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Annecy, France --
Haute-Savoie
Where is it?
Annecy is a beautiful city located in Haute-Savoie at the foot of some breathtaking mountains. It is well known for the lake with crystal blue water and its historic old town with canals that flow through the city. Because of the canals, Annecy has achieved the name "Venice of the Alpes", making the ambiance of the town even more lovely than it naturally is. In Annecy there are so many things to explore: the castle, the old town, the lake, the local cuisine, and the neighboring mountains. It is easy to go on a hike starting from the city center or head out for a day on the slopes!.
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How to get there?
It is located an hour and 15 minutes from Chamonix, the home to the highest peak in the Alpes, the Mont Blanc. The town is easily accessible from Paris, in 3 hours and 45 minutes with a direct TGV (high speed train), as well as Geneva, Switzerland, which is 1 hour and 30 minutes away by train.
A glance of the canal, that connects to the lake, from one of the many bridges in the old town.
The place for outdoor adventures, all year long!
Prepare yourself not only for the views that will take your breath away, but also the climbs! The rocky landscapes in the mountains around Annecy make for hikes with a nice leg work out, or a nice arm workout if climbing is more your style.
There are countless outdoor activities that contribute to Annecy being a popular tourist destination. You CANNOT miss this city when in the region. Not only can you visit the city, learn about its rich history, and eat delicious food from Savoie (read about my favorite Savoie food here), but you also have direct access to water sports, hiking, rock climbing, winter sports, and all other mountain related activities.
Annecy is the perfect place to spend time in the mountains, even without a car. There are multiple trails that start close to the city and provide incredible views of the Bauges and the Bornes mountains. During the summer when the cows have returned to the mountains you'll often run into a herd along the trail!
Refuge du Parmelan
Prefer flying high above the lake to catch those nice sunset views? Well it's also the place for that. I've seen many people hike up the mountain and glide down, instead of making the return on foot. Pretty incredible way to spend the day if you ask me, it's also quite incredible to watch them drift silently from the ground.
If it is a little too cold for a hike and you see the snow up on the peaks, there are plenty of ski resorts in the area, most can be accessed without a car! The nearest resorts are La Clusaz, Le Grand Bornand, Manigod, Saint Jean de Sixt, Semnoz and La Sambuy.
Well I hope I've convinced you to put Annecy on your travel bucket list!
Because of its location, Annecy is so easy to access by train from Italy, Switzerland, and anywhere in France. If you need info about how to get around France on a budget or if you need a car to get somewhere check out my blog post about how to navigate French transportation here!
La Clusaz
Le Semnoz
Lac d'Annecy
CHeck out my blog posts about Annecy!
