The full picture
Grass, turquoise water, mountains — Annecy's postcard from any angle.
Guilhem Vellut from Annecy, France — CC BY 2.0 · Touam — CC BY 4.0 · Another one of my pictures: This photograph was taken by Medium69 (William Crochot) and released under the license stated below. You are free to use it for any purpose as long as you credit the author — CC BY-SA 4.0 · Guilhem Vellut from Annecy, France — CC BY 2.0
The Pâquier is an open green of seven hectares directly on Lake Annecy's front — no fence, no ticket, no fussy landscaping — grass ending at the water, mountains beyond the water. It is the town's most precious empty space, kept unbuilt for centuries. Annecy's open-air life happens here: families on the grass, swimmers off the quay, swans advancing on anyone with food, hire boats along the edges. The view from any point on it — that blue, those peaks — explains the town's fame by itself. Lake cruise boats leave from its end; alongside runs the famous tree-lined Champ de l'Air walk towards the Pont des Amours and the Jardins de l'Europe — making the Pâquier the opening and closing of every lakeside outing.
Grass, turquoise water, mountains — Annecy's postcard from any angle.
Rowboats, pedalos and regular cruises from the quay.
The lake's swans patrol the green like landlords — endless child entertainment.
Le Pâquier, 74000 Annecy
Pont des AmoursThe Lovers' Bridge is an elegant early-1900s iron footbridge over the Vassé cana2 minutes walk4.7
Jardins de l'EuropeThe Jardins de l'Europe are a green tongue between the lake and the Thiou canal'4 minutes walk4.7
Church of Saint-MauriceAnnecy's oldest church, built in the fifteenth century for the Dominican friars 5 minutes walk4.4
Church of Saint-FrançoisIt stands on the bank of the Thiou canal directly opposite the **Palais de l'Île5 minutes walk4.5
Palais de l'IsleThe Palais de l'Isle is the image of Annecy the world knows: a twelfth-century s6 minutes walk4.6The hour-long circuit shows the shore villages, castles and mountains from the water — the best use of a clear day. Pedalos and small boats are more fun with children and cheaper; half an hour near shore is plenty.
Buy picnic food in the old town (five minutes) and take the grass like a local. Cafés ring the green with the view, but the grass is the authentic seat.
Commonly in summer, off the quay and bank, though it is not a formal beach — and the water is bracingly cold even in August. Organised beaches lie minutes along the shore.