Annecy Spotlight - Reasons to Come Live Here

You will be surrounded by Nature!

Pretty much everywhere you stand in Annecy, you will be getting a sneak peek at the surrounding mountains, or just be facing right at them allowing you to admire the breathtaking scenery. Annecy is also one of the rarest cities which boasts a lake in the heart of the city; no need to take the car for an immediate access to it and enjoy its crystal-clear water; the purest in Europe! The bike path going around the entire lake will also allow you to take a stroll and discover the many villages, beaches, and beautiful spots along the way.

Not far from the town, the mountains that surround it on either side also offer an immense playground for exploring nature, recharging your batteries and indulging in all kinds of outdoor sports. The Aravis Mountain range on one side, the Bauges on the other, will offer you plenty of options. Beyond Annecy itself, the whole region is brimming with places that are more beautiful than the rest (the Lac du Bourget and the spa town of Aix-les-Bains are particularly noteworthy, as is Chamonix, the birthplace of mountaineering and its famous Mont Blanc, as well as the ski areas of Courchevel and Megève).

In short, you'll have no shortage of nature, and you can even admire it every day from our studio terrace, which offers a 360° view of the mountain ranges!

A booming city praised for its life quality

Home to 230 000 people, the greater Annecy urban area is booming and welcoming more and more people every year making it a very dynamic area. Yet, it is very safe, peaceful and scalable. The pace of life is generally slower compared to larger cities which makes it a more relaxed and peaceful lifestyle. Many inhabitants navigate through the city by bike using the dedicated lanes, or simply by foot to reach their destination making it very enjoyable. The crime rate is low and healthcare and education facilities are excellent. The city's friendly and welcoming atmosphere is also worth noting, and thus contributes evermore to one's wellbeing.

The outdoors will be your playground!

With outdoor activities available all year-round, Annecy's location in the French Alps is a paradise for outdoor enthusiasts who enjoy:

• Skiing and snowboarding in the winter. The first skiing slopes are no less than 25 minutes from Annecy and biggest resorts are less than an hour away (Chamonix and its Mont Blanc, La Clusaz, Le Grand Bornand, Megève, Morzine, Contamines, The Beaufortin, etc..)
• Water sports: Wake boarding/surfing, kite surfing, foil, kayaking, paddle boarding or simply swimming in the lake in summer (23°C on average) or in the winter (yes swimming in 5°C waters is actually a thing here), and going out for a little boat ride thanks to great rental shops.
• Hiking: did we mention you were close to nature? 😉 Needless to say we are in a hiking paradise with all of the surrounding mountains. Even without a car, people will be able to enjoy some hikes accessible from within the city center offering a breathtaking view on the lake (The Veyrier) or on the the Mont Blanc and the neighboring ranges (The Semnoz). The immediate surroundings will allow for a myriad of choices.
• Climbing & via ferrata: they are big and getting bigger! You will be able to find natural cliffs and tracks and also indoor bouldering places (when it's raining).
• Paragliding: if you're into it, you already know Annecy is home to one of the biggest paragliding spots! If not, then you will have plenty of places to try it out and fall in love with it, or just admire paragliders take off and land...you will see it's got quite of a soothing effect.
• Running: you can enjoy running around the lake thanks to the bike path, or explore the immediate trail paths...and participate to the countless races the region has to offer (Ultra Trail du Mont Blanc; challenge accepted!)
• Cycling: The 38 km bike lane going all around the lake will allow you to practice your intervals 😉 and plenty of nearby climbs await you!

Home to many Culinary Delights

Do you like cheese? Well Annecy and its "Savoyard" specialities have got you covered! Here, you will be able to enjoy the best of "Fondue" "Tartiflette" "Raclette" etc.. either in some of the best restaurants in town or simply by getting your local cheese directly from the farm! If you're not into the cheese scene, that's ok, plenty of choices are there as well. You will find a diversity of restaurants within the traditional French range or with a more international flavor and a wide variety of great coffee and brunch places. Also worth noting in a land of cheese; more and more vegan places are opening up (woot woot)! If you're in the mood for fine dining experiences, Annecy is home to many of the greatest French chefs such as Yoann Conte, Marc Veyrat, Jean Sulpice, etc...

Memorable Cultural Experiences

One cannot be insensitive to the very well-preserved medieval old town architecture. Its cobblestoned streets, arcades, and pedestrian bridges crossing over the canals are quite unique in France. As such, Annecy is often called "The Venice of the Alps", and while gondolas aren't a thing; the Venetian festival is! Every year, hundreds of "masks" wander through the streets for everyone to admire making it the second biggest mask gathering after Venice's. Annecy is also home to the International Animation Festival (MIFA) the world's largest global event dedicated to animation. Other original and memorable experiences include the "Fête du lac", a show of fireworks launched on the lakeshore, the "Retour des Alpages" aka herds coming down from the summer pastures and passing through the old town algonside folkore music.  

Welcoming to expats

Annecy's proximity to Geneva, Switzerland, and highly frequented by visitors all year long, means that it has a diverse and international population and businesses are used to hosting non-French speakers! Expats will have the chance to interact with people from various cultures and backgrounds and will be able to find groups, clubs, meetings in multiple languages and around different topics. Whether you're looking for an English-speaking toddlers' group or a reading club, there should be plenty of options! And also, don't forget that we have more than 20 nationalities at the studio!

Suitable to Family Life and proper Education

If the above hasn't convinced you on how good it is to be raising a family here yet, you should know that Annecy offers a qualitative schooling system and great educational institutions. Expat or international families will be able to register their children to various bilingual schools (EBIHS, Red Apple, Les petits Bilingues) if they want to! The French system also allows for many affordable and fun daycare options after school or during the holidays...yes because there are quite a good amount of holidays in France! 😊 To find out more about our time off and parenthood benefits, make sure to check out the career benefits section of this site!

All of this, with easy access to the rest of the world!

You won't find an international airport in Annecy but travelling everywhere in the word couldn't be easier. With just a 40km ride to Geneva, one of the largest city of Switzerland and home to an international airport, you will be able to travel to many European and international destinations. It is also common for people living in Annecy to visit Italy on the weekend or during holidays due to its proximity. In 2 hours, you can be in Turin and in 4 hours in Milan for a complete change of scenery!

So, do you believe your life could be better in Annecy? Because we do! 😊