Annecy

Annecy, often called the "Venice of the Alps," boasts a rich and complex history dating back to Roman times. Strategically located at the crossroads of important trade routes, the city developed into the significant seat of the Counts of Geneva during the Middle Ages.Subsequently, Annecy became the center of the Savoy Dukes, who established it after the Reformation as an important Catholic counterweight to Protestant Geneva. These eras significantly shaped the architectural and cultural face of the city.The Old Town, known as Vieille Ville, is a living testament to this era with its narrow streets, picturesque arcades, and the canals flowing through it. Prominent structures such as the imposing Château d'Annecy, once the residence of counts and dukes, as well as the iconic Palais de l'Isle, which dates from the 12th century and once served as a prison and courthouse, define the cityscape and tell tales of past power dynamics and daily life.It was only in 1860, with the annexation of Savoy to France, that Annecy definitively became part of the French nation, yet it preserves its unique Savoyard heritage in customs and regional identity to this day.

The Old Town and lakefronts are best explored on foot. The train station is a few minutes' walk from the Old Town. For longer distances, there are rental bikes, the bike path on the lake's west shore, and the Sibra municipal bus network. From spring to autumn, excursion boats cross the lake, stopping at lakeside towns.