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Annecy

Tourism, holidays & weekends guide in the Haute-Savoie

Annecy - Tourism, holidays & weekends guide in the Haute-Savoie
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Capital of the Haute-Savoie, Annecy is a city of Art with a magnificent architectural harmony. Walking around Annecy old town is a real delight. With its charming canals, its flower-bedecked banks, its small delightful bridges and its beautiful houses with colourful facades, Annecy carries really well its nickname of Savoyard Venice. How pleasant it is to stroll along its canals or walk around the lovely narrow pedestrian streets!

In the heart of the old town, the Île palace, a former prison and the Palais de Justice (law courts), is today home to the Annecy History museum. Near this symbolic building of the 12th century, the Sainte-Claire street is also an unmissable place during the visit for its beautiful arcaded houses. Towering over the town, the museum-castle, former residence of the counts of Geneva and the dukes of Genevois-Nemours, is dedicated to archaeology, ethnology, art, history and alpine lakes.

To complete this beautiful visit, there's nothing like a walk on the edge of the magnificent Annecy lake. Not to be missed! The Europe gardens, the Amours bridge spanning the Vassé canal, the Albigny avenue lined with plane trees and the Champ de Mars are magnificent sites great for relaxation. For the best way to discover the lake and surrounding mountains, visitors can take a trip on tourist boats or hire pedalos and small motor boats.

Additional information
Annecy

Annecy:

Pearl of the French Alps or Venice of the Alps, there is no shortage of laudatory names to name The capital of Haute Savoie, the metropolis is famous for its lake and the majesty of its places. Surrounded by the sumptuous Bauges and Bornes massifs, the town is at the entry point to the lake's lock. The landscape alternates between plains and wooded hills, massifs bristling with conifers and the lake bordered by extraordinary nature. It is in this magnificent setting that the city extends mainly over the plains.

Perched at an altitude of 446 meters, Lake Annecy is the second largest natural lake in France and the first lake in Europe for the purity of its waters.

An important Gallo-Roman city, Annecy was already called the Rome of the Alps when it took strong positions in the Catholic Reformation. It became the residence of the Counts of Geneva in the 12th century and was definitively French on March 24, 1860 when Savoy was annexed by France. A history rich in twists and turns, a strong culture and an exceptional natural environment make Annecy an exceptional place. A multitude of activities and leisure activities are within your reach.

Annecy-le-Vieux:

Its surface area is 1,700 hectares, including 300 hectares of municipal forest, 1.7 km of the edge of the Annecy lake, 11.7 km of the edge of the Fier torrent, 25 km of cycle paths.

Cran-Gevrier:

The town of Cran-Gevrier takes place in Haute-Savoie. Located in the suburb of Annecy, it is located in the heart of the Alps, on a hill. Also bordering Poisy or Chavanod, it benefits from an exceptional natural setting.

Dynamic and inventive, the locality enjoys great notoriety in the region, in particular thanks to its economic and tourist development. Populated since Roman times, the site was once occupied by a villa. Today, the town of Cran-Gevrier welcomes a large number of visitors wishing to discover the historical heritage of the Savoyard city. Its proximity to Annecy also gives it cultural influence. The numerous cultural events offered throughout the year also make Cran-Gevrier a success.

Pringy:

Former small town located north of Annecy, Pringy is a pleasant town with a mountain climate. Located in the heart of Haute-Savoie, it takes place on the ancient road to Geneva, bordering Argonay and Annecy-le-Vieux.

Pleasant, Pringy benefits from its proximity to Lake Annecy, which gives it an environment full of charm and a slightly mild climate. Its pleasant landscapes and green spaces earned it two flowers in the competition for towns and villages in bloom in France. Close to the Swiss border, the location is ideal for exploring the rest of the region or a very close neighbor.

There is no shortage of leisure activities, and in addition to outdoor and sporting activities, the town of Pringy offers the possibility of admiring an interesting architectural heritage based on old stones and monuments in the style typical of this part of the Savoy.

Seynod:

Seynod, neighboring Annecy and its lake famous for the purity of its waters, is located at the crossroads of the main routes to Paris, Switzerland, Italy and Germany. Located to the southwest of the Annecy metropolitan area, Seynod stretches at the foot of the Semnoz mountain, facing west, over 10 km long.

The territorial and demographic expansion of Seynod was favored by the merger with Vieugy in 1965 and with Balmont in 1973. This association merger was transformed into a full merger on July 1, 1997. Seynod currently has nearly 18,000 inhabitants.

Thus Seynod was transformed into a town in its own right with urban and industrial facilities. Today, nearly 1,000 companies or businesses are located in economic activity zones. Living the economy well is a priority for the locality of Seynod. Covering an area of approximately 24 hectares and located to the southwest and partly along departmental road 1201, the Périaz district will allow the creation of new housing, businesses and jobs.

