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Travel + Leisure
22-06-2025
- Travel + Leisure
This French Town Is Known as the ‘Venice of the Alps' With Beautiful Canals, a Turquoise Lake, and Michelin-starred Restaurants
Splurge on a stay at L'Auberge du Père Bise in the tranquil lakeside town of Talloires, an easy and scenic boat ride from Annecy. Rent a bike and hit the Lake Annecy Greenway, cycling through villages and past beaches along the western shore. Sip regional wines and dine on locally inspired small plates at neo-bistro Choral, known for inventive dishes that nod to the chef's acclaimed background. Sample and shop cheese at acclaimed Meilleur Ouvrier de France Fromagerie Gay, where the basement cheese cave is visible through the shop's glass floor. After crossing Annecy's own castle off the list, visit one of the other Savoyard stunners like nearby Château de Menthon-Saint-Bernard, believed to have inspired Disney's "Sleeping Beauty." Annecy, the scenic mountain town near the Swiss border, has long been a favorite in France for its beautifully preserved medieval old town crisscrossed by canals and stone footbridges—earning it the nickname 'Venice of the Alps.' The capital of Haute-Savoie is the gateway to swanky ski towns like Chamonix and Megève, as well as the namesake Lake Annecy, which is an unreal shade of turquoise is so captivating, it inspired masterpieces by the likes of Paul Cézanne. Yet, outside of Europe, this stretch of southeastern France is off the tourist trail. 'While France remains the most visited country in the world, the vast majority don't go beyond Paris,' says T+L A-List Travel Advisor and France specialist Mark Bonte, of French Side Travel. 'Annecy is the perfect example of a destination beloved by the French but often overlooked by those visiting from abroad.' Paris is considered the capital of gastronomy, but the Lake Annecy area has emerged as the lake with the most Michelin stars in Europe thanks to Franck Derouet of Le Clos des Sens and Jean Sulpice's L'Auberge du Père Bise—both of whom place local and Savoyard-specific ingredients on a pedestal. 'Savoie has all the beauty of everything people love about Switzerland—green mountains, alpine cheeses, crystal-clear lakes, cows—but at a fraction of the price,' adds Paris-based Catherine Down, a James Beard Award-nominated food and travel writer and culinary tour guide who visits Annecy on cheese-based pilgrimages. As a writer who has lived in France for more than a decade, this is a city that continues to surprise me—and one that can truly check off all the boxes, whether that be culture and cuisine or outdoor adventure spanning from lakeside beaches to the mountains. A quick escape from Paris, here's everything you need to plan a trip to Annecy—plus insider tips from local experts. A guest room in Hotel Clos Des Sens. Hovering on the edge of the lake a short stroll away from Annecy's city center, the Belle Époque beauty is a favorite in summer, when you can dip in the nearby Plage d'Annecy or catch jazz and classical concerts on the lakeside terrace. Attracting everyone from sultans and princes to Charlie Caplin and Winston Churchill in its glory days, Impérial Palace is still the place to be more than a century later—and the views don't get better than the top floor Imperial Suite, where a terrace shows off 360-degree vistas of Lake Annecy. Tucked away in leafy Annecy-le-Vieux (not to be confused with Annecy's old town), historic manor-turned-hotel Le Clos des Sens is an intimate, rustic-chic retreat housing just 11 rooms that unfold around an infinity pool overlooking Lake Annecy. The eponymous, three-Michelin-starred restaurant helmed by Chef Franck Derouet is a destination in itself, paying homage to the natural surroundings with a meat-free menu heavy on fish from local lakes. Lakeside retreat L'Auberge du Père Bise in Talloires is a quick boat ride away from Annecy. Run by Chef Jean Sulpice and his wife, Magali, the onsite two-Michelin-starred restaurant, bistro, and delicatessen have made the former family home a must-visit in Savoie. 'As a general philosophy, I often opt for properties outside the center of the action as this gives travelers the ability to unwind in a peaceful environment after a busy day,' says Bonte. 'L'Auberge du Père Bise is the perfect example—just 25 minutes south of Annecy, guests can enjoy stunning views of the surrounding French Alps with Lake Annecy right at their feet.' The sister spot to L'Auberge du Père Bise, neighboring Cottage Bise also had a gastronomic start that it maintains today at panoramic Les Terrasses on the shores of Lake Annecy. The family-run property's 36 rooms and suites are scattered throughout three homes overlooking the water, and, despite its small size, offers amenities worthy of a larger resort, from the lakeside Boat Bar (a favorite at sunset) to a spa complete with an infrared sauna and body wrap cabin. The ancient, thousand-year-old Abbaye de Talloires, tucked along Talloires Bay, claims past guests like Mark Twain and Paul Cézanne, whose painting of the lake currently hangs at the Courtauld Institute of Art in London. 