The Lakes - Annecy

Annecy is often called the French Venice. Its beautiful medieval old town is intersected by small canals and flower decked quays. The 12 century Palais de l’Isle is an island fortress in the River Thiou which was once a prison has splendid views of the old town. The bustling streets, delightful street cafés where you can watch the world go by and interesting shops make it a superb place to relax. Annecys local market is held on Tuesday in Rue Ste-Claire.

Organised boat excursions in Annecy are a very relaxing way to discover the lake and see the alpine mountains from a different angle and take you all around the lake. For more active people pleasure boats, dinghies, windsurfers and pedalos can be hired. The nearby Semnoz mountains have a vast mountain nature reserve providing excellent opportunities for ramblers and hikers. A little further is the Bauges Natural Regional Parc and the Aravis mountain range where many more mountain itineraries are available for walkers and bikers.

Golf enthusiasts can enjoy 3 courses to suit all standards and enjoying fabulous views.

The water temperature of the lake in the summer reaches up to 24C. The main beaches of the lake are supervised during the summer.

Menthon-Saint-Bernard (altitude: 492m)

The village is located on the sunniest bank of the lake, 5 miles from the historic centre of Annecy. Shops in the village offer all facilities including pharmacy, cash point, mini-market (open till 8pm) 

The opportunities of mountain activities are numerous: from walking itineraries - le Roc de Chère, le col de la Forclaz, la Tournette (alt. 2 351m) - to paragliding, canyoning, via ferrata, etc.., or simply enjoying the popular cycling Tour du Lac.

One of France’s 10 most prestigious restaurant, the 3-star Michelin ‘La Maison de Marc Veyrat’ owned by famous chef Marc Veyrat is only 1 mile away in Veyrier du Lac (new mortgage required to afford the menu prices but a unique experience…)

See www.marcveyrat.fr

Virtual Visit

View here for 360 views of Annecy – Annecy town (1) & Annecy town (2) & Annecy town (3) (hold down the left click of your mouse and drag left right up and down whilst still holding on the left click button to move 360 degree)

Places of interest in Annecy

·          The lovely lakeside village of Menthon with its fairytale castle

·          Benedictine Monastry at Talloires on the east shore of the lake

·          The impressive Alpine Garden at Semnoz

·          Many boat trips and excursions run from the esplanade and marinas to experience the best view of the lakes, surrounding mountains, and lakeside villages.

Museum at the Castle of Annecy – open 1st June – 30th September 2008 everyday from 10.30am - 6pm. €4.80 for adult, €2 (12-25’s).Under 12’s are free. Tel: 00 33 4 50 33 87 30

Citia Exposition (near castle) – exhibition dedicated to history, art and the techniques of film animation. From 1st June – 30th September 2008 every day from 10.30am – 6pm. Entrance free.

Butterfly and insect museum at the Castle of Faverges (20 mins from Annecy centre) – 15th June – 31st August 2008 Mon-Sat from 2.30-6.30pm

€3/adult, €2.50/child 4-12yrs

Secret gardens – 00 33 4 50 60 53 18. Between Annecy and Aix les Bains spread over 7000 sq.m. From 06/04 – 15/06 Sat, Sun, Public hols from 1.30-6pm. From 16/06 to 12/07 everyday from 1.30-6pm. From 13/07 to 24/08 everyday from 10.30-6pm (light snacks service). From 25/08 to 07/09 everyday from 1.30-6pm. From 08/09 to 12/10 Sunday from 1.30-5pm. €7.50 per adults, free under 6’s. 6-16yrs €4. €6.50 for students, disabled, unemployed, military).

Children

·          Several kids club

·          Animal parks

·          Miniature Golf

·          Leisure park

·          Skate park

Amenities in Annecy

A fabulous variety of restaurants and bars, nightclub, cinema, modern and traditional shops, museums, exhibitions, Alpine lakes observatory

Contacts for activities in Annecy

Cruising

Boat trips are available all-year round. The boat stops at all the villages on the lake so you can get on and off as you please.