Finally, Seynod has a real town center, a center of life. This is made up of two squares, the Town Hall and Saint-Jean, articulated around the Paseo de Malgrat de Mar. These two squares, as well as the avenue de Champ Fleuri are animated by numerous shops and services. proximity.

The administrative center opens onto the Town Hall Square. The town hall, the Media Library, the Polyèdre and the Auditorium are therefore very easily accessible.

Things to see and do

Annecy:

Among the highlights of Annecy, the lake is undoubtedly one of the most popular natural sights. Several beaches, sand or grass, you will enjoy the sweet season. Young and old will find their happiness both for a game of beach volleyball and to play a game of petanque furious. You will also have a picnic area. At night, a nightclub opens its doors to dance until the end of the night in this magical setting. But Lake Annecy also allows water activities from the quietest to the most sensational. You can rent pedal boats or go wakeboarding. Three marinas and mooring area are available where you can enjoy boating. Finally, many walks around the lake are on the program.

To discover this beautiful landscape from another point of view, you can embark on your choice on a catamaran, on old wooden boats or on a private boat for an unforgettable cruise on the lake. The immense expanse of water is also discovered by gyrocopter, hot air balloon or even microlight airs.

But Annecy is also a city of art and culture. Starting with its castle classified as an historic monument. Home of the famous counts of Geneva, the immaculately preserved building now houses a museum and ephemeral exhibitions. The imposing building combines a defensive style of impregnable fortress with the refined charm of the Île-de-France buildings. The visit continues with the old prisons of the Palais de l'Isle. Initially toll zone on the Thiou, the building quickly became alternately a prison, an asylum or a court, today to house the splendid exhibitions of the Center of Interpretation of Architecture and Heritage. In addition to the exhibited collections, you can visit the cells at the water's edge, the chapel and several rooms at various destinations.

During your walks in Annecy, you will be led to discover many old houses having kept all their stamp as the Gallo house of Italian influence of the eighteenth century or the hotel de Sales, residence of the Princes of the House of Savoy. The religious heritage is not left behind with the St. Peter's Cathedral dating from the sixteenth century. Built in the old Annecy, the building is of Renaissance style outside and Gothic style inside. Among other remarkable wood carvings, you can admire an organ over 7 meters high, classified as an historic monument.

Cran-Gevrier:

Cran-Gevrier is not lacking in tourist interest, thanks to its historical monuments.

Built in the place of a Romanesque church dating from the 11th century, the chapel of Gevrier is today the oldest religious monument of all around Annecy. Disused in the 1970s, it was renovated in 2010. You can also enjoy other religious monuments like the church of Pont Neuf in 1936, the church of St. Genevieve des Bressis, the Sacred Church heart of Mosinges, beautiful example of sacred art of Vatican II, or the beautiful church of the Annunciation in Vallon. Built in the 1970s, it has a beautiful Neo-Gothic style.

The statue of St. Joseph, which dominates the district of Sous-Aléry, or the grotto of Notre-Dame-de-Lourdes, built because the area had been protected during bombings in 1943, are also interesting.

Old fortified house of the fifteenth century, the castle Alery formerly allowed to monitor the roads of Rumilly and Chambery. Very old, the original building served as a farm in the Gallo-Roman era before being fortified in the eleventh century. The majority of today's remains date from the 15th and 16th centuries. You can still admire a farmyard, quadrangular houses, or even a portal point.

Pringy:

Listed as a historic monument for its facades and roofs, the castle Promery is a former stronghold of the fourteenth century. Outside, one can discover a main building flanked by square towers, while inside several portraits of René Favre, Marie de Villaret or Vaugelas, are exposed. The Château de Monthoux, also an old fortified house, is also worth a visit.

Of Sardinian neo-classical style, the Saint-Maurice church was originally built in the 15th century in a Romanesque style. Partly destroyed in the mid-nineteenth century, it has seen its architectural appearance strongly modified. One can appreciate a beautiful statue of Saint Michael Archangel of the fifteenth century. The windows of the choir, which notably show Saint Maurice in warrior dress, are classified as Historical Monuments.

Seynod:

City where life is good, Seynod has many cultural facilities (media library, music school) and sports to ensure a comfortable life for its people. Cinema and entertainment fans will be able to enjoy themselves in the Auditorium, while sportsmen will practice their favorite sport in one of the structures (gymnasium, tennis club), through numerous hikes on the trails, horseback riding or well go relax at the nautical center L'Ile Bleue with its wellness and fitness area.

On the associative side, Cap Périaz Espace Jacques Besson is a quality equipment that can accommodate associations, individuals, and companies for conferences, forums or exhibitions. This space comes in complementarity of the already existing places of welcome as the Saint Martin room and the house of Malaz.

Different shopping centers.

Trails, fitness trails, lookouts...

Equestrian centers.