'Inside the hotel, take a look at temporary exhibitions in the corridors,' recommends Annecy-raised Allison Gay, co-founder of Paris-based Blossom Art Agency. 'The restaurant also serves great locally inspired cuisine that's not too expensive for a three-course 'bistronomique' menu.' A cheese shop in Annecy, France. Chelsea Loren/Travel + Leisure Cruise beneath the Pont des Amours (Lovers' Bridge) in a sleek mahogany electric boat on an hour-long tour through the tree-encased Vassé Canal and into Lake Annecy, where you can eye waterfront villas lining the shore. 'For just €30, it's a great way to learn a bit of local history while soaking up the sights, skimming across Lake Annecy with only 11 others,' Down says. Once the home of the Counts of Geneva in the 13th and 14th centuries, the restored Musée-Château d'Annecy stands tall over the old town and blends medieval and Renaissance architecture—the result of its shifting state from a residence to military barracks. 'Enjoy a beautiful view over the city and spend time in the museum, which blends history and contemporary art,' suggests Gay, who recommends ending with a visit to the old prisons in the ship-shaped Palais de l'Ile. Vieille Ville, with its cobbled streets and pastel-colored buildings, is a place worth getting lost in as you discover its history through landmarks and areas like the five bell towers district and Le Pâquier, considered the 'Central Park of Annecy.' Shop local, picking up souvenirs like Opinel folding pocket knives and cheese at the many fromageries before indulging in ice cream at Le Glacier des Alpes, which Gay claims is one of the best in town. The canals of Annecy. Chelsea Loren/Travel + Leisure One of France's oldest greenways, the lakeside route runs nearly 20 miles along the western shore between Annecy and Val de Chaise. Cycle, rollerblade, or stroll the greenway, admiring views of the surrounding mountains or stopping off at one of the tiny villages or beaches along the way. If you're visiting in the summer, pause at the Prieuré de Talloires, 'a hidden gem that not a lot of people know about,' says Gay, adding that you can pop in for a tour or catch an exhibition or concert in July and August. 'Annecy is the capital of the Haute-Savoie, which is famous for its fondue and wines, so it would be a shame not to taste some during your visit,' says Bonte, adding that the Meilleur Ouvrier de France cheese shop Fromagerie Gay is not to be missed, since it's one of the best spots to sample famous cheeses from the region, like Reblochon and Beaufort. 'We can elevate this experience by organizing for a sommelier to introduce you to some of the wines typical to the region, including aromatic and fruity whites like Jacquère, Altesse, Roussette de Savoie, and Chignin-Bergeron or red wines like Mondeuse or Pinot Noir.' For a quick dive into the region's wines, Down also recommends stopping into wine shop Java des Flacons. In addition to indulging in the fantastic fromage, be sure to sample crozets , square-shaped buckwheat pasta. And for one of the top boulangeries, seek out Pan & Gatô, perfect for sourcing picnic fare and strolling over to the lake. Close up ornate dining tables in La Table by Yoann Conte. At Bloomer, an airy, mid-century modern bistro near the train station, the credo is simple: ' Boire, manger, boire ' (drink, eat, drink). And it's not hard to do just that thanks to the standout selection of regional wines, with a few harder-to-find bottles from neighboring Switzerland. Plates champion some of the best local and seasonal ingredients for shareable dishes like white asparagus with pickled strawberries and goat cheese or bluefin tuna with garden peas and grilled padron peppers with pil pil sauce. Take a seat at one of the wooden tables by the expansive windows, where sun bathes the Scandinavian-inspired cave à manger in natural light. Galopin's menu is heavy on plant-based plates inspired by chef-owner Julien Pradinaud's local producers—all designed to be shared and washed down with a bottle of natural wine. 'Grab a bottle to go, since the restaurant doubles as a wine shop,' recommends locally based Fiona Perrin, CEO and owner of modern Champagne brand Champagne Rendez-Vous. The area has no shortage of starred restaurants, but one that constantly tops lists is La Table de Yoann Conte in nearby Veyrier-du-Lac. 