Musée-Château d'Annecy - 4 Things to Know Before Visiting

Listed as a historic monument in 1900, the Palais de l'Ile, often described as a "house in the shape of a ship" has been a prison, a courthouse and an administrative centre. It is an original structure, the oldest parts of which date from the 12th century.

The Pont des Amours is a footbridge located on the shores of Lake Annecy at the entrance to the Vassé canal; its official name is “Passerelle du Jardin public” but the people of Annecy have renamed it “Pont des Amours” for a very long time. It connects the Pâquier to the Gardens of Europe where lovers used to go to find refuge and tranquility. This bridge remains today a very frequented passage in an absolutely romantic setting with magnificent views of the city, the canals, and the lake.

The pristine Lac d’Annecy, one of the largest lakes in France, sits among snow-capped mountains and is known as the cleanest lake in Europe. Lake Annecy has options like paddleboarding, scuba diving, and catamaran and yacht rentals with the Annecy Sailing Regatta Society. When visiting in summer, there are plenty of sandy or grassy beaches dotted along the picturesque lake, and also you can have a swim in this crystal clear water.

The Gorges du Fier are a remarkable natural curiosity of France, in Haute-Savoie: a very narrow and deep gorge that can be visited thanks to a footbridge fixed to the side of the rock, built-in 1869 by the Annecy architect Marius Vallin and Listed since 1943. This gorge was cut by the powerful Fier torrent in the town of Lovagny, some eleven kilometers west of Annecy.

The Semnoz mountain is situated in the French alps and it was the green lungs of the city of Annecy. It was one of the favorite places for an outing to the people of Annecy by its spectacular views. For skiing and snowboarding, there is 18 km of slopes available. One of the beautiful locations in this area and also a good trekking site.

A summit of the Bornes massif which rises to 2,351 m above sea level. Its notoriety owes in part to its massive appearance and the 360º panoramic views of the French Alps and Lake Annecy. The climb on La Tournette provides an exciting hike and the summit is often crowded, particularly on autumn Sundays when the sky is clear.