'Simply Annecy' Explores the Suburbs of Annecy.
- Bernie
- Mar 7, 2024
- 6 min read
Updated: May 31, 2024
Are you an expat thinking of moving to Annecy who would like to be near the town but you're unsure of where exactly because you don't know the area that well? This post is for you. It will start with a brief geographical rundown of Annecy in relation to the rest of France and then explore each of the suburbs around Annecy so that you have a better idea of which area is best suited to your needs.
Basic Geographical Facts
Let's put things into context. France is made up of 18 administrative regions, 13 of which are in metropolitan France and include Corsica, whilst the remaining 5 are 'overseas' regions; Mayotte, Reunion, Guadeloupe, Martinique and French Guiana. Annecy is located in the province of Auvergne Rhone Alpes.
Auvergne Rhone-Alpes consists of 12 departments and is the second largest region in France in terms of GDP and population (nearly 8 million inhabitants). Source: Ined (Institute National D'Études Démographiques)
Looking at the individual departments of Auvergne Rhone-Alpes, they couldn't be more different from one another; from the Mont-Blanc and various popular ski resorts in the east, to the Ardèche and the Drôme near the south of France, known for their lavender fields and olive groves. Amongst all this you have Lyon, the gastronomic capital of France.
Of these 12 departments, there is Haute-Savoie of which Annecy is the largest town and prefecture* and can be found at the northern end of the French Alps.
*A prefecture is an administrative office of the Ministry of the Interior. They are responsible for the delivery of identity cards, driving licenses, passports, residency and work permits for foreigners, vehicle registration and the registration of associations. They also mange the National Police and firefighters.
Annecy's Geographical Location
The town of Annecy is at the northern tip of lake Annecy. It's 40 km (25 mi) south of Geneva, Switzerland, 110 km (68 mi) to the Italian border (Aosta valley), 145 km (90 mi) to Lyon and 50 km (31 mi) to Chambery.
If you like numbers, here are a few for you. The population of Annecy itself
was just over 54,000 in 2016 which is the last figure available before a merger of several communes (see map below). This merger raised the population to 128,199 inhabitants. According to the last official census in 2020, this went up to 131,766 and based on an average annual population growth rate for Annecy, the population was predicted to be 135,759 in 2023. Annecy's population is therefore growing. Feel free to check out plenty of other stats here.
In 2017, Annecy brought together 6 areas to create Grand Annecy. These are Annecy, Annecy-le-Vieux, Cran-Gevrier, Meythet, Pringy and Seynod. Basically it means that instead of having independent administrative systems, they are now aligned into one. In total Grand Annecy consists of 34 communes, 20 of which have less than 2,000 inhabitants.
Let's now look at each of these areas.
The town of Annecy folds around the northwestern edge of the lake.
It's known for it's quaint (Vieille Ville) with it's cobbled streets, pastel-coloured buildings and the river Thiou which flows from the lake, winding through the town and continues out towards Cran Gevrier and Meythet. The old town is quite small (66.94m2) so it's very easy to get around on foot.
Living in the old town can be a wonderful experience as it comes alive with the buzz of various cultural events throughout the year and you can easily get around on foot. There's a variety of local markets for food, clothes, household good, you name it.
The old town hosts a range of cultural events throughout the year and together with the chateau, the cobbled alleyways hiding art galleries and quirky boutiques, there is also a large selection of ice cream sellers, riverside restaurants and cafes to choose from. All in all, the old town is a popular tourist destination and in the peak months, particularly during the 'big' summer break (July-August), it can be bustling with activity but despite this, there's an undeniable charm to wandering through the busy narrow streets. The terraces will be full throughout the day but particularly in the evening. If you live anywhere nearby, you will know when the holiday season starts as the noise late into the evening is quite noticeable!
