Annecy is a city for people who hate cities ‒ one wrapped in countryside, where days in the office can be punctuated with stand-up paddleboarding, paragliding and mountain hiking. The cobbled streets, tight-packed medieval houses and traditional festivals like Le Retour des Alpages (celebrating the cows returning from the mountains) may make Savoie’s former capital look quaint, but don’t be fooled.
An influx of young people moving from Paris ‒ swapping metro crushes for pre-work ski sessions ‒ has breathed new life into the city, creating craft breweries, chic cocktail bars and some of the finest dining in France. Take its seven Michelin-starred restaurants for starters…
