Annecy

Annecy is a commune in the Haute-Savoie department in the Rhône-Alpes region in south-eastern France. It lies on northern tip of Lake Annecy (Lac d'Annecy), 35 kilometres south of Geneva.

A popular tourist resort. With the Alps in the background and the lake in the foreground, Annecy is a well know destination. There are many festivals and traditional events throughout the year, such as the Transhumance, which is a colourful parade with the cows, sheep and goats returning from their summer pastures.

Sights in Annecy include:

  • The Palais de l'Isle, also called the "old prison", was built from the twelfth century. Taking up most of the island in a canal, it is the symbol of the town and is among the most photographed monuments in all of France.
  • The Château d'Annecy (Annecy Castle) was the home of the Counts of Geneva and the Dukes of Genevois-Nemours, an offshoot of the House of Savoie (12th-16th century). Today the restored castle houses the Art and History Conservatory of Annecy and the Regional Office of the Alpine Lakes.
  • The Cathedral of Saint-Pierre, built in the early 16th century as a Franciscan friary, was the cathedral of François de Sales and is home to a number of artworks and baroque pieces from the nineteenth century.
  • The rue Sainte-Claire and its romantic arches date from the 17th and 18th centuries.
  • The rue royale, with its numerous shops, gardens and the fountain of Saint Jean is the heart of the commercial and political activities of the town.
  • The money workshop of the Genevois now houses the Musée de l'Histoire d'Annecy.
  • The church of Saint-Maurice, originally constructed as a church of the Dominican order, has a flamboyant gothic style of the 15th century, and houses some very memorial interesting paintings from the 15th and 16th centuries.
  • The European Gardens, made just after the annexing of Savoie in 1863, where one can admire the very rich and diverse vegetation.
  • The Pont des Amours (Lovers' Bridge), a beautiful example of the iron architecture typical of the 20th century.
  • The Impérial Palace, inaugurated in 1913, with its public gardens, its beach and its casino.
  • The Basilique de la Visitation, built in the 20th century, home of the tomb of François de Sales and Jeanne de Chantal, offers a magnificent view of the town and the agglomeration.