Annecy
Details
Before visiting any town or city make sure you know the basics. General details and important information.
- Emergency Services: 112
- Language: French
- Currency: Euro
- Country Code: FR
- Travel Visa: None required
- Population: 125, 694
Risk Level
Researching various official sources, we perceive the risk to holiday makers and travellers are as follows;
Travellers Tips
Top travel advice and interesting tip bits of information from experienced travellers.
Emergencies
For the Emergency services just dial 112 from any phone.
Hospitals in Annecy
Tourist Offices
Travelling Around
Annecy offers many transportation outlets, mostly accessible by car. Travelling by car makes it easy to visit neighbouring cities and towns around France. Bike hire is popular for day visiting, as these can be hired from venues near the train station. Local buses are also operational with SIBRA, a cheap choice of travel.
Train Stations
Annecy Safety
Are there any areas I should avoid?
There are no real crime hotspots in the city, take extra care in busy tourist areas and apply the usual safety precautions. Watch out for quiet areas after dark and stay in the well lit main streets, and stay within the crowd.
What are the common crimes?
Beware of pickpockets as they tend to operate in tourist areas, keep your belongings secure at all times and be careful if strangers try to make conversation or distract you as it could be an attempt to steal your valuables.
Car thieves normally target expensive cars but there are some exceptional situations where rental cars have been broken in to. Park the car in well lit areas and use car park with CCTV. Don’t leave valuables on your car seat as it could attract criminals, drive with the car door locked all times.
Credit card fraud, cloning cards can be an issue be careful where you use your cards. Also if you are withdrawing money from cash machines make sure you cover your pin and be discreet about the amount of cash you withdraw.
What are some safety tips I should know?
Be alert at all times and be aware of your surroundings. Take the usual safety precautions so you do not become a targets for pickpockets.
Don’t put your wallet or mobile phone in your back pocket. Put any valuables items in a dark colour shopping bag when going out to avoid attention.
When withdrawing cash from ATM try to go inside the bank. Beware of withdrawing cash from cash points on pedestrian walkways. Try to withdraw small sums and don’t flash your cash around even in the bank.
How do I keep up with the local news?
Improve Your Personal Safety
Knowledge – the more you have the better equipped you are.
Awareness – the more you see the safer you become.
Response – the right reaction can change a situation.
Annual Events
Annual events allow a city come together for some amazing experiences. If visiting at this time, make sure you have your accommodation booked and are always aware of your surroundings when travelling around.
Annecy Events
The Fête du Lac
Held over 4 days at the beginning of August, there are attractions around the lake and a great firework displays in the evening. Many vendors and stalls are set up selling local and traditional produce. A lovely event in amazing setting, it attracts more than 100,000 spectators each year.
Descente des Alpages
The Return from Alpine Pastures is held in the middle of October each year, it is a traditional farmers festival with local live music, plenty of food and locally made produce and light entertainment. Well worth seeing if you are in the town, it gives a real insight in to the traditional way of life.
Festival International du Film d’Animation d’Annecy
The Annecy International Animation Film Festival was born in 1960 and is held around the first couple of weeks in June. It is one of the four major international animated film festivals attracting the best in the world. There are various competitions and categories giving an opportunity for animators to showcase and be recognised for their talents. Various films and animations are show in cinemas around the city, well worth seeing.
Annecy Highlights
Are there any notable museums?
Musée-Château d’Annecy
First created in 1842, was formerly a Town Hall and Palais de I’lle, before moving to the Castle in 1961. This museum is an authentic insight into the city’s rich history. It provides contemporary art collections and educational materials about the lake environment. When buying tickets to the museum, it includes visits to the Regional Alpine Lakes Observatory (ORLA). It really is a fantastic way to seeing the regions heritage. Free entry for children under 12.Ecomuseum of Lake Annecy
Enjoy panoramic views of the lake by visiting the Ecomusée Du Lac D’Annecy. This museum is of 19th Century artefacts and costumes that celebrates the regions heritage. With free parking and a cycle track, there are lots of activities to add to the museum visit.Where else is great to visit?
Semnoz
A local mountain to Annecy with an altitude of 1,699 meters, it offers climbing and hiking paths in the summer and a few chair lifts of skiing in during the winter months. The views are wonderful and the area is certainly picturesque.The Tournette
An impressive mountain in the Bornes Massif in Haute-Savoie. It is the highest of the mountains surrounding Lake Annecy standing at around 2,351 meters, visitors can drive a good way up then leaving around a three hour hike to the summit, in the summer many aerial sports are practiced from the top and amazing views are to be had over the lake and surrounding landscape.Cathédrale St-Pierre
Established in 1535, this former Franciscan chapel holds a large presence in Annecy’s culture. This cathedral unites Renaissance and Gothic style as an iconic place of history. Large rose windows and giant columns line this building, creating a unique feel to Annecy. This is a must see attraction for an understanding in the city’s history.What are the main attractions?
Lake Annecy
As the third largest lake in France, Lake Annecy has a reputation as Europe’s cleanest lake. Visitors really get a sense of the as Annecy is one of the most desirable places to live in France. The lake is in such a beautiful setting surrounded by mountains and rolling tree lines, houses and villages line the banks of the lake with Annecy been the main feature. During the summer months it is used swimming and various water sports.The Château d’Annecy
What once was a beautiful castle that towered over the old town, is now transformed into a museum. There is an important collections of furniture and alpine paintings dating from the 15th century. The castle itself was built between the 12th and 16th centuries and is very impressive, there are a lot of steps to get to the castle but the views over the town are well worth it.Palais de l’Ile
Visitors can’t miss it, as you walk from the lake to the the heart of the old town the Palais de l’Ile is on an island in the Canal du Thiou. Built around the 12th Century was originally the home of the Lords of Annecy and the Count of Geneva. It’s a strange but beautiful piece of architecture and was used as the town jail, amazing history and well worth a visit.
