Annecy

Annecy is a town in the Haute-Savoie region of eastern France, on the shores of Lake Annecy, 22 miles south of Geneva.

Sites of interest

Annecy is a pleasant residence, and is home to a number of important places and monuments:

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• The Palais de l'Isle also called the "old prison", was built in the 12th century. It is the symbol of the town and is amony one of the most photographed monumnets in all of France.
• The Château d'Annecy(Annecy Castle) was the home of the Counts of Geneva and the Dukes of Genevois-Nemours, an offshoot of the House of Savoie (12th-16th century). Today it is home of the Art and History Conservatory of Annecy and the Regional Office of the Alpine Lakes.
• The Cathedral of Saint-Pierre built in the 16th century was the cathedral of François de Sales, and is home to a number of artworks and baroque pieces from the 19th century.
• The rue Sainte-Claire and its romantic arches date from the 17th and 18th centuries.
• The rue royale, with its numerous shops, gardensand the fountain of Saint-Jean, is the heart of the commercial and political activities of the town.
• The money workshop of the Genevois now houses the Musée de l'Histoire d'Annecy.
• The church of Saint-Maurice has a flamboyant gothic style of the 15th century, and houses some very interesting paintings from the 15th and 16th centuries.
• The European Gardens made just after the annexing of Savoie in 1863 where one can admire the very rich and diverse vegetation.
• The Pont des Amours(Lovers Bridge), a beautiful example of the iron architecture typical of the 20th century.
• The Impérial Palace inaugurated in 1913, with its public gardens, its beach and its casino.
• The Basilique de la Visitation built in the 20th century, home of the tomb of François de Sales and Jeanne de Chantal, and offers a magnificent view of the town and the agglomeration.

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There is also a public library, with 20,000 volumes, and various scientific collections.

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