August 13, 2026, 8:30 am | Read time: 5 minutes
Do you love Venice and France? Then we have a charming travel destination that’s still considered a hidden gem: Annecy in eastern France. The picturesque Alpine town is sometimes referred to as the “Venice of the Alps” for good reasons. TRAVELBOOK introduces the French city of Annecy.
This town, with its maze of cobblestone streets and canals, its pastel-colored and otherwise colorful old town houses, and its sparkling lake against the ever-impressive Alpine backdrop, looks like a painting. Annecy, located in eastern France and not far from the borders of Switzerland and Italy, is a wonderful place for anyone with an appreciation for beauty and romance or simply a love for France. Or even for Venice–Annecy was declared the “Venice of the Alps” by “Vogue” several years ago. And it’s said to be not only pretty but also much more relaxed than the original or the charming French capital.
Overview
A Old Town Almost Like Venice–Without the Crowds
With narrow canals winding through Annecy’s charming colorful old town and under flower-adorned bridges, the comparison to Italy’s romantic canal city is more than apt. While Annecy’s canal maze is much smaller than Venice’s, the resemblance is hard to miss. The sight of the Thiou in the morning or evening light is sure to create romantic moments. And the sunset over the sparkling Lac d’Annecy is hardly inferior to that over the Grand Canal.
In addition to the water worlds, it’s especially the cobblestone alleys of the Vieille Ville in Annecy that captivate its residents and visitors. The labyrinth of narrow and wider streets and bridges over the waterways is dotted with cafés and restaurants at many corners. Many have placed their tables outside and offer delicious Savoyard specialties, as well as a variety of other dishes and drinks. There are also numerous boutiques, shops, and stalls, along with the ever-present view of the snow-capped Alps in the city’s background.
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Sights in Annecy
Palais de l’Île
The medieval Palais de l’Île is Annecy’s quintessential photo subject. The building stands in the middle of the Thiou River and is accessible from the shore via pedestrian bridges. The Palais de l’Île was once a prison, a courthouse, and an administrative center, and briefly served as a retirement home in the 19th century. It has been a protected monument since 1900. According to the city’s tourist site Lac Annecy, the building is currently used as a drawing school for stonemasons and carpenters, as well as a gymnasium and accommodation, but is also open to visitors at various times.
Château d’Annecy
Not only do the gigantic mountains tower over the city, but also, a bit closer, the Château d’Annecy. It was once home to the Counts of Geneva and the Dukes of Genevois-Nemours. The tourism site Lac Annecy describes the château as a “synthesis of medieval defensive architecture and elegance, inspired by the style of the châteaux of the Île de France.” After several centuries as a residence, this function was finally abandoned in the 17th century, and the castle was used as a military barracks until 1947. It has been a protected monument since 1959.
Today, the Château d’Annecy houses a museum that offers its visitors changing exhibitions and collections on regional cultural heritage, lake archaeology, medieval sculptures, landscape paintings, contemporary art, and animated cinema, as noted on the information page.
Lac d’Annecy
The lake of the same name is Annecy’s lifeline and a sight in itself. The Alpine lake was formed more than 15,000 years ago and covers 27.59 square kilometers. Surrounded by snow-capped mountains, the clear lake sparkles in the sun and is a source of peace and relaxation for both residents and visitors. The Bridge of Love, the Pont des Amours, promises a particularly beautiful view of the city and the lake. By the way, legend has it that those who kiss on the bridge will stay together for a lifetime.
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How to Get to Annecy
Annecy is located about 42 kilometers south of Geneva. Buses and cars travel from there to Annecy in 50 minutes, and a train ride takes about an hour and a half. From Paris, Annecy can be reached by train in just under four hours. Drivers from Germany need about four and a half hours from Freiburg im Breisgau to reach the French city.
Annecy–Hidden Gem with a Brutal Past
A clear advantage of Annecy, besides all the aforementioned sights, is the absence of crowds. Annecy is not yet a mass tourism destination, and you can often explore the city quite leisurely. If you want to do so, you should hurry, as such charming hidden gems often have a short lifespan.
Did Annecy seem familiar to you for other reasons before reading this article? Unfortunately, Annecy became the scene of a brutal quadruple murder over ten years ago, which made headlines. If you want to know more about it, here is the TRAVELBOOK podcast on the Annecy murders.