Annecy, France

We visited Annecy on our very first trip to France close to 30 years ago. We spent an afternoon there, loved it, and hoped to return again one day. Our first visit was in April, and it was a perfect time to visit; just a few tourists, the weather was mild and the snow-capped mountains in the distance were magnificent. When we visited last month, like my post last week about Monet’s Garden, it was also very crowded with tourists. C’est la vie.

Annecy is a beautiful city located on Lake Annecy, with canals weaving through the old town, ornate footbridges, medieval buildings and soaring mountains in the distance. There is also a castle nestled on a hill above the old town with stunning views of the lake below. The city dates back to the 1st century AD when the Romans built a settlement here due to its location on an important trade route between Geneva and Milan. Annecy has an extensive history which I won’t go into (click here if you’re interested), but it wasn’t until 1860 that it was incorporated into France.

The focal point of the old town is Palais de L’Îsle. Dating back to the 12th century, it was built to serve as a minting workshop. There are ancient coins on display along with information about the minting process, which occurred in two rooms on the ground floor. One room was used for melting and processing the metals, the other was used for secure storage of the newly minted coins.

Its primary purpose however, was judicial, and it was used as a courthouse for over three centuries. It also served as a prison on several occasions over the centuries, including during WWII. It changed hands on numerous occasions, and in 1900 was listed as a national historic monument.

Tickets for Palais de L’Îsle are just 5.00€. There was no line when we visited, and just a few other people in the building. Thus it was a nice break from the crowds.

We also visited Musée-Château d’Annecy during our stay. Built between the 12th and 16th centuries, it is an interesting mix of medieval and renaissance architecture. It was the residence of local dukes and counts for many years before falling into disrepair in the 17th century. In 1953 ownership was transferred to the city, and it was turned into a museum. Here you’ll find an interesting mix of classical and modern art.

Entry fees run about 6.50€ with reduced rates for groups and students. We purchased our tickets in advance, although the ticket line wasn’t too long, and there were not many visitors in the museum, so this is another place in Annecy where one can avoid the crowds. Click here for more details.

L’église Notre-Dame de Liesse was another stop during our stay. Built on the foundation of an ancient oratory, construction began in 1360 with the sanctuary being consecrated in 1398. It endured much damage and destruction over the centuries and was rebuilt in 1846.

Wandering through the maze of streets and canals, over bridges (or selfie central as we called them) made for some nice photo opportunities.

Of course, we had some delicious meals during our stay. This region of France is known for Tartiflette, a rich, creamy potato dish made with reblochon cheese, lardons and onions. Luckily, the restaurant where we enjoyed this dish had a vegetarian version. Fondue is also a popular dish in this region, which we enjoyed as well.

Even though Annecy was quite crowded, we are glad we visited again. It truly is a lovely city with much to do. In addition to the few places we enjoyed, there are activities on the lake, including boat rentals. It is also a popular destination for winter sports.

If you would like to know where we are at the moment, check out theTravelsketcher’s posts which reflect our current travels.

As always, I would love to hear from you and your thoughts on Annecy.

Wishing you grand adventures,

Tricia