One thing to note is that depending on where you live, you may or may not have a parking spot near the old town as parking is limited. The heart of the old town is pedestrianised and aside from a couple of car parks, you can't just park wherever you want. We had to park our car outside of the centre and walk 10-15 mins to our apartment. If you don't have a car but use the train, the station is a 10-15 mins walk.
This is one of the most popular neighbourhoods to live because of it's easy access to the Geneva motorway, the old town (roughly 3km away) and the lake. You have the tranquility of being slightly rural without feeling isolated. It is also a good choice if you want to send your children to the international bilingual school.
A word of warning, Annecy-Le-Vieux spreads up and away from the lake-front from an altitude of 447m to 1153m. I remember thinking I'd found the perfect place to live until I realised it was at the top of a very steep hill. There was no way I was getting up there with my son on the back of the bike! Aside from that slight issue, you do have amazing views of the lake.
Formerly two separate hamlets, it's simply known as Cran. This neighbourhood is relatively quieter compared to that of Annecy. It's located to the west of Annecy centre and is therefore not on the lakefront. It is not as pretty as other areas but it's also not as busy and therefore accommodation is more affordable. The old town is roughly a 30mins walk or 15mins bike ride away depending on where you are exactly.
The river Thiou flows through Cran into Annecy centre. The walk along the river banks is rather picturesque with wooded walkways, benches and play areas for children.
Just west of Cran Gevrier is the suburb of Meythet.
Like Cran Gevrier, it is quieter than Annecy and less expensive compared to Annecy and Annecy-Le-Vieux. You have more chance of finding an affordable house here. It also has convenient access to the motorway and is within a cycle ride of the old town. If you like being close to the countryside whilst having local amenities on your doorstep or even if you enjoy flying, there is a small airport nearby!
Source: Annecy Ville, Wikipedia.
This is the up and coming suburb of Annecy.
Pringy is further away from the lake (+/-15mins by car), it has a vibrant village centre and offers close access to the motorway. If you're thinking of buying and need to commute to Geneva, this might be a good option for you.
Source: Annecy Ville
New builds continue to sprout all over the area but particularly here. Pringy is undergoing a huge expansion with an eco project called 'Pré Billy' which covers 21 hectares of land and includes:
920 residential properties
7 ha of parkland, wetlands, shared gardens and ponds,
2.6 ha of existing roads to be upgraded
0.7 ha of new roads,
0.4 ha of new soft-mode roads for bicycles, pedestrians
8,000 m² of business premises,
7,000 m² of commercial and service premises; hotel, shops and services
Source: TERACTEM
As an aside, here's a bit of history for you. The name 'Pré Billy' stems from local history and heritage. Pré is a meadow or field and apparently 'Pré Billy' is mentioned on maps going back to 1730 and is mentioned in a division of land between the d'Anières de Sales and Varenard de Billy families. Billy comes from bilia in Celtic and billia in medieval Latin means tree trunk (or log), hence the name billon in Savoyard dialect.
This suburb lies southwest of Annecy and touches the mountain of Semnoz, the nearest spot to ski on this side of the lake.
It's similar to Annecy-Le-Vieux in that it's altitude varies between 450 and 1,020m so bear in mind those steep inclines if you decide to live here. There is a strong sense of community in the old part of Seynod which I think stems from the fact that in the 1950s it was essentially a rural community with over 80 farms.
Seynod combines the tranquility of the beautiful countryside with the proximity of Annecy. Aside from the local shops, it also has an indoor swimming pool and a shopping centre with a large Decathlon and Auchan superstore.
Source: Annecy Ville; the town hall, La Galerie, Seynod. Right - the countryside isn't far away.
Last words...
This takes us to the end of our tour around 'Grand Annecy'. There is of course much more to say and share and I will expand on the different areas as and when there are new developments or notable changes. I hope it gives you some idea of what to expect should you move this way. Next, I'll take you on a little tour of the villages around the lake.
À bientôt......
Email: info@simplyannecy.com
Tel: 06 28 13 82 60
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