliding over Lake Annecy from Forzclaz or Talloires, two nearby villages.

3 Annecy castle

Dominating the city of little French Venice, is the Annecy Castle, built between the twelfth and fourteenth centuries, a must-see not only for the interior of the castle but for the views that the place offers.

This spectacular monument is a fortress built by the Counts of Geneva on Mount Semnoz . In addition to the exterior buildings and the parade ground, visitors can explore the various rooms that offer a glimpse into daily life in a castle during the Middle Ages. The final part of the tour features highly interactive and engaging exhibits for children about the city, along with several art displays.

In another part of the castle, you can visit an exhibition on the flora, fauna and history of Lake Annecy. It is the museum of Archeology, where the regional observatory of alpine lakes is also located. Unfortunately we find aquariums with fish that we did not like too much out of respect for responsible tourism without animals.

Opening hours and ticket sales for Annecy Castle. The castle is open from 10:00 to 12:00 and from 14:00 to 18:00 from October to May, every day except Tuesdays. From June to September, it is open every day from 10:30 to 18:00. The standard admission price is €4.50 and the reduced price is €3. Admission is free for children under 12.

4 Palace of l'Ile

This is a typical image and photo of this beautiful city, one of the most characteristic monuments of Annecy.

The Palace of l'Ille de Annecy is a prison and courthouse built in the 12th century, located in the center of the Thiou, the most famous canal, at the entrance to the old city.

You can visit this curious prison every day, except on Tuesdays like the Castle. The hours are from 10:00 to 12:00 and from 14:00 to 17:00 between October and May, and daily from 10:30 to 18:00 from June to September. The price of admission is € 4 per adult.

5 Le Paquier, the gardens of Europe and the bridge of lovers of Annecy

Undoubtedly, Le Paquier, the Jardines de l'Europe and the bridge of lovers (ponts des amours) are three of the places where you should go for a walk, sunbathe or even have a good picnic.

The Gardens of Europe in Annecy is a large, green urban park located on the shores of Lake Annecy. It's a beautiful landscaped area, filled with enormous trees, such as sequoias, and on the blue lake of Annecy, you'll also find beautiful swans and ducks.

In the Gardens of Europe, you will find the Lovers' Bridge , over the Vasse canal, a place where it is said that those who kiss in its center will stay together for life.

Opposite the Jardins de Europa and in front of the Annecy tourist office we find Le Paquier , which ends up being an extension of parkland with lawns next to a beautiful canal full of original boats.

6 Festivals: International Animated Film Festival and Lake Annecy Festival

Little French Venice has two highly recommended festivals to visit.

Le Paquier, next to the Jardins de Europa, becomes especially special if you visit during the Annecy International Animation Film Festival (during June). Every night in these gardens, during the festival, they screen a free animated film that is sure to delight children and adults alike.

And another must-see in Le Paquier and the Jardins de l'Europe in Annecy is during the Annecy Lake Festival. During this festival, you can witness an incredible fireworks display, one of the most spectacular in France and Europe. The Lake Festival takes place annually on the first Saturday of August. If you can, don't miss it. Besides the fireworks, you'll also find all sorts of stalls and a lively atmosphere in the town center around Le Paquier.

7 Visitation Monastery

Undoubtedly, one of the most striking monuments of the city at the door of the French Alps is this sanctuary built between 1909 and 1930 next to the monastery of the Order of the Visitation. Today, the remains of its founders, San Francisco de Sales and Santa Juana de Chantal, are preserved in the church, making it a pilgrimage center. The most impressive feature is its towering tower, over 70 meters high. height, it is beautiful.

Visiting hours are from 7:00 a.m. to 12:00 p.m. and from 14:00 p.m. to 18:00 p.m. It is also a good place to have good views of the lake and the city.

8 Mountain routes through Annecy in summer or skiing in Annecy in winter

In Annecy you can do many excursions and routes.

In summer you can go hiking and contemplate the beauty of the lake through beautiful forests and hills. In winter you can go snowshoeing or skiing on the hills themselves.

Here are some proposals:

Walk practicing Hiking or mountain bike in summer or go to equine, tobogganing or snowshoeing in winter around the semnoz, where you can go by car, motorhome or camper to the large parking lot up to the peak and contemplate a great viewpoint of the lake and the Alps.
Do a short one hour trekking easy through the Gorges of Fier, located 10 km from Annecy. A route between footbridges installed by the throat. This excursion, but, you can only do it from April to September and it has a cost of entry of € 6 per adult.

Annecy special in France at Christmas. What to see in Annecy

Annecy Christmas Market

Annecy at Christmas has a beautiful Christmas market that you cannot miss.