'It's a hidden gem for those who value understated luxury and culinary excellence,' says Perrin of the chalet-like space overlooking Lake Annecy. 'The chef delivers a masterful interpretation of the region's terroir—each dish is a thoughtful homage to local flavors, crafted with precision and passion.' Choral's chef-sommelier team Alban Chanteloup and Aymeric Velluz have passed through the starred kitchens of Le Clos des Sens and L'Auberge du Père Bise, so plates and pairings are elevated, yet still feel approachable. The neo-bistro wine list leans on the natural side, and the affordable tasting menus feature playful spins like kimchi-topped oysters and grilled green beans with fresh green almonds and ajo blanco. When you're ready for a break from fine dining, Mazette!'s traditional bistro fare like homemade pâté en croûte and sausage with green lentils does the trick. The ever-changing chalkboard menu is scribbled with a selection of seasonally shifting plates, but you'll always find classics like tourte de volaille (chicken pie) and andouillette (tripe sausage). Aerial view of Visitation Basilica in Annecy, France. My first trip to Annecy was paired with glacier trekking in Chamonix, and while the nearby ski slopes and Christmas markets make the area a favorite in winter (it's truly like stepping inside a snow globe), ask a local, and they'll say the best time to visit is between May and September. From June onward, the lake is warm enough for swimming or basking on the beaches, and the list of summer sports is nearly endless—wakeboarding, kayaking, and catamaran sailing are just the start. June is also when one of the annual highlights, the Annecy International Animated Film Festival, takes place with open-air movie screenings near the lake at Pâquier Park. Road signs pointing toward Annecy. ChiccoDodiFC/Getty Images If you're planning to fly, Geneva International Airport is the closest option—about a 35-minute drive without traffic—and offers easy access to Annecy by bus in less than an hour or via direct train, which takes a little over 90 minutes. Once you arrive, you can also hop in a taxi at the airport or reserve with a ride-share app like Uber. From Lyon, it's around two hours by bus or direct train, and tickets start as low as $14. While I've flown from Paris, I prefer taking the direct, high-speed TGV INOUI train, which reaches Annecy in less than four hours, with one-way tickets starting at $44. Once you arrive, it's a quick stroll into the center of town. Colorful buildings in a small village. Chelsea Loren/Travel + Leisure 'What I've come to love even more than Annecy itself is Talloires, a small lakeside village just around the bend,' Down says. 'You don't get the same crowds as Annecy, and it has an absurdly high concentration of gastronomic restaurants for a tiny village, including Jean Suplice's L'Auberge du Père Bise and Auberge de Montmin.' For a more affordable taste of Sulpice's cuisine, book sister spot The 1903, where you can dine on hearty sharing plates while soaking up panoramic lake views. Or, pop into the onsite shop for something sweet like homemade ice cream to enjoy on a nearby waterfront bench. 'Annecy is an incredibly beautiful city, with its colorful houses in the historic town, but the villages around the lake are the places you shouldn't miss,' says Gay, citing Menthon-Saint-Bernard as one of her top picks. 'The landscape is breathtaking, and it's where you'll find the most authentic experiences.' Dominated by the namesake château, which has been inhabited by the same family since the 11th century and is said to have inspired the castle in Disney's "Sleeping Beauty," Menthon-Saint-Bernard sits on the edge of Lake Annecy and is a favorite for its views—especially from the gardens of five-star hotel Le Palace de Menthon. The perched medieval walled city is a popular stop for travelers heading from France's culinary capital of Lyon, says Bonte. Dubbed one of the Plus Beaux Villages de France (Most Beautiful Villages in France), Pérouges's architecture dates back to the 13th and 14th centuries and is some of the best-preserved in the country. The town has become just as famous for its storybook-like buildings as its namesake, butter- and sugar-slathered galette pastry, only found in Pérouges. A bicycle parked on a quaint street in Annecy. Chelsea Loren/Travel + Leisure You'll quickly notice Annecy is a city best explored on the back of a bike. More than 80 miles of dedicated cycling paths run throughout the area and around the lake, and you'll find plenty of rental shops right in town. No judgment if you opt for an e-bike and spend less energy pedaling and more time admiring the scenery.
