At the edge of the turquoise lake, bounded by mountains, Annecy is one of the most beautiful and popular resort towns of the French Alps.  It is the capital of the Haute-Savoie department which became part of France relatively recently after a referendum in 1860.  Annecy has often been referred to as the “Venice of the Alps” thanks to its picturesque canals running through the old town.  It is dominated by the “Chateau d’Annecy”, a castle originally built between the 12th and 16th centuries. It served as the main residence of the counts of Geneva and the dukes of Savoy. The town of Annecy acquired the castle in 1953 and restored it.  It is listed as a historic monument by the French Ministry of Culture.

Annecy has several museums and interesting churches but the lovely old town is the main sight and a great place to eat, drink and natter.  Much of the old town is a wonderful labyrinth of narrow streets, reserved for pedestrians.   Colourful buildings house many restaurants, bistros and cafés with outdoor seating and charming views.

 

Annecy’s old town is particularly attractive and interesting on market days. A fresh produce market is held on Tuesday, Friday, as well as Sunday mornings. In addition there is an antiques and craft market on most final Saturdays of the month.
Arguably the most interesting and certainly the most photographed building is the fort-like "Palais de l’Isle" (Island Palace).  It served through history as the palace of the counts of Geneva, courts of law, a mint and a prison. Dating back to the twelfth century,  it looks like a stone ship anchored in the middle of the Thiou River. This river is the shortest river in France at 3.5 km long.

Promenades and Cruises on Lake Annecy, France

A major attraction of Annecy is its beautiful location on the banks of Lake Annecy. The Botanic Gardens, picnic areas, and children’s play areas are available behind the Hotel de Ville as well as the Parc de l’Impérial.

Boat excursions are popular on Lake Annecy and range from lunch and dinner cruises to short round-trips. It is also possible to rent boats from the park behind the Hotel de Ville. Powerboats and pedal boats can be rented by the half-hour.

Churches and Pilgrimage Sites in Annecy

The churches of Annecy feature impressive architecture and art. The Renaissance-Gothic Cathedral St Pierre became the seat of the bishop of Geneva after the Reformation forced him out of the newly Protestant city.  St François de Sales and St Jeanne de Chantal, the patron saints of Annecy, were originally buried in the Eglise St Francois near the Hôtel de Ville. However, their remains were moved to the Basilica of the Visitation built during the 1930s on the edge of the Semnoz mountain as it descends into the town of Annecy. The church remains an important place of pilgrimage.

 

Chez42 is a 42m² apartment (gîte) which is available for self-catering holiday rental and is designed to sleep 4 people comfortably. Attached to the owner’s property, this accommodation has its own independent access and parking space within an enclosed courtyard.  It is located in a quiet residential cul-de-sac of Saint-Jorioz, close to Lake Annecy.

On the ground floor, the main living area includes a modern, well-equipped kitchen plus a dining table, sofa, TV and computer with DVD player and internet connection.  There is also free WiFi for your own portable devices. Leading off from the main living area is the bathroom followed by a bedroom with two single beds.  On the 1st floor (mezzanine), a double bedroom enjoys mountain views of the peaks "Les Dents de Lanfon", "Lanfonnet" and "La Tournette" to the east and of "Le Semnoz" to the west.

For your comfort and convenience as well as to help you travel light, we provide as many facilities as possible on-site including some bicycles and a bike-trailer for transporting young children.  These are available for the duration of your stay at no additional charge.

The setting for this holiday accommodation is semi-rural with fields nearby.  The lake is less than 10 minutes walk, the centre of Saint-Jorioz is 15 minutes walk and access to the cycle track, which runs from Annecy to Ugine, is 200 metres from the apartment.

 

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For tarif and availability of chez42, click here.  If you have any questions about chez42, please contact us.


Features and Equipment at chez42

Kitchen/living area : fridge with integrated small freezer, dishwasher, 4-ring hob plus oven and microwave, cooking equipment and crockery/cutlery/utensils, coffee machine and kettle, toaster, sofa, TV, PC with DVD player and internet access, underfloor heating, electrically operated blinds, vacuum cleaner.

 

Bathroom : fully-tiled, full-length bath and modern shower facilities, sink, storage, hair dryer and washing machine. The apartment has an independent hot water supply.

 

First-floor mezzanine bedroom : double bed, chest of drawers, two lounge chairs, bedside cabinets and lamps.





 
Second bedroom : 2 single beds, storage, bedside table and lamp.

Outside : outdoor seating area and BBQ facilities, outdoor washing line.

Other information

Bedding : All bedding provided.

Children and babies : They are very welcome. We can provide a high chair, bed-guard, travel cot with bedding and a selection of toys available on request.

Pets : Sorry no pets.

Smoking : Not permitted inside the apartment (which is fitted with smoke alarms).

Bicycles : Some bicycles are available for your use at any time during your stay plus a trailer seating 2 toddlers up to a combined maximum weight of 30kg.  Some helmets are available.  Bike locks are provided.  All these items are provided at no additional charge.

If the available items are not suited to your needs, there are a number of places close by where you can hire additional bicycles and/or rollerblades.

 

Location

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Located on the western shore of Lake Annecy, Saint-Jorioz is a small town of 6000 inhabitants, 9km from the town of Annecy itself. Situated along the river Laudon, between Lake Annecy and the wooded foothills and within the boundary of the Bauges Regional Nature Reserve, Saint-Jorioz enjoys a very privileged setting.  With its lovely beach, protected harbour, cycling tracks and reed-lined footpaths, Saint-Jorioz offers a wide range of recreational activities all year round.

The location of the apartment (gîte) chez42 is ideal as it is only 15 minutes walk from the town centre and shops including among others a supermarket, two bakeries and a newsagent.  Saint-Jorioz also has its own Tourist Information office located next to the Town Hall.  The lake and beach are 10 minutes walk away and much less by bicycle! (Some bicycles and a trailer are provided for your convenience at no additional charge).

The very popular cycle track is only 2 minutes from the apartment and is a very relaxing and enjoyable way of getting to Annecy.

The Saint-Jorioz market takes place every Thursday morning in the centre of the town.  Here you can sample a huge range of local produce, including fresh fruit and vegetables, meat, bread and dairy.  You will be sure to find the main local cheeses: Tomme and Reblochon.

The following views are provided to help you put Saint-Jorioz and the location of chez42 in perspective.