Traveling from Lyon by TGV train for 2 hours of soaking up more beautiful scenery and nice cool air to one of the most beloved cities in France, Annecy (Venice of the Alps).
Truth is I had never heard about this charming city until my brother-in-law and his wife enlightened me about Annecy. They lived there for years and traveled around France, so they know the country well. My husband and I are so excited to make a trip to Annecy and voila, here we were!
Annecy is located in the Rhone-Alps region on the banks of the lake that bears its name, in the northern French Alps, 50km north of Chambery, and 40km south of Geneva (Switzerland). The city is internationally known for the beauty of its harmonious landscapes, but also for the quality of the lake water, thanks to the conservation efforts for over 50 years, making it the purest lake in Europe. This pure, clear water escapes from the lake, and flows into the channels that run in the "old town" (historic center of Annecy), which gives it, its picturesque nickname of "Venice of the Alps".
In this locale, you can enjoy a wide range of sports and cultural activities, in summer or winter. Water activities (swimming, sailing, water skiing, diving), cycling (with a secure bike lane along the lake over 40km long), as well as mountain activities (hiking, biking, via ferrata, canyoning, paragliding). Overlooking the city, the medieval Château d’Annecy, once home to the Count of Geneva, contains a museum with regional artifacts such as Alpine furniture and religious art, plus a natural history exhibit.
Regarding cultural activities, they are numerous: museums, castles, tours, exhibitions to discover... In fact, the town of Annecy has been awarded the coveted "Art and History" label. I give credit to Visit Annecy (france.fr) for such an incredible source!
Not to miss in Annecy
Le Chateau d'Annecy
The Château de Clermont
The Castle of Menthon Saint Bernard
Castle Ruphy Duingt
Castle Montrottier
The Church of St. Francis De Sales
The Church of St. Maurice
Notre-Dame de Liesse
The Basilica of the Visitation
The Pont des Amours
The Old Prison of Annecy
The PACCARD Museum
The "World Heritage" Annecy Lake
The Living Museum of Annecy Lake
The Imperial Palace
From Annecy, you can easily take a day trip to Chamonix-Mont Blanc, Lyon, or hop on a bus or drive a car to Geneva, Switzerland in only 45 minutes! We took a day trip to Chamonix-Mont Blanc (usually shortened to Chamonix) to check off one of our bucket list items. Chamonix is a village near the junction of France, Switzerland and Italy. At the base of Mont Blanc, the highest summit in the Alps, it's renowned for its skiing. Year-round (when the weather permits), cable cars take visitors up to several nearby peaks with panoramic views, including Aiguille du Midi above town, and Pointe Helbronner, across vast glacier fields on the Italian border. It was a truly 100% scenic trip by train from Annecy to Chamonix. I was in awe of Mother Nature.
We arrived at the Chamonix train station which was surrounded by the French Alps and with only a short walk to the tourist center to buy a cable car ticket to the world-famous Aiguille du Midi. We were told that it could be difficult to get to the top of Mont Blanc due to the unpredictable weather. We were prepared and thought we might have luck. Well. No luck for us. Dark clouds and rain. We didn’t make it to the Aiguille du Midi at this time due to the weather. We were bummed but on the bright side, this will allow us to come back in the future. Instead, we enjoyed the Chamonix village and spent the entire day there. It was truly beautiful in every aspect.
KEY ATTRACTIONS Chamonix-Mont Blanc Village https://en.chamonix.com/chamonix-mont-blanc-valley Aiguille Du Midi https://en.chamonix.com/activities/practical-information-about-the-lifts/panoramic-mont-blanc-cable-car Montenvers Mer de Glace Lac Blanc The Mont Blanc
Chamonix - Mont Blanc
Back to Annecy, we experienced great food, pastries, and cheeses! We stayed there for 7 nights and encountered many good restaurants. It’s hard to say which restaurant was our favorite. We visited many cafes and restaurants. But, we can certainly tell you that these two restaurants made us come back 2 nights in a row, Cozna restaurant and La Porte Sainte Claire restaurant. It was hard to say goodbye to this summer trip. It was incredibly beautiful and we got to know more about France. Outside Paris is truly a gem!