FRANCE 2013 - WHERE IN THE WORLD IS ANNECY?

Have you ever heard of Annecy?
Most Aussies I mention it to have never heard of it
and I have to admit I found it while cruising north towards Geneva from Cannes using Google Earth. Until then I'd never heard of it either.
Just zoomed in and found this amazing place on the shores of Lake Annecy.
(I find a lot of amazing places using Google Earth when I'm researching a holiday)

When I started looking into staying here I found it was a favourite holiday destination for French people. The beautiful lake is said to have the cleanest water in Europe and it has a lovely sandy bottom which you can see clearly through the sparkling blue-green water.

Water activities are high on the list of things to do.
Sailing, kayaking, paddle boat riding, boating and swimming are all popular activities though I can not imagine that this water is ever warm enough to swim in.

It is enormously picturesque with the towering mountains all around, an ancient Old Town at its centre and is immaculately kept. There's a huge green space all along the water front and lovely walkways and gardens for all to enjoy.

Old Town has a very deep fast running stream running through the middle with a warren of cobbled lane ways criss crossing the stone walled stream by way of little footbridges. The stream divides around an old jail with barred stone walls and complete with turret. A very picturesque sight.

 

Lake Annecy has a very wide tree lined road and promenade in front of where we are staying, so we joined lots of other people strolling along - walking dogs, riding bikes, just out enjoying some spring sunshine that appeared in the afternoon.

 This is at truly beautiful lake as you look over its very clear water to the snow covered alps in the background. One thing that we have both noticed here is the lack of rubbish in the water or on the ground. It is a high traffic, big passing -through population and we have truly not seen a scrap of paper or a plastic bag.

Annecy is also the gateway to the French Alps with Chamonix and Mt Blanc about a 70 minute drive away so plenty to do both in Summer and Winter in that direction and Geneva is only 30 minutes to the north.

The weather is much cooler here than it was in Fayence and we're back in our Winter woollies again. About 12 degrees top today which we love.

There's lots for us to see and do here for the next week.

I'll keep you posted.