Erasmus Experience in Annecy, France by Jasmine

Why did you choose to go to Annecy, France?

I chose Annecy because it is a stunningly beautiful part of France with lots of outdoor activities- hiking, cycling, swimming, wakeboarding, sailing, paragliding, skiing etc. It’s also not far from lots of other interesting French/Swiss cities.

Fuente

What is the food like?

The food here is good but expensive, depending where you eat. Eating out at restaurants will cost 15€+ per dish. The regional specialities are delicious, including raclette, fondue and tartiflette (all cheese based). Most restaurants also serve a variety of fish- either small fried fish or fillet of perch with garlic butter sauce (yum!). There is quite a variety of restaurants in annecy, ranging from french, Italian, American, Indian, Asian etc. Some are a little further out but there is plenty of choice in the main town.

How much does it cost to live in Annecy?

Annecy is quite expensive, usually 600€ per month for rent (from what I’ve heard) as it’s so close to Switzerland. I’m lucky as my internship has free accommodation. However, food prices are slightly high, but nothing that I can’t afford. Eating out is rather expensive so I can only do it every now and then. Cocktails are also quite expensive in Annecy (vodka and orange will cost around 7€50).

Fuente

What's the easiest or most economical way to travel to Annecy from your city?

The easiest way to travel from the U. K is to get a plane to Geneva airport, and then take the T72 bus direct from the airport to central Annecy

Where would you recommend to go on a night out in Annecy?

There are many bars and a few clubs in Annecy. I’ve heard that boom box is good, and as for bars le Munich is a very popular place for international group meet ups. Finn Kelly’s is the local Irish bar and seems to be quite popular. For something a little different, try Au Fût et à Mesure. It’s one in a chain of bars that have beer taps at different tables that you can help yourself to (and mingle to reach the beer tap). It works by loading credit onto a card that you place on the table to pour a drink. They also have wine and plenty of cocktails.

And for eating? Can you recommend some good restaurants in Annecy?

My favourite is La Salle des Gardes. It’s tucked away at the side of the Palais de l’Isle, next to the river. It’s small but the food is amazing, plus the prices are cheaper than most other places. I’ve heard good things about Les Chineurs and the decoration at La Bastringue is super fun and quirky! I’ve also tried L’éridan and Le Pichet, which weren’t bad.

What good cultural sites are there to visit?

The Palais de l’isle and the Château d’Annecy are always the most popular cultural sites to visit. The Gorges du fier is a great option for those who have a car. Similarly, the château de Menthon is a wonderful fairytale-like castle around the lake in Menthon Saint-Bernard. The Jardins de l’Europe and the Pont des Amours are also popular tourist spots and great for photographs.

Fuente

Is there any other advice that you could give to students going to Annecy in the future?

Students should try make the most of everything there is to do in Annecy. Hike the trails of Mont Veyrier, go paragliding at Col de la Forclaz, visit Geneva, Lyon, Grenoble, Aix-Les-Bains, Chambéry, Chamonix etc. Go skiing in winter to La Clusaz (there’s a bus that goes directly there from Annecy bus station).

As for other useful information, the Sibra bus network goes to many different places in Annecy, so if you aren’t living in the centre, you may want to get a bus pass. If you want to travel to other towns, use the train network SNCF or take a Flixbus, Ouibus or a shared blablacar. Velonnecy rent bikes very cheaply for people under the age of 26 (12€/month) so it may be worth looking into this. The bus to La Clusaz ski resort is line 62-63.

If you’re looking for British/international food in Annecy, the Monoprix in the courrier shopping centre has quite a big selection (including marmite and PG Tips!). There’s also a tiny Franprix that stocks international food, including various Waitrose products such as cheddar cheese.

I would adivise students to come here in Summer, as there are more activities to do and the city is much livelier- there’s the international animation festival each year in June that is very popular. The weather is also much nicer during the summer months, as it may rain or snow a lot during the winter.