Annecy owes its nickname of "Pearl of the Alps" to its geographical location combined with the beauty of its medieval architecture. At the foot of the Semnoz mountain, on the shores of Lake Annecy with an exceptional panoramic view of the Bauges and Aravis massifs, Annecy offers a setting worthy of the most beautiful postcards. The historic center of Annecy borders the lake and opens onto the large Pâquier esplanade, where the annual Fête du Lac is held in early August. Popular with tourists, "Little Venice" evokes Italian Romanticism, with its canals and sluices regulating the course of the Thiou and the level of the lake. Built on a natural island, the Palais de l'Île is one of France's most photographed monuments. The castle overlooking it offers one of the best panoramic views of the old medieval town and the shores of the lake. A very active cultural center with a high-quality environment, Annecy is a city in bloom, with regular traffic congestion - a victim of its tourist success - and a constant incentive for visitors and residents to use public transport and bicycle paths to enjoy its best features. It's one of the most attractive tourist towns in the Alps. Greater Annecy was born of the merger of 5 inter-municipalities in the Annecy basin: Annecy-le-Vieux, Cran-Gevrier, Meythet, Pringy and Seynod. Annecy is now one of France's largest agglomeration communities, bringing together 34 communes and home to a quarter of Haute-Savoie's population!

What to visit Annecy?

When to go to Annecy?

There is no off season in Annecy. The city is alive all year round and each season has its own charm. Small budgets should avoid the summer when accommodation and restaurant prices soar. It is difficult to find a place to stay during the weekend of the lake festival, at the beginning of August, unless you book well in advance. The International Animation Film Festival in June is also very busy, but to a lesser extent. Fall and spring are the low season with the most affordable rates. Fewer tourists, but still cultural events and all the tables and stores open. In summer, Annecy is a seaside resort inviting to nautical pleasures and hiking along the banks. In winter, the reflection in the lake of a snow-covered mountain setting creates a very special magic. You can visit the city in a down jacket and furry shoes before sitting down to a Savoyard fondue. This is also the season when Annecy is a chic and remote base camp to test several ski resorts in Haute-Savoie.

Weather at the moment

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Weather all year round

Between two alpine massifs, Annecy is subject to a mountain climate softened by the presence of the lake. With this microclimate, winters are cold but not harsh, summers hot but not hot. At an altitude of about 450 m (lake level), the city records an average of 26 days of snow per year, 1,900 hours of sunshine, 900 mm of rain, 30 days of storms (late summer), 25 days of fog (winter). Temperatures range from 0°C in January-February to 27°C in July-August.

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Annecy travel inspiration

Pictures and images Annecy

Les berges du Thiou - Annecy UOLIR - FOTOLIA
Le Palais de l'Ile à Annecy JUDDER - FOTOLIA
Château médieval d'Annecy. Maximastudio - iStockphoto
Le Lac d'Annecy. Arseniy Rogov

Discover Annecy

When to travel?

There is no off season in Annecy. The city is alive all year round and each season has its own charm. Small budgets s...
Read more about it

Weather forecast

Between two alpine massifs, Annecy is subject to a mountain climate softened by the presence of the lake. With this m...
Read more about it

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