April 9, 2025, 12:43 pm | Read time: 5 minutes
Do you love Venice and France? Then we have a lovely travel destination that is still an insider tip: Annecy in the east of France. The picturesque Alpine town is sometimes referred to as the “Venice of the Alps,” and for good reason. TRAVELBOOK presents the French town of Annecy.
This quaint town seems as if lifted from a painting, with its labyrinth of cobbled streets and canals, charming old townhouses in pastel and vibrant hues, and a glittering lake set against the majestic Alps. Annecy, in the east of France and not far from the borders of Switzerland and Italy, is a wonderful place for anyone with a sense of beauty and romance or simply a love of France. Or even Venice — Annecy was declared the “Venice of the Alps” by Vogue a few years ago. It’s not just its beauty that captivates, but also its tranquil ambiance, offering a serene alternative to the bustling streets of Venice or the enchanting French capital.
Overview
An Old Town Almost Like Venice — Without the Crowds
With narrow canals meandering through Annecy’s pretty, colorful old town and under bridges adorned with flowers, the comparison to Italy’s romantic canal city is more than obvious. Even if the canal labyrinth in Annecy is very limited compared to Venice, the similarity is hard to overlook. The Thiou river, bathed in the soft glow of morning or evening light, sets the stage for truly romantic moments. Moreover, the sunset casting its golden hues over the shimmering Lac d’Annecy rivals the famed sunsets along Venice’s Grand Canal.
In addition to the world of water, Annecy’s cobbled old town streets of the Vieille Ville are a particular delight for residents and visitors alike. The labyrinth of narrow and wider alleyways and bridges leading over the waterways is dotted with cafés and restaurants in many corners. Many establishments spill out onto the streets with outdoor tables, inviting passersby to indulge in delicious Savoyard specialties and a variety of other culinary delights. There are also numerous boutiques, stores, and stalls, as well as the ever-present view of the snow-capped Alps in the background of the city.
Places of Interest in Annecy
Palais de l’Île
The medieval Palais de l’Île is Annecy’s photo motif par excellence. Perched in the middle of the Thiou, the house is accessible via charming footbridges that arch from the riverbank. In the past, the Palais de l’Île was a prison, a courthouse, and an administrative center; it also briefly functioned as a retirement home in the 19th century. It has been a listed building since 1900. According to the city’s Lac Annecy tourist website, the building is currently used as a drawing school for stonemasons and carpenters, as well as a gymnasium and accommodation, but is also open to visitors at various times.
Château d’Annecy
Towering above the town are not only the gigantic mountains but also, a little closer, the Château d’Annecy. The Counts of Geneva and Dukes of Genevois-Nemours once resided there. The Lac Annecy tourism website describes the château as a “synthesis of medieval defensive architecture and elegance, inspired by the style of the castles of the Île de France.” After several centuries as a residential building, this function was finally abandoned in the 17th century, and the château was used as a military barrack until 1947. It has been a listed building since 1959.
Nowadays, the Château d’Annecy is home to a museum that shows visitors changing exhibitions and collections on regional cultural heritage, lake archaeology, medieval sculptures, landscape paintings, contemporary art, and animated cinema, as can be read on the information page.
Lac d’Annecy
The lake of the same name is Annecy’s lifeline and an attraction in its own right. This alpine gem, spanning 27.59 square kilometers, was carved into the landscape over 15,000 years ago. Surrounded by snow-capped mountains, the clear lake glistens in the sun and is a source of peace and relaxation for residents and visitors alike. The bridge of love, the Pont des Amours, promises a particularly beautiful view of the town and the lake. Incidentally, legend has it that those who kiss on the bridge will stay together for life.
How Do You Get to Annecy?
Nestled about 42 kilometers south of Geneva, Annecy is a treasure waiting to be discovered. From there, buses and cars travel to Annecy within 50 minutes; a train journey takes around one and a half hours. From Paris, Annecy can be reached by train in just under four hours. Drivers from Germany need around four and a half hours to reach the French city from Freiburg im Breisgau.
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Annecy — a Hidden Gem with a Brutal Past
In addition to all the places worth seeing mentioned above, one clear advantage of Annecy is its lack of crowds. Annecy remains a hidden gem, free from the throngs of tourists, allowing for a leisurely exploration of its enchanting streets. If you want to do this, you should hurry up a little, as such pretty insider tips often only have a short lifespan.
Perhaps Annecy seemed familiar for reasons beyond its scenic charm even before you delved into this article. Annecy was, unfortunately, the scene of an extremely brutal quadruple murder over ten years ago, which was reported in the media. If you want to know more about it, here is the TRAVELBOOK podcast on the Annecy murders (in German).