Annecy Airfares (NCY) - France

Annecy, France - City Overview and Airfare Information

Annecy

Annecy is a city in the Rhône-Alpes region of east central France, on the shores of Lake Annecy, 22 miles south of Geneva.

Annecy is a municipality in the Haute-Savoie département, in the Rhône-Alpes région. It is the préfecture (capital) of the département.

The metropolitan area of Annecy includes 13 municipalities.

Annecy is the capital of three cantons:

• The Canton of Annecy-Centre is made up of a part of Annecy and has 15,344 inhabitants;
• The Canton of Annecy-Nord-Est is also made up of part of Annecy and counts 19,540 inhabitants;
• The largest canton is that of the Annecy-Nord-Est, which is formed from a part of Annecy and the communities of La Balme-de-Sillingy, Choisy, Épagny, Lovagny, Mésigny, Metz-Tessy, Meythet, Nonglard, Poisy, Sallenôves et Sillingy. Its population numbers 44,164.

• Population (1999): 52,100 (in 1999), agglomération of Annecy: 135,000
• Altitude: 448 m

Annecy is situated at the northern end of the lake of Annecy, and is 25 miles NE of Aix les Bains. It occupies a strategic location on routes between Italy, Switzerland and France.

• Cran-Gevrier near Annecy is home to the 27th Battalion of the Chasseurs Alpins.

Annecy hosts two annual film festivals:

• The Annecy International Animated Film Festival, or 'Festival du film d'animation' in June
• The Annecy Italian Film Festival or 'Festival du film italien d'Annecy' in October
  • The town also hosts a biennial Spanish Film Festival at the end of March.

Annecy is a pleasant residence, and is home to a number of important places and monuments:

• The Palais de l'Isle also called the 'old prison', was built in the 12th century. It is the symbol of the town and is among the most photographed monuments in all of France.
• The Château d'Annecy (Annecy Castle) was the home of the Counts of Geneva and the Dukes of Genevois-Nemours, an offshoot of the House of Savoie (12th-16th century). Today it is home of the Art and History Conservatory of Annecy and the Regional Office of the Alpine Lakes. [Chateau:[1],[2]
• The Cathedral of Saint-Pierre built in the 16th century was the cathedral of François de Sales, and is home to a number of artworks and baroque pieces from the 19th century. [Cathedral:[3],[4]
• The rue Sainte-Claire and its romantic arches date from the 17th and 18th centuries.
• The rue royale, with its numerous shops, gardens and the fountain of Saint Jean, is the heart of the commercial and political activities of the town.
• The money workshop of the Genevois now houses the Musée de l'Histoire d'Annecy.
• The church of Saint-Maurice has a flamboyant gothic style of the 15th century, and houses some very interesting paintings from the 15th and 16th centuries. [Église Saint-Maurice:[5],[6]
• The European Gardens made just after the annexing of Savoie in 1863 where one can admire the very rich and diverse vegetation.
• The Pont des Amours (Lovers' Bridge), a beautiful example of the iron architecture typical of the 20th century.
• The Impérial Palace inaugurated in 1913, with its public gardens, its beach and its casino.
• The Basilique de la Visitation built in the 20th century, home of the tomb of François de Sales and Jeanne de Chantal, and offers a magnificent view of the town and the agglomeration. Basilique

There is also a public library, with 20,000 volumes, and various scientific collections.

• École Supérieure d'Ingénieurs d'Annecy
• Université de Savoie (Annecy et Chambéry)

Annecy is twinned with:

• Bayreuth, Germany
• Cheltenham, United Kingdom
• Vicenza, Italy

• This article incorporates text from the Encyclopædia Britannica Eleventh Edition, a publication now in the public domain.