There are cruises with running commentaries, restaurant boats, sailing or motor boats etc

Contacts:

Compagnie des Bateaux - Place aux Bois - Annecy

Tel. +33 (0)4 50 51 08 40 - Fax. +33 (0)4 50 51 80 94

info@annecy-croisieres.com

www.annecy-croisieres.com

Sanctuaries

The “Roc de Chere” nature park (Menthon-Saint-Bernard Talloires)

Situated on the east bank of Lake Annecy, the Roc de Chère nature reserve not only has a wide variety of flora and fauna on view but also some superb beauty spots with stunning views over Lake Annecy and the bay of Talloires.

Open all-year for unaccompanied visits and guided visits from June to September. Reservations at the Tourist Information Office –

Tel: +33 (0)4 50 60 70 64

Prices: Adult 7 € - Child 5 € (8/16 years)

Gorges of the River Fier (Lovagny)

2009 - 140th anniversary.

Open to visitors since 1869, the Gorges du Fier are one of the most beautiful natural treasures in the Alps. Find yourself traversing your way along the side of the canyon on a solid footbridge built into the rock face 25 m above the Fier river.

New for 2009: signs to inform you about the geology of the site and points of special interest of the visit.

Opening dates:

• From 15/03 to 15/10: daily

9.15am - 6pm, last admittance 5.15 pm

• From 15 /06 to 10/09: daily

9.15am - 7pm, last admittance 6.15pm

Prices: Adult 4,80 € - Child: 2,70 € (7-16 years)

Bus excursions to surrounding areas incl. Chamonix. Whole day or half day trips. Autocars Crolard – 00 33 4 50 45 00 56.

Markets in Annecy

Antiques Markets – 9am-7pm on last Sat of each month.

Open air markets – 8am-noon on Tuesdays, Fridays and Sundays

- Golf Club de Lac d’Annecy, Talloires. 

Tel: 00 33 4 50 60 12 89

18 holes, length 5008m, par 69.

Open: All year except Christmas holiday.

Green fees (daily) from 35€ to 45€. Weekend passes available.

Superb panoramic view in the immediate vicinity of Lake Annecy over a protected nature reserve.

- Golf de Giez, Lac d’Annecy. 

Tel: 00 33 4 50 44 48 41 (18 holes)

00 33 4 50 32 51 40 (9 holes)

18 holes, length 5820m, par 72.

9 holes, length 2250m, par 33. Open: All year

Green fees (daily) 18 holes from 38€ to 46€, 9 holes from 18€ to 22€, weekend passes available.

Two play site, with panoramic views over the upper part of Lake Annecy. Flat course landscaped with stretches of water.

Paragliding – 00 33 0 4 50 57 24 42, annecyvoldepente@tiscali.fr

Swimming pool – Les Marquisats (May-Sept) 00 33 4 50 33 65 40

Mountain/water sports

Annecy Adventure

9 rue du Bel Air - Annecy

Tel. + 33(0) 4 50 45 38 46

Mountain sports

Mountaineering, canyoning, ice climbing, climbing, rambling etc

Annecy Guides & Coaches office

5 bis rue François Buloz - Annecy

Tel. +33 (0)6 07 69 57 83

Aerial sports

Flying, paragliding, hang-gliding, hot air ballooning, microlighting…

Adrénaline Parapente

Laurent Sauphanor

36 avenue de Chambéry - Annecy

Tel. +33 (0)4 50 45 16 00

Rowing

Avirion de Talloires

Cercle nautique - Talloires - Tel. +33 (0)4 50 60

Canoe/Kayak

Canoë-kayak Club d’Annecy

Base nautique des Marquisats - Annecy

Tel. +33 (0)4 50 45 03 98

www.kayak-annecy.com

White water sports

Essaonia

9 rue du Bel Air - Annecy - Tel. +33 (0)4 50 57 83 19

contact@essaonia.com - www.essaonia.net

DIVING

Annecy Plongée

6 rue des Marquisats - Annecy

Tel. +33 (0)4 50 45 40 97

contact@annecyplongee.com

www.annecyplongee.com

WATER SKIING - WAKEBOARD

Jacky Ski Nautique

Avenue du Petit Port - Annecy le Vieux

Tel: +33 (0)6 07 13 34 76

info@pontonjacky.com - www.pontonjacky.com

HORSERIDING

La Cravache d’Annecy

Centre équestre du Moulin Rouge

150 route de Vovray - Annecy

Tel. +33 (0)4 50 45 32 38

www.cravache-equitation.com

SKATING RINK

Piscine-Patinoire Jean Régis

90 chemin des fins - Annecy

Tel. +33 (0)4 50 57 56 02

SWIMMING POOLS

Piscine des Marquisats

29 rue des marquisats -Annecy

Tel. +33 (0)4 50 33 65 40

(Open from May to September)

