Located in the French Alps on the banks of the sky-blue Lac d’Annecy, the resort town of Annecy in tbe Rhone-Alpes region of southeastern France is not to be missed on your next getaway! Positioned halfway between Geneva and Chambery, this charming city was part of the 2009 Tour de France and a contender for the 2018 Winter Olympic games.

One of the city’s main attractions, however, is the 12th century Palais de l’Isle, otherwise known as the “old prison,” which takes up the majority of an island in a canal and remains one of the most photographed monuments in all of France. Another popular tourist destination is the Chateau d’Annecy, or Annecy Castle, which was once home to the Counts of Geneva and the Dukes of Genevois-Nemours.

Often referred to as “the Venice of the Alps,” thanks to the intricate canal routes that still cut through the old town, Annecy is a great place to stay while exploring the Haute-Savoie region of France! Be sure to rent a car so you can roam all the way to the impressive La Tournette mountains in the east and back to the long wooded ridge of La Semnoz in the west.