Annecy, Auvergne-Rhone Alpes region - Sept 2025

Annecy is an alpine town in southeastern France, where Lake Annecy feeds into the Thiou River. It’s known for its Vieille Ville (old town), with cobbled streets, winding canals and pastel-coloured houses. Overlooking the city, the medieval Château d’Annecy, once home to the Counts of Geneva, contains a museum with regional artifacts such as Alpine furniture and religious art, plus a natural history exhibit.

Annecy & Lyon Photo Albums

Lac Annecy is one of, if not THE cleanest lake in Europe. There is a cycle/pedestrian path around the lake which is 42km/26 miles long. Many people hire bicycles and ride around the lake. There are many lovely villages and beaches around the lake.

Annecy is referred to as the Venice of the Alpes.

Since I was staying for a week in Annecy I rented a lovely one bedroom apartment in the centre of the historic old town. I had a healthy breakfast every morning before heading out for a mid-morning cafe creme or cafe au lait and decadent pastry - usually pain au chocolat.

My one bedroom apartment was lovely. Large and comfortable with full kitchen, washing machine, and overlooked one of the canals. It was on the 4th floor and had winding stone staircases like you'd see in old castles. So since I went up to the apartment several times a day, my thighs became quite sore the first couple of days, less so the next couple of days, then not at all. 

Apartment building door. I don't know the age of the building but the circular stone steps suggest it's quite old. Below is a view from one of my apartment windows.

I arrived on a Saturday evening after a short flight from Glasgow to Amsterdam, then a short flight to Lyon.

Sunday morning was my first chance to really try out my French - at a boulangerie (bakery). "Bonjour. Je voudrais une baguette, un pain au chocolat, un cafe creme s'il vous plait. C'est tout. Merci. Au revoir or bonne journee". Not totally correct, but well enough to be understood.

Annecy has a street market 3 times a week so I went to the Sunday morning one and the Friday morning. I bought some berries, bananas, cheese (fromage) and saucisson (cured sausage).

Since I can have acid reflux when I eat a big meal or drink alcohol after about 6pm, I had lunch as my main meal (with a snack in the early evening at the apartment such as fresh baguette with fromage and saucisson). Many restaurants in France don't open until 7pm so finishing dinner at 8pm would be a disaster for me.

Most lunches in Annecy were similar:

• Aperitif - pastis (a licorice liquer)
• (I usually skipped appetisers/entrees)
• Main dish (plat principal)
• Carafe of tap water
• Rose' wine
• Occasional dessert

I love how when you go to a restaurant you aren't pushed to leave so they can seat someone else (this is tip-motivated elsewhere). 

I am so very much enjoying using all the French I learned prior to this trip. I do have to resort to English sometimes when the staff or waitstaff starts rattling off something in fast French. But I continue to use French in reply. I always get postive feedback when I use French correctly. 

I intended to ride a bike around the lake but the day I had booked it was rainy and I couldn't depend on dry weather any other day (although usually the forecast was wrong).

This trip was unlike any other solo trip I've done. On Sunday morning I met an English couple and we chatted at Captain Pub, outdoors and next to a canal, for about 2 hours. Then on Wednesday I sat next to an American couple (same pub) and we started chatting. A couple of Australian ladies sat on the other side of me and all 5 of us chatted for nearly 4 hours! 

I visited the Chateau Museum which was very interesting. Chateau d'Annecy

Also enjoyed the Palais d'lille. This is an early 14th century structure that was a residence, then a prison, then housed political leaders. 

Annecy is a very clean town. Not a bit of litter was seen. Every morning about 6am there were sweeper machines out cleaning the pedestrian walkways. 

One of the things I really enjoyed was that since I had spent a lot of time prior to my trip learning French and knew more than I had known on previous trips. I had learned many phrases or words that I knew it would be helpful to know. Yes, just knowing bonjour, s'il vous plait and merci would have been enough, but I wanted to know more. So I learned things like bonne journee which means have a good day. I love the reaction to clerks or waiters when I used more than what typical tourists would say. 

I felt very much at home in Annecy since I stayed an entire week. It was impossible to get lost - I stayed in the old town. Like almost every tourist there was a nearly daily trip to an homemade ice cream shop. 

I LOVE French breads! And cheeses (fromage) and saucisson (dried, cured sausage). I had one of the traditional Haute Savoie dishes 3 times - tartiflette. It's made with potatoes, onions, lardons- bacon, and melted reblochen cheese. 

Annecy - Lyon Photos

Lac D'Annecy (Lake Annecy) is soooo clean, and the water is emerald green!!! 

Lyon: the gastronomic capital of France

Lyon, the capital city in France’s Auvergne-Rhône-Alpes region, sits at the junction of the Rhône and Saône rivers. Its centre reflects 2,000 years of history from the Roman Amphithéâtre des Trois Gaules, medieval and Renaissance architecture in Vieux (Old) Lyon, to the modern Confluence district on Presqu'île peninsula. Traboules, covered passageways between buildings, connect Vieux Lyon and La Croix-Rousse hill.

I flew to Lyon Saint-Exupery Airport, so on the way home I decided to spend 3 nights in Lyon. Wished I'd booked a week!

I stayed in a hotel near one of the main train/bus stations - Mercure Lyon City Centre Chateau Perrache. On arrival from Annecy, I dropped off my luggage at the hotel and headed to one of the Bouchon cafes (they serve authentic Lyonnaiss cuisine). I had pre-booked lunch at Compton Abel Bar, the oldest bouchon in Lyon.

I had planned on visiting the Museum of the Confluences but got lost!! I got lost a few times in Lyon, but found French people extremely helpful in helping me find my way. 

Again I met some other tourists in Lyon and really clicked with them. I was sitting in the hotel bar and an American couple sat at the table next to mine. We started chatting over the next few hours. They were from Chicago. I ran into them again at the breakfast buffet twice.

Places I visited in Lyon were the Musee Cinema et Miniature (cinema memorabilia and miniatures. Unfortunately, the miniature sections of the musee were closed for refurbishment. I enjoyed the 7 floors of cinema displays (originals from films), although much of it was from films I'd never watch. (see photo albums). 

I also visited the Resistance Museum. It is located in the former Gestapo headquarters in Lyon. I expected to enjoy it more than I did. I am fascinated by those in the French Resistance during WWII, especially the women. I saw some displays of interest but overall it contained displays of text which I could easily read online. It was also very hot, crowded, and I was tired. 

I was very impressed by the Basilica Notre Dame de Fourviere!! It was spectacular! Art and statues and carvings on nearly every inch of the inside! 

Near the basilica is a large area of Roman ruins. 

Lyon has dozens of mural/fresques that cover the entire sides of buildings. There was one in particular I really wanted to see but never did (Mur des Canuts). Following Google maps I climbed hill after hill and long, steep steps trying to find it. It was hot day and I had another mile to go when I ran into yet another set of very steep stairs. The battery was nearly gone on my phone so I gave up. I did see two other murals though, so all was not lost. 

Food and drink!!!!

Oh yes!!!!  Nobody makes bread like the French!! I enjoyed wine with lunch as did everybody else I saw. I always had a rose' wine, usually from Provence. My favourite dish was tartiflette, a Haute Savoie tradtion. I ate at two boucons in Lyon (traditional Lyonaiss). Tried quenelle which I enjoyed but wouldn't rave about. Also tried the praline tart which was far too sweet and rich!