10 Best Hidden Gems in Annecy, France
Ever stunning Lake Annecy is large enough to hide a few secrets. Amidst the Alps, lush forests, rocky grottos and lake legends, there are quaint villages with lake beaches, medieval castles and intriguing minor sights. The sights in Annecy’s old town are clear enough: the gorgeous canals that have oft-earned it the moniker ‘the Venice of the Alps’, the wonderful restaurants that line the waterways with so much cheese and pork, and of course that vast, beautiful lake formed by glacier, but here we delve a little bit deeper, uncovering religious monuments in sleepy villages, a Disney-like castle in Menthon, some rather off local celebrations, and a small selection of the best hotels around Lake Annecy.
Sevrier La Grotte
Sevrier is just a short journey along the lake from Annecy’s old town, and while the village is popular with walkers and cyclists from Annecy, this little sight is somewhat hidden. It sits on a hillside like a miniature Lady of Lourdes grotto (Lourdes) and has a bit of a blurry story attached to it, which links it to its sibling in Lourdes via the man responsible for its creation. You’ll find it just outside of Annecy, listed as Grotte de Notre-Dame de Lourdes on the map. It’s an incredibly serene spot, perched above an idyllic village and surrounded by trees, but it’s also worth a visit for the views, as it’s somewhat elevated position makes for lovely vistas of Lake Annecy.
The address for the Lourdes-esque Grotto in Annecy is 245 Chem. de la Grotte, 74320 Sévrier, France (click for map link).
A Charming Village: Duingt
This charming little village just a few miles down the lake from Annecy’s old town can be easily reached via the car-free cycle track that follows the route of an old railroad. Turn off the track just before the railway tunnel and you’ll find yourself in the charming little village of Duingt. While there’s not much here, it’s a fabulously quaint diversion with an excellent bakery and a pretty lakeside park, that during the summer gets just a little bit busy with locals wanting an escape from the overrun beaches closer to Annecy. There are excellent views of the Castle Châteauvieux too (pictured).
See Mermaids at Annecy Castle
Annecy castle occupies a beautiful spot above the lake, with beautiful views and, as it functions as a museum, a handful of interesting collections and exhibitions throughout the year. But of them, perhaps the most intriguing is the Sirens of the Lake exhibition. It
consists of a series of excavation photographs and the remains of the excavation, which we’re asked to believe are the mermaid-like remains of Annecy’s very own sirens. However, the installation is a part of a larger conceptual art exhibition that explores the legends of lakes like Annecy. You can read more about it here.
A Venetian Carnival in Annecy
Annecy has its own take on the Venetian carnival every winter, with, as you’d expect, a parade of Venetian costumes and masks usually found posing by the lake or with the old town’s architecture as a backdrop. There are typically hundreds of costumed revellers, and quite a lot more visitors, but Annecy’s cobbled old town, colourful buildings and beautiful lakeside makes a surprisingly apt backdrop for the celebration.
Annecy’s Venetian Carnival takes place on the second weekend after Mardi Gras (either February or March) and the next Venetian Carnival in Annecy takes place on the – 7, 8 and 9 March 2025.
Fête du Caïon: A Celebration of Pork and Pig
The Fête du Caïon is an annual event that pays homage to the region’s heritage and culinary traditions. More specifically, it celebrates the pigs of the Savoyard. In the Savoyard dialect “caïon” translates to “pig”, reflecting the festival’s focus on pork-based delicacies like the delicious Diot au Vin Blanc synonymous with Annecy’s restaurants.
During the event, stalls cook Diot sausage and Tartiflette in the old town, but as it’s apple season, you’ll also find plenty of freshly pressed apple juice, known in Annecy as “bidoyon.” An interesting feature of the festival is the local farmers that take over a street for an Asterix-esque banquet on the cobbles, accompanied by their pigs — usually locked in pens on the roadside, before they take part in a rather odd pig call contest with all proceeds going to various charities.
The Fête du Caïon festival takes place on the second Saturday in November.
Walking & Cycling in Annecy
The main cycle path follows a circular route around the lake, and is one of France’s most popular cycle routes (you’ll see it as soon as you find the lake). The Annecy side of the lake is entirely traffic free and makes a good day trip if you want to cycle to the end and back, but the east side (home to Menthon St Bernard and the Palace de Menthon) is partially on the somewhat busy road and, as you’d expect for a strip of road that has featured in numerous Tour de France, can make for quite difficult terrain.
Hikers wanting to get into the mountains, should head over the lake to walk between the beautiful Veyrier-du-Lac and Menthon-St-Bernard. From here, join the various hiking routes from Menthon: gentle routes around the castle, easily walked in less than an hour, and day hikes into the mountains.
Disney Inspiration: Sleeping Beauty’s Castle
The Castle of Menthon (Château de Menthon-Saint-Bernard) is perched above the little village of Menthon St Bernard (see below). It dates back to the 12th century, but the latest additions to the chateau were made in the 1800s, when several towers were added creating the fairytale castle we see today. Intriguingly, Castle of Menthon inspired Walt Disney’s vision for Sleeping Beauty’s Castle.
How To Get To The Castle of Menthon
Chateau de Menthon is a 20 minute drive from Annecy and you can get the 20 bus to Talloires-m from Bonlieu. It takes approximately 30 minutes by bike. Once in the centre of Menthon (by the church) look out for the castle signposts and walk along the trails towards the castle.
If you’re going by road, take the lakeside road to Annecy-le-Vieux, through Veyrier-du-Lac and then follow the sign “Château de Menthon” before joining the Col de Bluffy.
Menthon-St-Bernard
Menthon-St-Bernard’s historic heart is a tiny hamlet punctuated with villas and bakeries, and looked over by the jagged peak of La Tournette casting shadows from high above the village. There’s a handful of pretty sights here including a beautiful church and various bits of old alpine architecture, but most people arrive here looking for the castle and the beaches that are usually a little quieter than Annecy’s.
It’s possible (and advisable) to walk along the lake from here to Le Palace de Menthon to see its beautiful neo-classical architecture (and to book a room if you’re looking for one), and you’ll find some good lakeside restaurants like Le Pecheur, which is a delight when the sun’s out.
Where to stay in Annecy: Le Palace De Menthon Hotel
While this hotel isn’t in Annecy town, it is perched on the edge of Lake Annecy with a wonderful little private beach and a stunning collection of rooms. I vastly prefer it to the other large spa hotel in Annecy: L’Imperial Palace as it’s much quieter, without the waterpark and none of the raucous weekend events. Additionally, the Palace de Menthon benefits from a delightful building with an imposing neo-Classic façade. It’s surrounded by dense forest and dramatic mountains to the back, and is set into acres of manicured gardens. The Palace de Menthon has a private quay for boat rides and a couple of good restaurants. In spring and summer, the Palace Beach is idyllic and has an authentic Marrakesh-style tent to escape the sun.
For more information and to book a room at the Palace de Menthon click here.
Tip: Choose a room with a balcony to get the most out of those stunning lake views.
Hôtel du Palais de l’Isle, Annecy
Perhaps the best option for a central Annecy hotel is the Hôtel du Palais de l’Isle, just a few steps from the canal side restaurants and seconds from the Lake and the lakeside circular cycle path. It’s surprisingly budget-friendly despite its location and recent renovation, and some rooms have superb views of the canals and the medieval prison-castle on the canal, and the flower-lined lanes of the old town.
Book a room at the Hôtel du Palais de l’Isle here.
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