• Annecy town
  

  
  Annecy is situated at the northern tip of the incredibly blue Lac d’Annecy. The resort Annecy, which is now the capital of Haute-Savoie, once was a Gallo-Roman town and the seat of the comtés de Genève (County of Geneva). Built around the river Thiou, it is called Venice of the Alps because of its numerous charming canals and bridges.
  
  

• Lac d'Annecy
  

  
  Lac d’Annecy (Lake Annecy) is the jewel of the Savoy Alps. It is the third largest lake in France and the cleanest in Europe. Each year, on the first Saturday evening in August, the lake serves as a stage for Europe's biggest firework display Fête du lac d'Annecy (Lake Annecy Festival).
  
  

• Palais de I’lsle
  

  
  Sitting on a triangular islet in the Canal du Thiou, the miniature château, 12th-century Palais de l’Isle, has been the primary residence of the Lord of Annecy, later became the Count of Geneva's administrative headquarters, then a courthouse, a mint and finally a prison. Today it houses a local history museum.
  
  

• Château d’Annecy
  

  
  This forbidding gray-stone monument, whose 12th century pinnacle is known as the Queen’s Tower, dominates the resort. It served as the residence of the Counts of Geneva and the Dukes of Genevois-Nemours. Now Château d’Annecy houses the Musée d'Annecy that has a collection of of regional artifacts such as Alpine furniture, religious art, oil paintings, and modern works. One section is devoted to the geology and marine life of the region’s deep, cold lakes.
  
  

• Alpine resorts and villages
  

  
  Twenty minutes outside of Annecy, charming villages and ski resorts offer cable car rides to the French Alps. The beautiful terrain around the French Alps means that there are plenty exciting activities all year round. The mountains around the town of Annecy are: Le Mont Veyrier, Le Semnoz, La Tournette and the Parmelan.
  
  

• Paragliding
  

  
  Mountains around the Lake Annecy is one of the premier paragliding spots in the Alps, popular with novices and pros alike. Tandem rides are available
  
  

More attractions