Market Day in Annecy, France
My family and I decided to use the French town of Annecy as a stop on a drive to a holiday in Brittany. We had been told it was a beautiful, medieval town along Lake Annecy in the Haut Savoie region.
We absolutely loved our weekend trip to charming Annecy and can’t wait to get back for a longer visit. The walks around the winding medieval streets and along the canals are beautiful and lovely Lake Annecy is just a short stroll away from the old town.
We absolutely loved our weekend trip to charming Annecy and can’t wait to get back for a longer visit. The walks around the winding medieval streets and along the canals are beautiful and lovely Lake Annecy is just a short stroll away from the old town.
No visit to Annecy is complete without some shopping the Sunday Market in Annecy’s vielle ville (old town). The Michelin Green Guide calls it the best market in France. We were skeptical – France has so many wonderful markets – but after our Sunday of wandering the colorful stalls in the winding streets of this idyllic mountain town, we had to agree.
Photo courtesy flickr.com/photos/willj
The stalls are packed tight through the narrow streets of the old town, making foot traffic slow. But who’s in a rush with so many colors to delight the eye and delicacies to tempt the stomach?
No visitor should leave Annecy without tasting the reblochon cheese for which the region is famous, Try it in the regional dish of tartiflette (ready for it? Potatoes, reblochon cheese, cream and lard. Yes- it is literally a block of cheese in your stomach, but it’s delicious.) Fondue is another popular dish.
I highly recommend a trip to this picture perfect town. I think an ideal visit would be to spend some time in charming Annecy, enjoying the architecture, nature, hiking and wonderful cuisine.
This would make an ideal base for exploring other lovely towns of the beautiful Haut Savoie region.
At least there are lots of great hiking trails in the surrounding mountains to make up for all the tartiflette you’ll be eating…
Gotta love the diverse possibilities of a weekend in Europe, crossing borders for unique cultural and gourmet experiences 🙂
You’re right, Claire! One of the (many) things I love about Europe.
Just love Annecy, visting it often when driving south – and Lac d’Annecy is so beautiful too… 😉
Thanks, Ledrakenoir. It is lovely, isn’t it? I’d love to go for skiing in the winter, too.
[…] already written about another of my favorite French markets – in Annecy . Share this:TwitterFacebookLike this:LikeBe the first to like […]
Seems, any market in any part of the world is always interesting.
True, Victor. One of the first places I explore in a town is the market. But French markets are exceptional – and Annecy truly merits a visit. It’s so ridiculously picturesque.
Agreed. We have been there just two weeks ago.
[…] written about some of my favorite markets in France – in the stunning mountain town of Annecy and the Cours Saleya market of the Riviera coastal city of […]
[…] markets – if you want more tips for some of my favorite markets, see my earlier posts on the Annecy market, the Cours Saleya in Nice, and Les Halles in […]
[…] The Old Town of Annecy (le Vieil Annecy) is the most visited part of the city. It is located at the mouth of the Thiou river, an effluent of Lake Annecy on the way to the Fier River. It developed starting in the 12th century when Annecy became the capital of the County of Geneva. Its most famous sights are the Castle, the Palais de l’Ile (which served as a court and a jail) and the canals. It is a pedestrian-only area and is host to many restaurants and shops, as well as a large market every Sunday morning. […]
Thanks for the excellent background to this beautiful town. Can’t wait to get back!
So beautiful. It must have been a very pleasant day. Hugs. 🙂
Thanks, Teagan. Yes, a spring day city-escape on a lake is always a good way to spend time!