Why you should visit Annecy- the mountainous gem of France

07.01.2019.

Spreading out in a convenient area between Lyon and Geneve, Annecy gives sweetness to the region of Auverne-Rhône-Alpe. Lake Annecy is a very clear, green lake and it’s anchored deeply between the mountains. Its makes Annecy so special as well as the streets intervowen through canals and colourful bridges.

The Sunday when I visited Annecy was a market day, so entire town was filled with clothes and food. It was different than what I’ve imagined of spending time in mountain with a view of the lake. The weather was also pretty cloudy.

Annecy deserves rambling through its streets and labyrinth of amazement as breathtaking capture awaits with every view. Thanks to its flowerish canals, Annecy is very similar to another French gem- Colmar in the fairy-tale region of Alsace. These are the places that deserve to be on the bucket list of France.

What to see & do

The widest perspective of the Old town is simply attractive. Let’s emphasize that Annecy-le-Vieux is another town in the neighbourhood. As I said above, Sunday is a day for market. Annecy itself is a very touristic place with lots of hotels, restaurants and nice shops, holding a nickname „the little Venice“. The town is pretty small with wonderful canals, fences full of flowers and the hill above leading to the castle.

The most picturesque edifice in Annecy is the Palais de l’Isle from 12th century, a castle that served as a prison. Representing the picture-postcard of Annecy, it lies on an island at the river Thiou. Today, it houses a local history museum inside. An interesting gallery shines adjacent an creates an additional attraction. This makes me believe life in Annecy goes slowly as on every edge something new and creative deserves the attention.

Annecy Castle

Chateau d’Annecy (Annecy Castle) is a museum blending together historic marvels and modern art. As it was home of the Counts of Geneva, it survived long history from the abandonment to becoming a museum. It’s also a host to the Alpine Lakes Regional Observatory. Even if you’re not vising the castle, strolling up and down will make you see Annecy in new light.

Love Bridge

Love Bridge (Pont des Amours) stays at the crossroad between the lake and the old town. Just settled near to the gardens of Europe, the bridge offers exquisite views to the boats, lake, treetops next to the canal. I can imagine the perspective of lovers, but Love Bridge is worth its perspective anytime. Though being just a bridge, its sweet position makes Annecy so attractive. Love Bridge stands next to the Gardens of Europe and thus it’s even more lovely.

Gardens of Europe are the public gardens, peaceful place to grab a snack. Or watch some cruising ship as there are many out there. Though the gardens used to have an impressive collection of trees up to the number of thousand, now there are around 250 various trees.

Imperial Beach

The public beach in Annecy or Impérial beach is a wonderful promenade, mostly in concrete. For total immersion with sport facilities and nightlife enjoyment, in the summer season it’s pretty popular. Unfortunately, it requiers a ticket to enter. As Annecy lake has plenty of beaches, it would be advisable to explore more nature resorts.

Events

The most popular happening in Annecy is International Animated Film Festival, happening in June already more than fifty years. Its importance signifies the international character and the best of animated world. The outdoor projections across the city are illuminated with final celebration, the awards event.

Annecy in summer is too crowded. Except the International Animated Film Festival Annecy is rich with events. In June, the festival Welcome to the gardens creates an incredible blossoming vibes within Gardens of Europe.

In summer happens Festival Les Noctibules, four days in July with jugglers, street performers all over the town and musicians. Festival of the Lake is in the August giving the spectacular firework show. Beside Love Bridge summer evenings on Sundays are filled with dance, from salsa to le roc.

October brings Italian Film Festival and Retour des Alpages which is dedicated to the animals coming from the mountains. It’s also very popular Venetian Carnival in February.

What Annecy reminds me of?

Landscape and town of Annecy remind me pretty much of Sirmione at the lake Garda. They both have castles, beautiful lake embraced by the mountain, tiny colourful streets with souvenir shops, hidden canals and excellent beaches. To find yourself at a place like this is to get lost from touristic highlights, to enjoy nature in thousand shapes, to take original scenes in front all of the senses. It’s a touristical but out of tourist site, something that will make you wonder of life.

Personal reflections about Annecy

The life is not to hurry away but to discover what is behind the next corner, what colourful shop or restaurant or taste of ice cream can take my attention. Life is to get lost sometimes. On places like these I would like to get lost.

Mountain sceneries somewhere behind can open the potentialities, the golden wire of success. We like to think that plenty of events or beautiful surroundings can make us what we are, but it’s all about discovery. It’s about being pleasant where you are and finding the sceneries to enjoy. Sometimes it doesn’t take much, only the fantasy. And few hills. Sometimes we need to come to the place like Annecy to discover the crystal clear lake. To discover that there’s more behind the curtain.

What I missed in Annecy

I’m sorry I didn’t visit mountain and see the view over the lake. That the weather was not so clear to enjoy more. I’m sure that if I would take paragliding trip over some place, I would take it here. Annecy is also very popular in this regard. Did you ever take a paragliding trip?

Turquoise waters sparkle from many different perspectives and make reflections of the colours in ourselves. Once I went to the mandala workshop lead by my friend at the seaside. I didn’t know exactly that it will be the colour therapy workshop. Discovering mandala in this way showed me the richness of myself, the richness of nature and shapes.

Discovering places like Annecy is a natural colour therapy. Discovering Annecy and its surroundings helped me to see what does it mean to be free and guided by colours.

Gorges du Fier

Gorges du Fier is a wonderful collection of canyons that I didn’t have a chance to go because it’s open only untill 15th of October. The season starts at 15th of March. Long bridges high above the river put the experiences and the views to something never taken. There’s also a castle in the closeness of this place, including a caffe bar at the entrance of Gorge du Fier. The proximity of Annecy makes an excuse to the visit as it’s only 20 minutes by car.

Culinary speciality

Be sure not to miss tasting the raclette, the speciality of Annecy. It’s actually a swiss speciality being brought about the melted cheese mixed with potatoes, dried meat or onions. I tried raclette at my friend’s place in Geneve.

Why to come back?

Surely I have plenty of reasons to come back to Annecy and I hope it will get realised soon. Seeing Mont Blanc in the distance from Geneve adds to the experience. So if you’re like me earning to win the fear, to find the fairy-tale, to see the crystal clear lake with thousands of wonders of nature- you’re at a right place. Not so far from Geneve, Annecy is quite reachable place and an excellent idea to visit.

Final thoughts

Annecy has something for every taste, from urban shopping style to deep nature of mystical charm and cultural sweetness. In Annecy you can’t go any wrong. I could easily spend a lifetime here in the shine of the sweet french paradise.

The moment I stepped into Annecy some profound mountain relaxedness embraced my way. I felt protected right away in the moment where all my questions are being answered right away. Annecy is quite a unique place where you will wonder where have you been before. To which place Annecy reminds you?