‘The Venice of the Alps’: Inside France’s little-known medieval village that’s filled with canals

• Annecy, a town in the French Alps, offers year-round cultural events and activities.
• Visitors can enjoy skiing and exploring historic sites like Château de Menthon-Saint-Bernard.
• This article is part of “Undiscovered Europe,” a series exploring overlooked travel gems.

Set at the foot of the French Alps beside a storybook village, Lake Annecy’s crystalline color seems to shift with the sky — brilliant azure in sunlight, electric blue under clouds, and tinted green amid rainfall. It’s so striking that Paul Cézanne immortalized it in his now-famous 1896 painting, “Lac d’Annecy.”

Alongside the lake, enchanting canals wind through Annecy’s pastel-painted medieval old town, earning it the nickname, “the Venice of the Alps.” With cobbled side streets, stone bridges, and a palace perched on a tiny island, it all feels lifted from the pages of a fairy tale. You just have to know it’s there.

“While Annecy is fairly well known as a holiday destination throughout France, it is only little known to other Europeans and virtually unknown to non-Europeans,” said Jürgen Kursawe, a tour director for EF Go Ahead Tours.

“The Alpine surroundings combined with the many canals flowing out of the lake give it a particular charm you cannot really find anywhere else in France,” Kursawe said, who has been visiting Annecy for the last 20 years, both personally and in his capacity as a tour guide.

Annecy embraces a robust calendar of culture year-round

Tucked within the French alpine region of Haute-Savoie near the Swiss border, Annecy draws sports enthusiasts in winter who stop en route to ski Le Semnoz, La Clusaz, Le Grand Bornand, and ritzy Chamonix. In warmer months, the lake comes alive with boat rides, rowing, and water skiing, and nearby, paragliding, hiking, and cycling are all popular.

Annecy also hosts multiple festivals throughout the year. In March, masked figures in colorful costumes parade through the town for the Venetian Carnival, a nod to the city’s similarity to Venice.

The International Animation Film Festival occurs every June. It is the world’s largest and most prestigious animation event, bringing together artists and fans from around the globe to honor the art form in all its varieties. The event is also held in tandem with the Market for International Animation Film, a conference where industry professionals network and collaborate.

Later in the summer, in August, Annecy welcomes the Fête du Lac, a fireworks show commemorating the 1860 annexation of the Savoy region to France.

Then, in the fall, the folk festival Retour des Alpages marks the annual return of herds of animals from their pastures in the mountains to their stables down in the valley. The event, held each October, includes a parade of animals that clomp through town alongside folk music, dance troupes, locals decked out in traditional garb, and traditional Savoyard foods to taste. In November and December, the city puts on an annual Christmas market. Visitors can also check out the town’s three weekly farmers’ markets that occur year-round.

“There is always something going on,” Kursawe added. “Concerts, shows, or communal outdoor activities — you will never be bored.”

8 Things to do in Annecy

• Visit a medieval castle. Sitting atop a hill on the eastern side of Lake Annecy, Château de Menthon-Saint-Bernard is believed to have inspired Walt Disney’s Sleeping Beauty Castle. Visitors can tour the castle, which remains a family residence that has been occupied for nearly 1,000 years with “beautifully-restored interiors,” Kursawe said, alongside extensive artifacts, paintings, and historical exhibits.
• Enter a former jail. The Palais de l’Île is a historic building dating back to the 12th century. It was also once a courthouse and prison. “The most photographed spot is definitely the view of the Palais de l’Île from the middle of Pont Perrière,” Kursawe said. “The Palais is also beautifully illuminated at night.”
• Get outside. Visitors should explore The Gorges du Fier, a beautiful footpath on the side of a deep gorge with the river meandering down below, just a 20-minute drive from town. “It’s not for the weak at heart,” Kursawe said. He added that travelers can also hike or bike around the lake or in the surrounding mountains, kayak or kitesurf, golf at Échavrines, or paraglide around the Tournette Mountain. In the winter, La Clusaz, a ski resort, offers plenty of lifts and downhill ski trails, while Semnoz is a smaller ski area for beginners and families with children.
• Go back in time. The Écomusée of Sevrier is a museum that reveals what life was like around the lake in the 19th century, with immersive, kid-friendly programming for families.
• Seek out Annecy’s spiritual side. Annecy has many historic churches that travelers can visit, including the Cathédrale de Saint Pierre, as well as the Basilica of the Visitation, where the remains of Saint Francis de Sales and St. Jane Frances de Chantal are buried.
• Admire a secret garden. Tucked between two alpine lakes, Jardins Secrets is “a true hidden gem of horticulture,” Kursawe said. “If you are a gardener or simply enjoy flowers and plants, do not miss the Jardins Secrets, near Vaulx.”
• Explore a nearby village. According to Kursawe, “The small village of Talloires already hosted several celebrities like Mark Twain, Winston Churchill, or more recently, Bruce Willis. Why not visit its abbey or enjoy lunch here?”

• Savor a meal. For traditional fare, Kursawe’s pick is Salle des Gardes or Le Freti. “My recommended dish in both is the Tartiflette, a hearty local dish of potatoes, onions, bacon, and cream, gratinated with reblochon cheese.” He also suggests Quai No 10 for “a savory crêpe for lunch, locally known as galette;” Les Caprices d’Émilie for “the most amazing baguette sandwich to-go;” and Glacier des Alpes, which is “the favorite among locals for home-made ice cream.”

When deciding where to stay, Kursawe is keen on Annecy’s most stately offering, the Impérial Palace, facing Lake Annecy. The palatial hotel has welcomed famous politicians and royals and is renowned for its casino, spa, and grand dining. “Many of their rooms have balconies overlooking their private park and the lake,” he said.

Other reputable options include the boutique hotel Le Pélican, which features poolside and terrace views of the lake and mountains, and Allobroges Park, a more affordable option with “nicely furnished, air-conditioned rooms, with an excellent location in the Old Town,” Kursawe said.

Wherever you stay, Annecy promises to deliver an alluring slice of French life that’s easy to enjoy.

“If you enjoy cozy small towns, a bit of walking, some outdoor activities, and good cuisine, then Annecy is your kind of place,” Kursawe added.

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