Discover Lake Annecy

Renowned for the clarity of its waters and often nicknamed the "purest lake in Europe", Lake Annecy is a true gem nestled in the heart of the French Alps, in Haute-Savoie. Its blue-green hues, bordered by majestic mountains, create a natural picture of rare beauty, where serenity reigns supreme. This glacial lake, formed 18 years ago, is the scene of perfect harmony between unspoiled nature and human activities.

Home to a rich and lively local life, its banks are home to charming villages, such as Talloires or Menthon-Saint-Bernard, as well as beaches ideal for relaxation and water sports. Lake Annecy is also a paradise for hiking enthusiasts, offering breathtaking views from the surrounding peaks.

A symbol of the sweetness of life and elegance, it inspires a true quest for well-being. Whether strolling through the old town of Annecy, paddleboarding at sunrise or savoring local cuisine in this enchanting setting, Lake Annecy invites you to escape and contemplate. A must-see in the Alps to discover and rediscover.

Why love Lake Annecy?

You like Lake Annecy if you enjoy observing the details of the surrounding mountains while swimming in summer.

You love Lake Annecy if you enjoy looking at the snow-capped mountains above the mists of the lake in winter.

You love Lake Annecy if you like to discover the sumptuous houses and castles that dot its banks by boat, pedal boat, paddleboard or kayak, in all seasons.

You will love Lake Annecy if you like the clear, turquoise waters of the lagoons, but also the pine forests and snowfields!

In short, you love Lake Annecy when you want to enjoy an immersive experience in all that the mountains have to offer in terms of nature.

Lake Annecy, a jewel in a natural setting

Lake Annecy is a jewel in its mountain setting. From Le Pâquier, a lakeside promenade in Annecy, you can admire its photographic perfection. The banks rise gradually on both sides of the lake, the highest mountains rise in the background without overwhelming the landscape and let a bath of light illuminate the villages that border the lake. But you have the same feeling in Duingt or Talloires, everywhere, in fact.

This lake is perfection.

In winter, it is sometimes gray, under a heavy sky, but the snow on its banks or on the slopes that surround it give it a peaceful and not gloomy atmosphere. At the first ray of sunshine everything lights up and the reflections on the lake light up the banks as well.

In summer, it is a fairyland of colors: the flowers, the shades of green of the trees, the turquoise blue of its waters...

Swimming like in a lagoon

We bathe in warm water, from beaches, pontoons, boats. The water is clean. The atmosphere is that of a seaside resort. We hear in the distance the cries of children jumping into the water near the banks, boats crisscrossing the lake, but as soon as we move away from the many beaches, silence reigns supreme, again. You will love a vacation on the shores of Lake Annecy if you like sports activities such as diving, running along the cycle path that goes around the lake and of course cycling.

Cycle around this lake. It's a marathon-length route that awaits you.

A lake in the middle of the mountains

But the peaks that frame the lake are also more or less engaging hiking destinations. The viewpoints are impressive. You feel like you are flying over the lake. Some people actually do it, in a paraglider. You can watch the takeoffs at the Col de la Forclaz, with a beautiful, very panoramic landscape spanning the entire Lake Annecy.

Cultural tourism around Lake Annecy

Lake Annecy also allows for more cultural tourism.

You will discover the town of Annecy, as romantic as you want, with its canals, its colorful old town and its castle, the castle of Menthon Saint Bernard, the villas of Saint Jorioz or Talloires… In the evening, you will enjoy the seaside atmosphere of the villages around the lake, after having crossed the same morning hamlets of wooden chalets, like in the Aravis, at the bottom of wooded valleys where peaceful torrents flow.

Moreover, at the end of winter, you can enjoy the ski slopes of La Clusaz and Le Grand Bornand in the first part of the day, and relax on a café terrace, almost with your feet in the water to admire the sunset at the end of the day. It is this mixture of genres that makes the charm of Lake Annecy.

This site is located at a strategic point in your discovery of the French Alps.

From here you can set off to explore the Bourget Lake, Geneva, Chamonixor Megèvein less than an hour.

A central location in the Savoie region, cultural, sporting and gastronomic holidays, and the pleasure of having fun like at the seaside... but in a mountain setting.

Activities not to be missed around Lake Annecy

Visit of the old town from Annecy
A crossing the lake to admire the mountains, houses and gardens that line its banks
Le lake tour by bike, with breaks to admire the scenery at Duingt and Talloires.
Le castle from Menthon Saint Bernard
The view from the Col de la Forclaz (and learn about paraglider?)
The view from the Semnoz, and a a walk in the woods
The ascension from La Tournette for seasoned hikers
A promenade at Mont Veyrier
A excursion at the Gorges du Fier
The discovery of the Glières plateau, place of resistance during World War II.

The best webcams around Lake Annecy

(click on the name of the village)

Annecy : the most famous view of the lake and the city of Annecy! Enjoy the landscape as if you were on a bench.
Sevrier: the view of the mountains surrounding the lake.
Semnoz: magnificent landscape from the Jura to Mont Blanc, and from the Bauges to the Chambéry gorge.
Glières Plateau: the Glières plateau a few kilometers from Annecy.
Doussard beach: on the edge of the lake, at the very south of the basin.