The Christmas Market is located in the streets of the old town.

And of course, there you can enjoy the finest French Christmas sweets , chocolate crepes, the best French mulled wine , and even some delicious fresh oysters. A marvel of French gastronomy for those chilly Christmas nights.

Visual and musical Christmas show at the Town Hall

Another of the things you cannot miss in the little French Venice at Christmas is the light and color show with music from the Annecy Town Hall.

A beautiful free audiovisual show that takes place on the facade of Annecy's Town Hall, which our children loved.

Where to eat in Annecy in France

Typical gastronomy of the French Savoy

Gastronomy is always a key factor for any traveler, right? So we don't forget her on any trip. And even less being in France.

In Savoy there are typical products that you should not forget to try. The reblochon cheese is one of the most typical and with it the delicious tartiflette is made, a dish based on potatoes, onions, bacon, reblochon cheese and cream, all well au gratin normally served in a clay plate and which is delicious. You will see it in almost all restaurants, we recommend you try it.

Other typical recipes are fondues, a classic of French gastronomy, as well as savory and sweet crêpes. Of course, in France you don't eat badly.

Annecy Restaurants

We recommend you let yourself go through the streets of the old city and go to any of the restaurants. There are more expensive and cheaper, of all kinds.

What we advise you is to ask for the lunch menu or the dish of the day. And remember that if you want to save something, ask for tap water ("a cagaf do", as I write it as it is pronounced).

Where to sleep in Annecy

Annecy in motorhome

Annecy has a free, fully serviced area for motorhomes . It was here that we were lucky enough to spend the night in our motorhome.

The motorhome area of Annecy is only 10 places (of which 5 at least were people living permanently from what we saw), a miracle to find a place. Now it is a good area 15 minutes from the center on foot, for a great walk around Lake Annecy and in front of a beach on the same blue lake, for summer.

If you're going to the area in winter, the water will be closed due to freezing temperatures, so remember to fill your water tank beforehand. In that regard, if you're going in winter, check out this post on what not to do in a motorhome in cold and snow; it will be helpful: Driving in a motorhome in the snow: What you should never do!

The GPS coordinates for the free motorhome area in Annecy are: 45.890682, 6.138803 . Click on the coordinates to open the map.

There are also car parks on the same road as the motorhome area of Annecy and closer to the center where you can stay overnight, the only bad thing is that they are paid and some have a height limit.

Alternatively, as a free option for parking and sleeping in a motorhome , and also just 10 minutes from the center of Annecy, there is another charming place to park. This is the parking lot of the Monastery and Basilica of the Visitation of Annecy , which I mentioned earlier.

The GPS coordinates for this free alternative parking in Annecy, France are: 45.892799, 6.127000 . Click on the coordinates to open the map.

A part, if you want the comforts and services of a campsite in Annecy you have the Annecy camping, a municipal camping called de Belvédère, a 20-minute walk from the city center. The Annecy campsite is closed from October to March, so call ahead for anything or check their website: http://www.annecy-camping-municipal.fr/

Hotels in Annecy France

As with the restaurant theme, there is a wide range of hotels, hostels, hostels and apartments for tourist rental.

At the hotel level we always look for them on Booking or other platforms to book hotels.

In Annecy, a hotel can cost between € 60 and € 150, if you book in advance you can certainly get a good price.

If you are interested in us when we travel by car and hotel, we always do so by searching these platforms:

Requirements to travel to France that you must take into account

What documentation should I bring to France?

If you are Spanish, the only documentation you should bring is your current ID, since France is within the European Union. Remember that minors under 18 years of age, who are not obliged in Spain to have ID, must do it beforehand and take it during the trip.

What documentation should my dog bring to go to France?

If you travel with your pet, you must carry his animal passport. This is like an animal health card that serves internationally. It will be issued by your trusted vet for around € 30 to € 50.

Apart from that passport, your animal must have a certificate from the vet that it is vaccinated against rabies and is older than 6 months.

Do I have to carry travel health insurance?

In France, you can travel with the European Health Insurance Card (EHIC). If you have any problems, you can go to a French hospital with it and receive free treatment. Remember to apply for the card about three months in advance, as it sometimes takes longer, especially during the summer months. You can apply online through the social security website.

On the other hand, travel insurance never hurts since it not only gives you private medical coverage in any country, but you have benefits at the level of theft or loss of luggage or any other mishap on the trip.

If you're interested in travel insurance, our top pick is Intermundial, which we usually use when we travel. They're also offering a 20% discount on travel insurance if you book using the coupon code KUCAVANA.