Audio Guided Walking Tour of Annecy, France

We arrive at the Pont des Amours. Another symbolic place in the city. The bridge offers a breathtaking view of the lake and Swan Island. Its romantic name actually has a double meaning.

With the air of a Swiss postcard, Lake Annecy is the real star of the city! Second largest glacial lake in France, behind Le Bourget, this lake, protected from the discharge of wastewater and monitored closely, has earned the nickname of the purest lake in Europe!

You are now arriving at the square of Saint-François-de-Sales, in front of the church of the same name. It is also called the parish of the Italians, for the simple and good reason that it is frequented mainly by the Italian community of Annecy.

You see it and you were waiting for it, so let's attack right away through the famous Palais de l'Île, more commonly known as the old prison. It is the most photographed monument in the city.

You have noticed that the streets of Annecy have remained very typical of the Middle Ages. Fortified gates are a good example.

Here you are in front of Annecy Castle, overlooking the old town on the mountainside. Strategically placed to monitor the entire plain, it made it possible to observe movements on the road between Geneva and Italy.

Here you are on the first stone bridge in Annecy, built in the 13th century. It allowed the Alpine road that linked Geneva to Italy to cross the Thiou.

Here you are in one of the main streets of the city. It was the first street that allowed you to cross Annecy entirely by cart!

Here we are in a much more modern square, Place Sainte-Claire. A little bit like an 80s ski resort, but that doesn't matter.

Some memories are noteworthy, others deserve a Golden Baluster. On Easter day in 1728, Jean Jacques Rousseau met Madame de Warens.

You are now arriving in front of the church of Notre-Dame de Liesse. It was founded in the 14th century by the counts of Geneva who wanted a place worthy of the name to accommodate their future burials.

When Rue Royale becomes Rue du Pâquier, you can observe a very old well border. This well dates from the 15th century in fact.

The Old Hotel de Sales that you see in front of you is one of the few private mansions in Annecy. It was built by the de Sales family, who were therefore descended from Saint Francis de Sales.