Plus many other water sports activities such as sailing, rafting, rowing…

Other activities include horse riding, roller skating, hot air ballooning, luge, fishing, tennis, crazy golf, cinema, bowling…

MENTHON-SAINT-BERNARD castle

www.chateau-de-menthon.com

Lived in since the 11th century by the same family, built from the 11th to 19th, it has kept its rich historic furniture and decoration. Costume displays on weekends and Public Holidays.

Opening Times:

May, June and September: Friday, Saturday, Sunday and Public Holidays: 2pm - 6pm. July and August: daily: Noon - 6pm

Prices: Adult 7,50 € - Child 4,50 € (from 6 to 15 years)

Costume Display:

Adult 8,50 € - Child 5,50 € (from 6 to 15 years).

Annecy has many museums to visit including a butterfly museum, art and history, craftwork, castle, architecture, wood, forestry etc. See the tourist office website for further details.

You can also hire guides to take you around Annecy, the lakes, the sites etc.

SECRET GARDENS

Lagnat-Vaulx - Rumilly - Tel. 04 50 60 53 18

contact@jardins-secrets.com

Situated between Annecy and Aix les Bains, why not visit this mosaic of gardens covering 7000 m2. Amidst daring architecture finely styled with wood, water and flowers East meets West in an extraordinary and exotic garden setting. Musical visits by night in summer.

Open from 12/04 to 11/10.

All the above information is for information only. For the most up-to-date information please visit the resort tourist office website

Annecy Tourist Office       

74000 Annecy

Tel +33 4 50 45 00 33

www.lac-annecy.com

For regional information:

www.rhonealpes-tourisme.com

www.savoie-tourisme.com

Access to Annecy      

By Road: Driving distance from Calais to Annecy 817km (approx 7hrs30)

From Calais follow the A26/E15 in the direction of Lens/Arras and then Reims. Take the exit marked Reims-Tinqueux, Châlons-en-Champagne, Metz, Nancy, Strasbourg & Lyon. Follow the A4/E50, then the E17 towards Châlons-en-Champagne. Take the exit marked Saint-Gibrien, Châlons-en-Champagne, Troyes & Lyon. Continue on the E17 then the A26/E17 towards Troyes. Next take the A40 towards Bourg-en-Bresse/Annecy and take exit 11 to Annecy.

Access to Annecy by motorway.

- From Marseille, Lyon or Chambéry : A41 exit Annecy Sud.

- From Paris, Geneva, Bourg-en-Bresse, Chamonix or Italy via Mont Blanc tunnel: A41 exit Annecy Nord.

New direct motorway from Annecy to Geneva opened since December 2008.

Access to Annecy by National Road.

- From Albertville or Bourg-en-Bresse : D1508.

- From Geneva or Chambéry : D1201.

- From Chamonix or Italy: D1203.

Distance from Annecy to…

- Albertville: 50km. - Chambéry : 50km. - Chamonix : 105km.

- Grenoble : 107km. - La Clusaz : 33km. - Le Grand Bornand : 33km.

- Lyon: 140km. - Marseille: 425km. - Paris: 550km.

- Geneva: 47km.

By Rail: TGV to Annecy from Paris.

Airports: Geneva 50km

For further information on car parking, transfers, etc: www.gva.ch/en (then select Transportation in menu)

or Lyon Saint-Exupery 125 km

Daily flights from Paris to Annecy - Meythet airport, located 6km from Annecy city centre, link by SIBRA bus n°6.

Annecy is located 50 km away from Geneva international airport

Direct link between Annecy and Geneva airport by coach.

Transport to Annecy by train and bus.

You can also take a taxi.

Airport Transfer

Pre-book your taxi transfer with Peak Retreats

From Geneva or Chambery Airport to Annecy (Duingt/Giez) – from £37-£48 per person return based on 4 people sharing. 

For all other transfer prices please click here

Access Plan

Annecy

Click on maps to enlarge

Resort Map

Annecy