Courier Annecy, starting point for your visits

The Annecy meeting point 

the history of a shopping centre like no other 

The history of the Annecy shopping centre dates back to 2001. Built near the lake, in the heart of the town and its iconic activities. Since its construction, the Courier shopping centre has established itself as the favourite meeting point of residents and visitors to the area. Built on the former horticultural greenhouses of Émile Courier, from whom it takes its name, it has over the years become an essential focus of the town of Annecy and the Savoie.
For valued visitors who come to enjoy tourism in the town of Annecy and its lake, for long holidays or short stays, there are over 40 shops , and the extensive Courier municipal car park with 785 parking places. To make your visit easier!

Visit Courier by bus, on foot or by bicycle! 

Annecy is considered THE ultimate town for sport. Make the most of your stay by taking a short brisk walk from your hotel to the Courier shopping centre. Along the way, explore the old town of Annecy and its historic sites : the Palais de l'Île, Château d’Annecy, museum of animated films, art exhibitions... 
On reaching Courier, why not have lunch in one of the shopping centre restaurants, followed by a shopping spree before catching a film in the cinema?
Courier is the point of both departure and arrival for all tourist visits from your hotel.

Accessibility to and from the town centre

As mentioned above, whether by bus, on foot or by bike, you’re never very far from the Courier centre when staying in Annecy!

• SNCF station and bus station: 600 metres – 7 minutes on foot; the same by bus (lines 5, 6 and 9)
• Annecy Tourist Information Office (Old Town): 500 metres – 6 minutes on foot; the same by bus (lines 1, 5 and 6)
• Saint-Pierre Cathedral (Old Town): 750 metres – 9 minutes on foot; the same by bus (lines 1, 5 and 6)
• Palais de l’Isle (Old Town): 800 metres – 10 minutes on foot; the same by bus (lines 1, 5 and 6)
• Musée Château d’Annecy (Old Town): 1 km – 13 minutes on foot; the same by bus (lines 1, 5 and 6)
• Pont des Amours and Gardens of Europe (Lake Annecy): 1 km – 12 minutes on foot; the same by bus (lines 6, 14 and 15)
• Basilica of the Visitation: 1.6 km – 22 minutes on foot; 18 by bus (lines 14 and 15)
• Albigny Beach (Lake Annecy): 2.3 km – 28 minutes on foot; 20 minutes by bus (line 5)

Accessibility to and from nearby resorts

getting to the ski resorts from Annecy 

There are good transport links between the town of Annecy and its lake and the main winter and summer sports resorts. To fully enjoy your favourite activities in the Savoie Alps: hiking, trekking, skiing, Nordic walking, etc. 

• La Clusaz (33 km): directly accessible by bus from Annecy bus station: line 61 – 45 minutes. 40 minutes by car.
• Le Grand-Bornand (33 km): directly accessible by bus from Annecy bus station: line 62 – 1 hour. 45 minutes by car.
• Les Gets (80 km): directly accessible by bus from Annecy bus station: line 91 – 1 hour 15 minutes. Also 1 hour 15 minutes by car.
• Morzine (88 km): directly accessible by bus from Annecy bus station: line 91 – 1 hour 30 minutes. 1 hour 20 minutes by car.

Explore Annecy and surrounding area by bike

Annecy has an extensive network of cycle tracks, enabling cyclists to ride easily and safely through the town and its surroundings. Among the main ones:

1. The greenway along Lake Annecy. The track is tarmacked over 35 km and follows the route of the old railway line which formerly connected Annecy and Albertville. If your hotel is in the town centre, the route can be accessed by bike. You can admire the spectacular view over the lake and mountains of the surrounding Alps.
2. The cycle path on the banks of the Thiou. This path follows the river Thiou through Annecy town centre and is especially pleasant in summer, when the cafés and restaurant terraces are in full swing at lunchtime.
3. The ViaRhôna cycle route. Over a distance of 815 km, the ViaRhôna follows the Rhône from Switzerland to the Mediterranean in France. One section of the track passes through Annecy, providing cyclists with a scenic route along the river.
4. The Semnoz forest cycle loop. This follows a mountain trail through the Semnoz forest, offering superb viewpoints over Lake Annecy and surrounding landforms of the Alps. The course is more difficult than the other cycle tracks, but it’s well worth the effort for cycling enthusiasts!

Please note that some of these cycle routes may be closed in winter due to snow and harsh weather conditions. You are therefore advised to enquire before setting out.

tourist activities around the town of Annecy 

visiting the villages 

If, during your stay, you have the time and opportunity to visit the towns and villages around Annecy you can explore the cultural and historic heritage of the Savoie and enjoy some equally amazing activities.
The town of Menthon-Saint-Bernard, a municipality in France, is only 30 minutes by bike, 15 minutes by car or two hours on foot from Annecy. The pursuits offered are more or less the same as those around Lake Annecy: boat rental, sailing courses, supervised beach with paddling pool… But the strong point of this town is the medieval castle where Saint-Bernard, founder of the Petit and Grand Saint-Bernard hospices, was born. It’s the ideal visit for rainy days. From your hotel in Annecy, walk in the footsteps of André Gide and Hippolyte Taine.  You can also take a lunch break away from the crowds, in this small village in the heart of Savoie
For adventurers: climbers can scale the Dents de Lanfon on class 5c and 8c routes above Talloires. For traversing, it’s a good course halfway between hiking and climbing, with a view of the lake.

nature reserve around Annecy 

The most wonderful nature reserves in the Savoie are to be found around the town of Annecy. 

• The Roc de Chère nature reserve, for your most beautiful hikes in a site with great ecological wealth, protected since 1977. It can be reached from Annecy in one hour by bike or 30 minutes by car. This well-signposted area contains several types of vegetation, suitable for pleasant hikes and walks in all seasons: Mediterranean, humid, cool.
• The Bout-du-Lac nature reserve is approximately 40 minutes from Annecy by car and a little over one hour by bike. You can explore the two rivers that flow into Lake Annecy: the Eau Morte and the Ire. It is a fairly humid, marshy area, making it an exceptional place for wild life. You will discover a rich, varied fauna and flora all along the marked trails.

It’s time to escape the town and spend a day by the lake and mountains.