If you’ve visited Venice you’ll know few places on earth can match its charm. Many countries claim to have their own version of the floating city, but do they really? On investigating one such boast, we were pleasantly surprised. Nestled in the Alps, less than an hour’s drive from Geneva is the French town of Annecy. Split into two distinct areas: the old town, a medieval enclave of dusky-hued buildings on emerald-green waterways, and the lakeside: a vast alpine lagoon, with watersports galore, Annecy has no end of reasons to visit. Here’s what not to miss on a trip to the Alpine town.
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Cycle along Annecy’s bike-friendly paths
The Lake Annecy greenway bike path / Image: © Gilles Piel - Lac Annecy Tourisme & Congrès
Annecy is a cyclist’s haven. All along the lake are spectacularly-kept cycle paths and with plenty of bike hire shops along route, you don’t have to pack your wheels on the plane. The tour around the lake is called “la voie verte” or “greenway”. It’s about 33 kilometres, overlooked by precipitous alpine peaks and hugging the shimmering emerald waters of the lake itself. Stop at Plage de la Brune en route to catch some rays.
Practice pedal power on Lake Annecy
Pedalos on Lake Annecy / Image: Adobe Stock
Choose a sunny day, pack a picnic and rent a pedalo to head out on the lake. Lake Annecy is fed by mountain springs making the water crystal clear. In summer, it’s easily warm enough to take a dip. Many of the pedalos – which start at about €20 per hour – are fitted with slides to help a speedy descent into the alpine waters. Tired legs? Bob about, soaking up the sun while you lay out the sundeck. If you close your eyes, it’s almost like being on a yacht (albeit a leg-powered one).
