Annecy ... the perfect place for a French holiday
A quick visit to Annecy to see the Tour de France 2009 time trial left me wanting to return to explore more of the town and surrounds. In 2012, we were able to fit this into our itinerary. Located on the northern tip of Lac d’Annecy and surrounded by the French Alpes, the town is the perfect size for a French holiday. It offers all amenities and includes the most picturesque of medieval towns.
On a summer’s day, Annecy looking very pretty
We required a hotel with parking, which led us to book with Hotel Novel Restaurant La Mamma https://www.hotelannecy.fr/en/, a few kilometres from the medieval part of the town. It is a comfortable family-run hotel with a restaurant, bar and an outside terrace plus free parking. It was all very welcome after our long drive from Strasbourg, via Switzerland.
C’est moi walking along the lakeside towards the old town
On our first morning, an easy walk along the lakeside brought us into the old town. We spent the day wandering the cobbled streets, visiting the markets and enjoying coffee and, later, crêpes and wine at a café made for people watching. The town’s buildings are colourful with bright awnings. Pretty floral decorations adorn the railings alongside the canal area where many tiny bridges cross the waterways. We took a one-hour cruise on the lake that was a very pleasant and relaxing trip with beautiful views. At the tourist information centre, we saw a sign for an English-speaking walking tour for €6 each and signed up for the afternoon tour.
Walking tour organised by the tourist office. The climb to Château d’Annecy was rather steep but the view was absolutely worth it.
Bianca was our wonderful guide and, during the two-hour tour, we visited the Saint-Pierre Cathedral, Château d’Annecy and Palais de l’Isle where we had a private viewing. The Palais was built in the 12th century on a natural rocky island in the Thiou canal. Originally, it was the home for the local lord and then a prison, court and, finally, a museum.
Palais de l’Isle sits on a natural rocky island in the Thiou canal
Inside Palais de l’Isle
Following the tour, we enjoyed a glass of wine and a chat with our fellow tour participants, Joan and Angelique. Both ladies were English but had lived in the area for many years and had very interesting lives. Chris and I took our time strolling back to our hotel via the park alongside the lake. Families were enjoying the summer evening with picnics and ball games. We stopped to watch a young man doing some very impressive stunts with his bicycle.
At the end of the day, we returned to ‘La Mamma’, where I tasted my first Kir Royale (Crème de Cassis liqueur – made from blackcurrants, mixed with Champagne or sparkling wine). It was delicious and slightly addictive. Dinner was a selection of food and wine of the Savoyard. Typical foods of the Savoie are fondue, tartiflette, and raclette. Cheeses of this region are Tomme de Savoie, Emmental de Savoie and Tome des Bauges. Diot is a traditional sausage made with ground pork and seasoned with salt, pepper and nutmeg.
Market stall selling a array of local produce
Thiou canal
Some things to consider when choosing accommodation:
1. Type of bedding: single, twin or double? Size of bed?
2. Size of the room? Do you have plenty of space for your luggage? What facilities are in the room? Minibar/fridge, tea/coffee facilities, air-conditioning/heating? Does it have a private bathroom? is there a shower or only a bath?
3. Location within the building, which is important if you have mobility concerns. Are there steps to negotiate, is there a lift, noise factors e.g., main road or noisy venues like a nightclub?
4. Parking, if required. Free or extra cost? Proximity to the hotel? Some parking may be located nearby.
5. Accessibility to nearby attractions or old town? Old towns don’t usually have a lot of parking options and streets can be very narrow. Choose carefully when you book.
6. Meal options? Is there a restaurant at the hotel or easily accessible nearby?
7. Laundry facilities? Do you need to wash more than your underwear in the sink!
Check the website details and, if you can’t find the information, I suggest a quick email to the hotel with all your questions.
Along Lac d’Annecy are many villages to explore
On our second morning, we were delighted to find a local market on the street outside of the hotel. There were plenty of fresh fruit and vegetables along with clothing and even mattresses!
Markets outside La Mamma
Annecy is the perfect base for your holiday in this area of France. There are so many activities to enjoy in all seasons. We are yet to explore this area by bike but I know that there is a wonderful path running 33 kms around the lake and, for the more adventurous, there are plenty of climbs in the surrounding mountains to challenge you. There are beautiful villages around the lake, including Talloires and Menthon-Saint-Bernard. In Annecy, enjoy the Jardins de l'Europe and Pont des Amours. In addition to the lake cruise, you can hire both paddle and sailing boats to explore by water.
The Savoie is a department in the Auvergne-Rhone Alpes region of South-eastern France and Annecy is the capital of the Haute-Savoie. It was the Duchy of Savoy for over 400 years and its history is complex.
Across the roof tops of the old town with view of Lac d’Annecy and surrounding mountains
If you are interested in reading more about this area, please see my Favourite French Connections page, where I reference two books written by Australian author, Catherine Berry who owns a house in Talloires which is available for rent. Find out more here:
https://lecormorantalloires.wordpress.com/
Finally, a couple of videos to further enthuse you:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=DezVM77tpNY
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=kC80Oo1rBpw
À bientot!
