If you head south from Geneva Switzerland, one of the first cities you will come to is Annecy. Nestled against Mt. Blanc and the French Alps, Annecy captures the essence of a quaint and lovely mountain village, despite also being a bustling city with over 50,000 inhabitants.
The charm of Annecy lies in its canals which run through the center of the city.
Although a number of bridges make it impossible to explore the city by gondola as one would in Venice, you can have an equally pleasant experience walking along the narrow walkways on either side of the canals, enjoying the cool mountain breeze. You can pause for lunch at one of the many restaurants that line the canals, waiting eagerly for the business of tourists who have come to see the “Venice of the Mountains.” Afterwards, why not pop in to a ‘patissier’ (pastry shop) for dessert?
As you continue exploring the canals of Annecy, don’t be afraid to take a turn down a seemingly empty alley way. Courtyards of stone and centuries-old buildings are waiting to be found by curious visitors who will feel like they’ve wandered into another era of history.
After all that walking, if you still have some juice in your legs, head over to the docks of Lake Annecy, where you can rent a paddle boat to go out on the lake. Make sure you bring your camera, because you’ll see some breathtaking views of the French alps surrounding you.
If you’ve always wanted to go to Venice, but you’ve heard that it’s too touristy, consider visiting Annecy. Its lovely canals are only made better by the fresh mountain air and scenic vistas that surround it.
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