Yahoo
14-06-2025
- Entertainment
- Yahoo
An Art Form Grows Up: The Transformation and Evolution of Animation Is Celebrated at Annecy
Thirty years after Pixar launched a revolution when it introduced the world's first fully computer animated feature, 'Toy Story,' its anniversary will be marked amid another sea change at this year's Annecy International Animation Film Festival, where the close-knit animation community gathers in the picturesque French city on Lake Annecy near the Swiss border. The festival will take place from June 8-14 amid a collision of artistic, business and technological shifts, driven by factors from a post-strike business climate to AI developments. 'It's just south of chaos,' admits Pixar Animation Studio's chief creative officer Pete Docter, who was a young animator at Pixar when Woody and Buzz were birthed. But as the industry evolves, he remembers the words of Disney legend Joe Grant, one of the writers of 'Dumbo,' who years ago advised Docter to remember that the business is cyclical. More from Variety 'The Bad Guys 2': DreamWorks Animation Will Preview Footage at Annecy International Film Festival (EXCLUSIVE) Finnish Animated Adventure 'Fleak' to Get U.S. Distribution After Annecy World Premiere (EXCLUSIVE) 'Mulan's' Ming-Na Wen to Narrate Annecy-Bound 2D Animation Documentary 'Pencils Vs Pixels' (EXCLUSIVE) 'I keep that in the back of my head as we face what seems like, craziness, that it is cyclical. And I think the thing that I take comfort in is, regardless of the business, I have confidence in the artists,' Docter says. He recalls coming out of CalArts at a time when artists struggled to find a job. 'But that was when some of the greatest animation was produced in the form of shorts. I think the artists will always find a way to express themselves and continue to challenge the medium and push it forward. So I have a lot of optimism.' The animation community uses the mantra 'animation is film' to suggest that it's not just for kids. Rather, animation is an art form that can be used to reach changing, global audiences with all sorts of stories and on a range of budgets. Just look at this year's animated feature Oscar winner, Latvia's 'Flow,' a moving dialog-free tale of a solitary cat's journey as it learns to survive after a great flood, that was made with open-source software Blender for just $3.4 million. Or 2024 category winner, Hayao Miyazaki's semi-autobiographical 'The Boy and the Heron,' which was distributed in the U.S. by indie distributor GKIDS. 'I think the assumption that animation is tied to a particular type of four-quadrant family film has really been challenged,' says GKIDS president Dave Jesteadt, who sees opportunity for all types of films. 'I think that you see a greater acceptance of animation as a film and artform. It certainly feels like whether that's 'Flow' last year or 'The Boy and the Heron' from two years ago — and obviously there's lots of projects in between — it does feel like the things that we're sort of looking at, that are playing in Annecy, do have the potential to reach commercial audiences.' Alex Woo, director of upcoming Netflix original 'In Your Dreams,' points to not just features but series work: 'A show like 'Arcane' just wouldn't have existed without a platform like Netflix. And 'Love, Death & Robots' feels like a spiritual successor to (the Wachowskis' 'Matrix'-themed) 'The Animatrix' anthology, but with all original stories. It's been encouraging to see studios taking more chances and telling different kinds of stories in animation — and even more exciting to see audiences embracing them.' Director Genndy Tartakovsky, whose 'Fixed' (the story of a dog who learns that he will be neutered, produced by Sony Pictures Animation for Netflix) will have its world premiere at Annecy, suggests that adult animation is thriving. 'Adult series animation definitely feels like it offers the most creativity as far as art and story,' he says adding, though, that he finds it's 'very difficult these days to get an original theatrical feature made.' In 2024, three of the five highest grossing theatrical releases were animated, with Pixar's 'Inside Out 2' and Disney Animation's 'Moana 2' both topping $1 billion. Dreamworks Animation chief Margie Cohn says it's 'imperative' to create stories that give audiences a reason to see a movie in a theater, and DWA is delivering two to three theatrical films per year, a mix of original and franchise titles. 'We will continue to strike the right balance with one original and a reimagined franchise title each year,' she reports, adding 'there is great nostalgia for existing franchises, but there still needs to be a compelling reason to add another chapter — evolving your character, story and look — making it relevant for today's audiences.' To address competition for viewers' time between social media, gaming, streaming and cinema, Laika describes its emphasis on building its audience. 'It's very challenging in a world where audiences' attention is massively fragmented,' admits Laika's CMO David Burke, citing the studio's next release, 'Wildwood,' which will part of the studio's Annecy slate presentation as an example. 'Over the last couple of years, we've really focused on building out our social platforms, so we have an audience who's aware of Laika as the creator of these five kinds of wonderful films [including 'family horror' titles 'Coraline' and 'ParaNorman'], Burke says. 