Annecy sits at the northern tip of a turquoise Alpine lake, with canals running through an old town of arcaded houses painted in soft colours. It belonged to the Duchy of Savoy until 1860, and its counts, bishops, saints and writers left plenty of stories behind. Here are the facts and stories that make the town special.
10 fun facts about Annecy
- One of Europe's cleanest lakes: from the 1960s, the towns around Lake Annecy built a sewer ring that keeps waste water out of the lake, and it is now often described as one of the cleanest lakes in Europe.
- France's second-largest natural lake: Lake Annecy is the second-largest natural lake lying entirely within France, after the Lac du Bourget.
- The Venice of the Alps: the river Thiou, which drains the lake, and the Vassé canal flow through the old town, which is why Annecy is nicknamed the Venice of the Alps.
- A prison on an island: the Palais de l'Île, built in the 12th century on a rock in the middle of the Thiou, has served as a lord's residence, a mint, a courthouse and a prison. Today it houses an exhibition on the town's history.
- French only since 1860: Annecy was part of the Duchy of Savoy, later ruled from Turin, until the Treaty of Turin handed Savoy to France in 1860.
- A bishops' town by accident: when the Reformation took hold in Geneva in the 1530s, the bishop of Geneva had to leave, and his successors governed the diocese from Annecy. The Cathedral of Saint-Pierre, built in the 16th century as a Franciscan church, became their cathedral.
- A famous first meeting: in 1728 the teenage Jean-Jacques Rousseau met Madame de Warens in Annecy, a meeting he later described in his Confessions. A memorial near the cathedral marks the spot.
- A capital of animation: the Annecy International Animation Film Festival, founded in 1960, is one of the oldest and biggest events of its kind in the world.
- The castle of the counts: Annecy Castle, above the old town, was the residence of the counts of Geneva and later the dukes of Genevois-Nemours. It now houses the town museum.
- One town from six: on 1 January 2017, Annecy merged with five neighbouring towns, including Annecy-le-Vieux and Seynod, which more than doubled its population.
Saint Francis de Sales, the bishop who never reached Geneva
Francis de Sales was born near Annecy in 1567 and became bishop of Geneva in 1602. Because Geneva was Protestant, he lived and preached in Annecy instead, and became famous for his gentle sermons and his writing. In 1610 he and the widowed Jane Frances de Chantal founded the Order of the Visitation here, a community of nuns that spread across Europe. Both were later declared saints, and their relics lie in the Basilica of the Visitation on the hillside above the town. Francis is now the patron saint of writers and journalists.
The Pont des Amours and the lakeshore
Legend says that couples who kiss on the Pont des Amours, the little bridge over the Vassé canal, will stay together forever. The bridge links the tall trees of the Jardins de l'Europe with the Pâquier, a long lawn along the lake where people picnic and watch the sun set over the mountains. From the bridge you can look down the canal at the moored wooden boats.
What to eat in Annecy
- Tartiflette: potatoes, onions and bacon baked under a whole Reblochon. It was popularised in the 1980s by the region's Reblochon makers.
- Reblochon: a soft washed-rind cheese from the Aravis mountains near Annecy, with protected designation of origin.
- Fondue savoyarde: a pot of Savoy cheeses melted with white wine, shared with cubes of bread.
- Féra and omble chevalier: freshwater fish from the lake, often cooked simply in butter.
- Génépi: a herbal liqueur made from Alpine wormwood, served after a heavy mountain meal.
Good to know before you go
- A flat cycle path runs along the western shore of the lake, and renting a bike is one of the best ways to see it.
- In summer, come early in the day: the old town gets crowded by midday.
- For a view over the whole lake, go up to the Semnoz or the Col de la Forclaz, where paragliders take off.
- The Fête du Lac, with fireworks over the water, is held in early August. Viewing areas along the shore need tickets, so book ahead.
Explore Annecy with World City Trail
Our Annecy scavenger hunt turns these sights into a game you play on your phone. The route links 10 stops and takes around two hours, with about 18 minutes of walking. Stops include the Pont des Amours, the Palais de l'Île and the Cathedral of Saint-Pierre.
At each stop you solve a puzzle and hear a short story, at your own pace. You can start whenever you like.
Play the Annecy scavenger hunt →
Facts checked in October 2026.