130 years of tourism along the shores of Lake Annecy

As you watch the film celebrating the 130^th anniversary of the Tourism Office, embark on a sentimental trip into the past through a series of snapshots from yesteryear. Created using photos and postcards from the end of the 19^th and early 20^th centuries – while taking full advantage of the limitless possibilities that artificial intelligence now offers – this film uses state-of-the-art techniques to showcase the old-fashioned charm of faded snapshots from the past. Old Town’s cobblestone streets and lakeside strolls come to life, as smiles abound and children play…

Let the magic begin!

With a population of only 20,000 people at the time, fields stretching to the north as far as the eye could see, and tourism truly in its infancy, this unique retrospective takes viewers back to the very beginning – an immersive experience born from a chance encounter between Tourism Office President André Montaud, and IT expert and Annecy aficionado Stéphane Mugnier.

Watch the video

Pioneers who played a key role in creating the Tourism Office included Camille Dunant, president of both the Annecy chapter of the French Alpine Club and the Florimontane Academic Society – he wanted to “work to promote Annecy in a positive light”. Francis Crolard, director of the tramway line between Annecy and Thônes, played a major role developing transportation in the area. Charles Ruphy, owner of the “Chocolaterie d’Annecy” chocolate factory, quickly understood the untapped potential of skiing on Mt. Semnoz. Joseph Serrand, an experienced mountaineer, authored some of the area’s earliest guidebooks. Finally, Louis Boch, the mayor at the time, provided his full support to the endeavor.

By setting its annual membership dues at 6 francs, and after opening its offices at the intersection between Rue du Paquier and Eustache Chappuis Pier, in the same building as the local fire station, the Tourism Office’s first chapter began!

Annecy has so many attributes – the lake, mountains, cycling – as well as amazing sights to see: the churches, the castle, Palais de l’Ile (once a prison), the Fier River Gorge, or the surrounding summits. Descriptions of certain must-visit places will make you smile: “The historic neighborhoods are very picturesque yet contain poorly made buildings, dark lighting beneath the archways, and winding streets.” The perspective once upon a time was quite different from today!

The nearby Aravis Mountains started to develop winter sports, with Thônes opening its own tourism office in 1906. A tramway ran between Annecy and Thônes from 1898 to 1930. With the lake on one side and the mountains and skiing on the other – tourism in the area began to take shape.

In Annecy, from 1931 to the early 1960s, two entities competed with each other to promote tourism in the area. In 1965, they began to work together, but only in 1975 did both structures officially and definitively merge. In 1981, the tourism promotion organization moved into Bonlieu, and in 1995 it officially became the Tourism Office. Restructuring in 2007 transformed the Tourism Office into a state-run enterprise, and a second change starting in July 2025 will transform it into a Local Public Enterprise, whose governance consists exclusively of elected officials.

The Lake Annecy Tourism Office has seen its role grow in recent years, with a much wider area to serve. In 2011, the destination broadened its horizons to include the villages along the east and west shores of Lake Annecy, and in 2017, it continued expansion southwest to Alby and north to Fillière – the latter includes Glières Plateau.

Along with the change in legal status in July, the Tourism Office’s coverage will grow once again to include Fier & Usses, which encompasses Lovagny, Nonglard, Sillingy, La Balme de Sillingy, Mésigny, Salenôves, and Choisy. This new area offers several incredible historic and natural heritage sites to visit, such as the Fier River Gorge, Montrottier Castle, and the national collection of Asian cherry blossom trees.

With such a wide variety of townships and topography, there are countless ways to explore Lake Annecy and the surrounding area. With its incredible cultural, historic, and natural heritage, amazing events throughout the year, and an abundance of activities to enjoy, Annecy stands as the symbol of a destination so proud of its know-how and local products. Building upon its rich history, Annecy continues to write its story with unbridled enthusiasm, chapter by chapter.