Annecy sits at the northern tip of Lake Annecy, ringed by mountains that still carry snow well into spring. The old town is built around a canal that runs from the lake through cobbled streets lined with pastel-coloured houses — locals call it the Venice of the Alps, and for once the comparison is not entirely absurd.
An 11th-century castle built by the Princes of Savoy dominates the town from a rocky spur above the old quarter. Its courtyard and the medieval prisons below are open to visitors. The Palais de l'Île, a picturesque stone building straddling the canal, is the most photographed landmark and houses a small history museum. The old town also has the gothic Église Saint-Maurice and the sober Cathédrale Saint-Pierre, with the hilltop Basilique de la Visitation above.
The lake is the main draw in summer — remarkably clean water, good swimming beaches at the Plage de l'Impérial, and every kind of water sport available for hire. The 42-kilometre cycle path around the lake is flat and scenic, and the Col de la Forclaz above the east shore is one of the great paragliding sites in Europe. In winter, the Mont Blanc area and the ski resorts of La Clusaz and Le Grand-Bornand are within easy reach.
Annecy hosts the Old Town Festival in July, a popular Lake Festival in August, and the annual International Animated Film Festival, one of the most important in the world.