Annecy 2025

Annecy - Wow! Just Wow! It's a town full of views - lake, mountains, forest, and more mountains! We've lately been looking for places to visit that leave you with a sense of magnificence - the nature of Annecy did this. 

We spent just over a week here, in the Pre-Alps, at France's third largest lake. Our apartment was right at the edge of Old-Town; we could drive to the apartment parking garage, and walk* to any spot on our list.

Since the drive from Lyon didn't take long (1.5 hrs), we went directly to a beach to wait a bit before check-in time.

It was beautiful, but we weren't properly prepared for no seating 🙄. So, on to a grocery store to stock up, then to meet our host at the apartment - ahhh. It was one of the best apartments we've stayed in - it was like someone who loved life was living there, then decided to share it with others. 

The next day, we picked up the wheelchair, then rolled all around! Check the Annecy 2025 posts for all our big days. We had a few "easy" days too. We went to the Chateau d'Annecy (the outside; the inside is a museum)

And the Basilica (early 20th century)

Later that evening, I was surprised by a chanting crowd - I ran to the window to see. It was the championship soccer game, and France won!

Eventually, it was time to leave 😔 - our last full day included lunch out, with a short detour along the Quai des Clarisses. 

Then we returned the wheelchair and started packing...

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There are a few more photos in the Annecy 2025 album.

What we left for another time:

Drive Col de la Forclaz 

Point de Vue Château de Menthon-Saint-Bernard 

Jardin de l'Europe (longer visit)

Drive around the lake

Tour Bus ride

Annecy-le-Vieux 

Train to Geneva 

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*Prefer to Walk and Roll? Wheelchair rental from Bastide, ~16€

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Our trip, including Lyon:

May 12 (Monday) - June 3 (3 weeks)

1040 km

37 mpg

6.3 l/100km

Annecy 2025 Alps Viewpoint

The Plateau du Semnoz gives a fabulous view of the Alps! It's only a half-hour drive from our apartment, *and* it was a fantastic, super-sunny day! Of course we went!

I had checked ahead (tourist office, and Google street view), so I was prepared for some winding, forest-lined driving - it wasn't too bad!

I walked to the peak (pretty steep) for the 360° views - I reversed my usual order of photo-then-info, and took a photo of the Orientation Table, then the corresponding view. (See the Annecy 2025 Alps Viewpoint album for these)

Massif des Bornes

Massif de Mont-Blanc and Massif du Beaufortain 

Massif de la Vanoise and Massif des Bauges

Then I took some close-ups!

Here's Mont-Blanc (left side), at 4810 meters (15780 feet), the highest point in Europe outside the Caucasus mountains

Pointe Percée, the sharp peak in the center

Aiguilles d'Arvres, the sharp double peak in the distance 

Well, then I had to get a shot of the ski lift 😊

On the way back, we stopped at a viewpoint of the lake 

 

We could just make out the Château de Duingt on a peninsula in Lake Annecy

We were back in time to catch the end of the marché ; we got rôtisserie for lunch! 😋😋😋

Annecy 2025 Gorges du Fier

The Gorges du Fier is a natural wonder, just a short drive from Annecy. The Fier river (fier translates to proud) carved a gorge through the pre-Alps (foothills of the Alps), and Man added a footbridge. You (and a hundred of your best friends) can walk along, 25 meters (82 feet) above the water, but still well below the top of the gorge. The path goes for 1.2 km (3/4 mile) in the shade, with the sound of rushing water to keep it cool.

On the left side wall, there's a scale showing different flood levels.

Here are a few shots along the way...

We finished with a quick look at the Chateau Montrottier

Take a look at the Annecy 2025 Gorges du Fier album - there a a few short videos where you can hear the water 😉