Leisure activities

Last nameActivity typeRateCity
Themed Escape Game
Entertainment24 € Annecy
Bike hire on the shores of Lake Annecy
Sports sensations12 € to 20 € Annecy
Canyoning trip to Annecy's most beautiful spots
Sports sensations50 € to 65 € Annecy
Year-round canyoning with an expert guide
Sports sensations45 € to 90 € Annecy

Places of interest

Information points
Leisure centres
Monuments
Natural sites
Performance halls
Transport

Events and festivities

Annecy:
Annecy-the-Old:
Cran-Gevrier:
Pringy:

Every year in September, Pringy organizes an interesting mineral and fossil exchange.

Seynod:
MaXi-Race du lac d'Annecy
Festival International du Film d'Animation

Detailed information

International Animated Film Festival
The worldwide gathering for film buffs and cartoon fansFrom 9 to 15 june 2024
Annecy Venetian Carnival
Mystery and beauty of the Venetian carnivalFebruary 2025

Photos

Lake of Annecy
Lake of Annecy
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Annecy - ​​Old Town (© Fabienne Gevaux)
Annecy - ​​Old Town (© Fabienne Gevaux)
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Sails on Lake Annecy (© Jmsattonnay)
Sails on Lake Annecy (© Jmsattonnay)
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Old Town of Annecy
Old Town of Annecy
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At the lake edge of Annecy (© Jmsattonnay)
At the lake edge of Annecy (© Jmsattonnay)
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Annecy - ​​Town Hall Square, Saint-Maurice Church and Castle (© Jmsattonnay)
Annecy - ​​Town Hall Square, Saint-Maurice Church and Castle (© Jmsattonnay)
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View of Annecy-le-Vieux
View of Annecy-le-Vieux
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Seynod - Beauregard Boulevard
Seynod - Beauregard Boulevard
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Boats on Lake Annecy (© Jmsattonnay)
Boats on Lake Annecy (© Jmsattonnay)
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Walk along the Avenue d'Albigny at Annecy
Walk along the Avenue d'Albigny at Annecy
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Annecy - ​​Church of the Italians (© Fabienne Gevaux)
Annecy - ​​Church of the Italians (© Fabienne Gevaux)
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Annecy - ​​Old prisons (© Fabienne Gevaux)
Annecy - ​​Old prisons (© Fabienne Gevaux)
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Annecy - ​​The Imperial (© Fabienne Gevaux)
Annecy - ​​The Imperial (© Fabienne Gevaux)
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Annecy - ​​Manège du Pâquier (© Fabienne Gevaux)
Annecy - ​​Manège du Pâquier (© Fabienne Gevaux)
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Annecy - ​​Bridge of Loves (© Fabienne Gevaux)
Annecy - ​​Bridge of Loves (© Fabienne Gevaux)
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Annecy - ​​Lake from the gardens of the Imperial (© Fabienne Gevaux)
Annecy - ​​Lake from the gardens of the Imperial (© Fabienne Gevaux)
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Market day at Annecy (© Jmsattonnay)
Market day at Annecy (© Jmsattonnay)
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Venetian carnival of Annecy (© Fabienne Gevaux)
Venetian carnival of Annecy (© Fabienne Gevaux)
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Venetian Carnival of Annecy
Venetian Carnival of Annecy
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Lake of Annecy
Lake of Annecy
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Old Town of Annecy
Old Town of Annecy
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Old Town of Annecy
Old Town of Annecy
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Old Town of Annecy
Old Town of Annecy
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Lake of Annecy
Lake of Annecy
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Lake of Annecy
Lake of Annecy
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Annecy - ​​Castle view from Bosson Park (Imperial)
Annecy - ​​Castle view from Bosson Park (Imperial)
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Annecy, the Venice of the Alps
Annecy, the Venice of the Alps
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Annecy - ​​Water and flowers (© Jean Espirat)
Annecy - ​​Water and flowers (© Jean Espirat)
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Lake of Annecy
Lake of Annecy
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Seynod - Town center square
Seynod - Town center square
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Seynod - City Hall
Seynod - City Hall
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Seynod - Arcaloz
Seynod - Arcaloz
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Seynod - Kiosque of the city center
Seynod - Kiosque of the city center
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Seynod - Seagull roundabout
Seynod - Seagull roundabout
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Seynod - Old Seynod Festival
Seynod - Old Seynod Festival
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Seynod - Grand Open Festival
Seynod - Grand Open Festival
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Seynod - Grand Open Festival
Seynod - Grand Open Festival
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Seynod - Old Seynod Festival
Seynod - Old Seynod Festival
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Annecy - ​​Blow Up Festival
Annecy - ​​Blow Up Festival
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Sévrier - Festival Coup de theater
Sévrier - Festival Coup de theater
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Visits, leisure and activities nearby

Restaurants

Bed & breakfasts

Vacation rentals

Campsites

Hotels

Your holidays
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