Annecy – Country Roads of France

Annecy, in the Haute Savoie, is a pleasant town on the northern end of the Lac d’Annecy. Take a stroll around the old town and you’ll quickly see why this town has earned itself the tag of Little Venice. A network of canals and bridges adorned with beautiful floral baskets criss-crosses the narrow streets and here and there a medieval tower reminds you that the town has an ancient heritage.

In the 1600s and 1700s, Annecy became important because of the beginning of the reformation and counter-reformation movements. Political philosophers travelled the area to debate the roles of church and state and the area became the powerhouse of political thought that really changed the face of the Europe.

If you have limited time here, it’s worthwhile having a quick view of the environs by taking a 1 hour boat tour on the lake to Talloires and back. Buy your ticket at the kiosk to the left of where the boats are moored, and make sure you choose one with English commentary. You could choose to do a dinner or lunch trip in one of the bigger boats, we saw one getting ready to leave, but we haven’t heard any reports on the quality. As you’ll see on the way round, the Annecy locals sure enjoy their fishing!

After the boat tour, wander around the winding cobbled streets of Annecy by following the canals. You can’t miss the 12th century Palais de l’Isle, which is a little prison in the middle of the Thiou canal (there’s a cafe inside its courtyard). Also hidden in the narrow lanes are churches from the 15th and 17th centuries, and plenty of cafés and restaurants to keep yourself going while you enjoy the ambience of the place. Try some Reblochon cheese or Tartiflette which is the specialty here.

See our photos from Annecy here

Helen