'Now that we've built in this kind of foundation of brand awareness directly with the audience, we're able to build anticipation and have a conversation with our fans directly, online, as it relates to 'Wildwood.'' He adds that Laika additionally used the theatrical rerelease of 'Coraline' for its 'Wildwood' title release, which additionally played online. 'In total, we got like 30 million cumulative views — eight million views in theaters and 25 million views online for the title reveal,' he says. At Pixar, Docter says the team remains focused on universal stories but that also 'take advantage of what animation can do, bringing to life characters, inanimate objects and looking at things from a unique viewpoint.' As to evolving technology, notably the thorny subject of AI, he observes that it 'kind of feels like there's a very close equivalent' to the sorts of questions and discussions that surrounded the 'Toy Story' release about the future of animation. For Docter, technology doesn't replace the humanity. 'Movies are going to change. I don't know exactly how, but at the heart of it, people don't want to watch heartless robots making stuff. I think they go to the movies because they want to feel that they're not alone, that someone else out there had a feeling and an idea about the world and experience,' he says. 'It comes from going out and taking risks and feeling pain and struggle and then putting that into a story. … It comes from living.' THINGS TO SEE AT ANNECY Walt Disney Animation Studios' CCO Jared Bush will introduce a sneak peek at Nov. 26 theatrical release 'Zootopia 2,' which Bush directed (with Byron Howard) and wrote. Fans may enjoy an evening, open-air screening of 2016's 'Zootopia.' During the week, Disney Animation director Ron Clements ('The Little Mermaid,' 'Aladdin') will be inducted into Annecy's Walk of Fame. Dreamworks Animation's slate presentation will include Aug. 1 release 'The Bad Guys 2.' Helmer Pierre Perifel, who also directed the original, will be at Annecy, joined by returning composer Daniel Pemberton. Universal will present a preview of writer/director Dean DeBlois' upcoming live action reimaging of 'How to Train Your Dragon.' A first look at Paul McCartney's 3D animated film 'High in the Cloud' helmed by Toby Genkel joined the lineup. It's recently-announced all star cast includes Celine Dion, Himesh Patel, Hannah Waddingham, Idris Elba and Ringo Starr. Pixar's Pete Docter will host a slate presentation, joined by 'Elio' directors Madeline Sharafian and Domee Shi, and producer Mary Alice Drumm. This will include footage from June 20 release 'Elio' and first looks at the studio's 2026 releases, 'Hoppers' and 'Toy Story 5.' Marking the 30th anniversary of the original 'Toy Story,' Docter will share footage of Pixar as a young studio working on the movie. Andy Serkis will introduce a screening of 'Animal Farm,' his upcoming animated adaptation of the George Orwell novel, produced by Aniventure and Imaginarium. Its all-star voice cast includes Seth Rogen as devious pig Napoleon, Glenn Close, Laverne Cox and Kieran Culkin. Serkis will also lend his voice. Next on Netflix will include new footage of Fall release 'In Your Dreams,' its upcoming comedy adventure set in the dreams of a pair of siblings, introduced by director Alex Woo, production designer Steven Pilcher, and VFX supervisor Nicola Lavender; and a first look at its animated series 'Stranger Things: Tales From '85,' with showrunner Eric Robles. Annecy will host the world premiere of Genndy Tartakovsky's 'Fixed,' produced by Sony Pictures Animation (Tartakovsky's 'Hotel Transylvania'). The movie will be released by Netflix on Aug. 13. SPA's Annecy plans also include more on its upcoming feature 'GOAT' with director Tyree Dillihay and producer Michelle Raimo-Kouyate. Paramount & Nickelodeon Animation's slate presentation will include'Smurfs,' directed by Chris Miller ('Puss in Boots') and 'The SpongeBob Movie: Search for SquarePants,' helmed by Derek Drymon. A first look at Paul McCartney's 3D animated film 'High in the Cloud' helmed by Toby Genkel will be featured. It's recently-announced voice cast includes Celine Dion, Himesh Patel, Hannah Waddingham, Idris Elba and Ringo Starr. Laika's development slate presentation will include a sneak peak at Travis Knight-helmed 'Wildwood.' Additionally, Laika director Chris Butler ('Paranorman,' 'Missing Link') will present a masterclass during the festival. Honorary Cristals will be awarded to Michael Gondry, who will also screen his new film 'Maya, Give Me Another Title;' animator and advocate Joanna Quinn, who will receive her honor as part of the 10th Women in Animation Summit; and 'The Simpsons' creator Matt Groening, who will participate in a session on the longrunning series. Annecy's 2025 country of honor is Hungary and related programming will include Hungarian feature films, such as 'Bubble Bath' and 'Heroic Times,' as well as student films. Best of Variety 'Blue Velvet,' 'Chinatown' and 'Fear and Loathing in Las Vegas' Arrive on 4K in June All the Godzilla Movies Ranked Final Oscar Predictions: International Feature – United Kingdom to Win Its First Statuette With 'The Zone of Interest'
