The lake

With its Swiss postcard-like scenery, the Lake of Annecy is the true star of the city! France’s second largest glacial lake after Le Bourget, this sewage-free, closely monitored lake has earned the nickname of “Europe’s purest lake”! Surrounded by mountain ranges that seem to watch over it, this jewel offers many activities for nature lovers! Water sports enthusiasts will be delighted, photographers over the moon, romantics lost in thought, children will feed the ducks and delighted tourists will take selfies! From here you can only see a part of it, but the lake is divided into two basins: Le Grand Lac and Le Petit Lac, as in the big and the small. On a windless day, you can marvel at the Alps reflected in the water! Three mountain ranges surround the lake. From left to right: Les Aravis, the Massif des Bornes and the Massif des Bauges. If you feel like stretching your legs, there are many hiking trails that criss-cross them! The views from the top are breathtaking! And if you want to stay close to the lake, you can take a boat trip or cycle along the green route! There are 42km of paths along the shore of the lake, passing through small villages and offering a gentle way to explore this exceptional environment! As you continue along the quayside, you’ll come across a plaque in honour of Napoleon III. It reminds us that the Emperor gave the town of Annecy, newly incorporated into the Kingdom of France, a steamer called the “Couronne de Savoie”. Inaugurated in 1861, the ship showed its passengers the breathtaking beauty of the lake and was visited by a number of VIPs, including Queen Victoria and President Sadi Carnot. If you’re familiar with the Annecy Lake Festival, which takes place every August, you should know that it originates from the very first festival organised in honour of the imperial couple, when Napoleon III and the Empress Eugenie came to Annecy from 29 to 31 August 1860 to celebrate the annexation of Savoy to France. The tradition has continued and today the lake festival is an incredible event and one of the biggest firework displays in Europe. For the record, Annecy also had another famous steamboat: the France. Built in Zurich and assembled in Annecy, she was the last paddlewheel steamer in France. You know, those typical Mississippi boats with the big wheel at the stern. Launched in 1909, it was used until the Second World War, when it was converted into a prison ship. You can still explore it today, but don’t forget to bring your scuba gear! After its sinking in 1971, the wreck of the France lies at the bottom of the lake. Over 7,000 divers brave the depths of the lake each year to discover this legendary wreck, which has become one of the most famous in the world for its quality of preservation. If you have a level 3 diving certificate, you can contact one of Annecy’s diving schools and take a dip in the engine room and between the pool tables.