France
The walk to the Cascade of Angon is ideal for the whole family as it is easy and shaded. The climb to the cascade takes about one hour. On the way up, there is a good opening in the woodland from where you can get a beautiful view of the Duingt Castle, located on the shore of the Annecy Lake. When you reach the waterfall, take care as the rock can be slippery. If you have some energy left, you can go for a swim in the Lake of Annecy or a bike ride to Annecy about 12.5km away.
www.tourisme-annecy.net/cascade-angon.html
Google map: bit.ly/UJcbSa
You can't go to Annecy and not see its most famous sight - its lake, it's framed by towering mountains on the south side and green hills on the Annecy side, there are plenty of boats which go around the lake but it's far better to walk and take as many photos as you can.
You can't miss Lake Annecy - just follow 'Le Lac' signs from the train station
St Peter's cathedral is discretely hidden away behind the Palais de l'ile and has a plain façade but a glorious interior with renowned religious icons and an intricate altar. A peaceful retreat from the hordes of tourists
Cathédrale St Pierre is just a 10 minute walk from the Palais de l'ile and just 15 minutes from lake Annecy
A great way to enter Annecy is to walk from the train station to Rue Carnot - this is the main shopping street of Annecy where pricy big name fashion stores make their mark. But the Rue Royale has cheaper shops and allows quick access to the lake or to the canalside park off Rue de la Republique. But it's best if you follow Rue Carnot down to its end and go on to Rue Perriere which goes behind the Palais de l'ile and connects to Rue Ste Claire - Annecy's most famous street with its cobbled stones and arcaded shops.
From the train station just go straight down Rue de la Republique and turn right onto Rue Royale
The often crowded but peaceful Jardin d'Europe and Champs de Mars look out over lake Annecy and provide stupendous views of the Alps and photo ops. It's a great place for a family picnic as there is a children's park and ducks on the lake. A must do is to walk by Lake Annecy from the Hotel de ville down to the port.
Jardin d'Europe and Champs de Mars are just a 5 min walk from the town hall and from the old city
The castle looms over the old city and lake Annecy, it has a (overpriced) museum inside, but I chose to skip the museum as it was too expensive and you get great (free!) views of it anyway from the lake and from the steep alleyways which snake behind it to bring you back down to old Annecy.
It's a stunning castle with the turrets and gates showing the power and might of Annecy when it ruled over Italy and western Switzerland and its museum is great for families as children will love the suits of armour.
Chateau d'Annecy is only a 20 minute walk from the train station and is well signposted
This small B&B plus apartment is in the village of La Roche Sur Foron, which is about 15 miles from Annecy.
Best thing is Marie Ammeloot, the owner, who has to be one of the nicest people we have ever stayed with. The sand pit in the garden for small children helped too.
La Roche is nice small town with an excellent swimming pool and mountain views
1 Route de la Bénite Fontaine, La Roche sur Foron;
tel/fax : 04 50 03 3116;
email : ammeloot@free.fr;
ammeloot.free.fr;
www.larochesurforon.com/index_en.htm
La Roche is 30 mins by train from Annecy and also an hour or so from Chamonix.
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