Annecy Ski, Snowboard & Summer Holidays

Annecy is the principal town of Haute Savoie situated on the northern tip of Lake Annecy and just 35km south of Geneva. As a holiday destination Annecy has it all - fantastic scenery, a beautiful historic old town, a vibrant shopping area, a great choice of restaurants, and lots to see and do. Plus of course there is the spectacular Lake Annecy itself offering beaches, boat trips, waterskiing, wake boarding, glorious walks along its banks and multiple opportunites to enjoy and explore. Small local ski resorts are located within 20 minutes'drive, the larger more famous resorts of La Clusaz and Le Grand Bornand are approximately half an hour away. Chamonix, Flaine, Megeve would all make good day trips for skiing, as would some of the Three Valleys resorts The town is one of the most visited in the Alps especially in the summer months. The town plays hosts to several events such as the excellent Fete du Lac in August, a massive firework display with music, lights and special effects. In 2009 the Lake was the venue for one of the time trials of the Tour de France. Music, arts and film festivals are regular features on the calendar.

Ski holidays in Annecy:

Surrounded by mountains, Annecy is also a great place to stay if you want to explore the area. Local mountain resorts include La Clusaz and Le Semnoz - but as part of its bid for the 2018 Winter Olympics, Annecy is highlighting the proximity of some of the best alpine resorts and ski areas which are all within 1-1½ hours drive. Resorts such as Chamonix, Morzine and Flaine will all make excellent venues for alpine disciplines.

Summer holidays in Annecy:

The old town of Annecy lies at the foot of the castle hill and is a warren of lanes, passages and arcaded houses. The Canal du Thiou and its smaller branches runs through the old town and drains the lake into the River Fier. The houses, ringed by canal-side railings overflowing with geraniums and petunias, are incredibly beautiful. There a various small shops and plenty of canal-side cafes and restaurants to sit and soak in the atmosphere. From rue de l'Île on the canal's south bank, the narrow Rampe du Château leads up to the Château, former home of the counts of Genevois and the dukes of Nemours, a junior branch of the house of Savoy. There has been a castle on this site from the eleventh century. More refined living quarters were added in the sixteenth century, which now house the miscellaneous collections of the Musée du Château. At the base of the Château is rue Ste-Claire, the main street of the old town, with arcaded shops and houses. At the west end of the street is its original medieval gateway. Parallel to rue Ste-Claire, on the far side of the canal, rue J-J. Rousseau passes the seventeenth-century former bishop's palace and the cathedral, where Rousseau once sang as a chorister. The Palais de l'Île, a tiny twelfth-century fort which served in turn as palace, mint, court and prison (the latter as late as World War II), now holds the Musée de l'Histoire d'Annecy and is possibly one of the most photographed buildings in Annecy.

Winter activities include: