On A Grand Tour

At only an hour away from Geneva, Annecy, France, has been somewhere we’ve been meaning to visit for a long time, and we finally made it to perhaps one of the prettiest towns ever recently. Often called the “Venice of the Alps” for the canals that run through town, Annecy sits on the edge of Lake Annecy, considered the cleanest lake in all of Europe. The pastel-hued medieval architecture, when combined with the clear turquoise water of the lake and canals, makes for quite the colorful panorama, an effect that became even more brilliant as the cloudy morning gave way to a vibrantly sunny afternoon.

We started our day with a jaunt through the Old Town Market, an extensive outdoor market that winds in and out of the alleys and bridges of Annecy and includes everything from street food and produce to clothing and handcrafted goods.

I am a sucker for local markets, which means that I have to hold myself back or else I will end up with bags full of products and food in every single place I visit. I was proud of myself this time, as we left the market with only lunch and mulled wine. We found a spot on Lake Annecy to enjoy lunch—sandwiches with yummy reblochon cheese, a local specialty—and watch the morning clouds slowly clear to reveal the mountainsides surrounding the lake and the crystal-clear water. We could have stayed there for hours reveling in the natural beauty.

We next headed to some of Annecy’s most well-known landmarks. On the Pont des Amours, or Lovers’ Bridge, we shared a photo op and a smooch (local lore says that two people who kiss while standing at the center of the bridge will have never-ending love, after all).

We admired the Palais de l’Isle, the 12^th-century former prison located on a natural island in the middle of Annecy’s main canal, from every possible angle.

We climbed up to the castle that rises above the old town, enjoying the views of the castle as well as the sunset over the red rooftops of Annecy.

As we headed back down into the heart of town, the fading daylight and the lights slowly coming on cast the entire town in a new, beautiful light. I love how differences in time of year, weather, or even time of day can completely change the look of a place. For this reason, I never mind retracing my steps; there is always a new perspective or view.

This is definitely a must-see place while touring Switzerland or France—make sure to add it to your list!