Annecy
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| Ville d'Annecy | ||
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| City flag | Coat of arms | |
| Location | ||
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| Time Zone | CET (GMT +1) | |
| Coordinates | 45°54′00″N 06°07′49″E / 45.9°N 6.13028°E | |
| Administration | ||
|---|---|---|
| Country | France | |
| Region | Rhône-Alpes | |
| Department | Haute-Savoie | |
| Arrondissement | Annecy | |
| Intercommunality | Annecy | |
| Mayor | Jean-Luc Rigaut (since 2007) |
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| Statistics | ||
| Elevation | 418–926 m (1,370–3,040 ft) (avg. 448 m/1,470 ft) |
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| Land area1 | 13.75 km2 (5.31 sq mi) | |
| Population2 | 52,890 (2006) | |
| - Density | 3,847 /km² (9,960 /sq mi) | |
| Miscellaneous | ||
| INSEE/Postal code | 74010/ 74000 | |
| Dialling code | 0450 | |
| 1 French Land Register data, which excludes lakes, ponds, glaciers > 1 km² (0.386 sq mi or 247 acres) and river estuaries. | ||
| 2 Population sans doubles comptes: residents of multiple communes (e.g., students and military personnel) only counted once. | ||
Annecy (Èneci / Ènneci in Arpitan language) is a commune in the Haute-Savoie department in the Rhône-Alpes region in southeastern France.
It lies on northern tip of Lake Annecy (Lac d'Annecy), 35 kilometers south of Geneva.
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[edit] Administration
Annecy is the capital of the department.
The metropolitan area of Annecy includes 13 municipalities.
Annecy is the capital of three cantons:
- The Canton of Annecy-Centre is made up of a part of Annecy and has 15,344 inhabitants;
- The Canton of Annecy-Nord-Est is also made up of part of Annecy and counts 19,540 inhabitants;
- The largest canton is that of the Annecy-Nord-Ouest, which is formed from a part of Annecy and the communities of La Balme-de-Sillingy, Choisy, Épagny, Lovagny, Mésigny, Metz-Tessy, Meythet, Nonglard, Poisy, Sallenôves et Sillingy. Its population numbers 44,164.
[edit] History
Annecy is located between Geneva and Chambéry. Thus its history was strongly influenced by these two towns between the 10th and the 19th century. Starting as the capital of the county of Geneva, after the demise of the counts of Geneva, it became integrated into the House of Savoy's possessions in 1401. In 1444, it was set up by the Princes of Savoy as the capital of a region covering the possessions of the Genevois, Faucigny and Beaufortain. With the advance of Calvinism in 1535, it became a center for the Counter-Reformation and the bishop's see of Geneva was transferred here[1]
During the French Revolution, the Savoy region was conquered by France and Annecy became attached to the département of Mont Blanc, of which capital was Chambéry. After the Bourbon Restoration in 1815, it was returned to the Kingdom of Sardinia (heir of the Duchy of Savoy). When Savoy was sold to France in 1860, it became the capital of the new département of Haute-Savoie.
Francis of Sales was born at the castle of Sales, close by, in 1567. He was bishop of Annecy from 1602 to 1622.
Annecy was the site of the second round of General Agreement on Tariffs and Trade (GATT) talks in 1949.
[edit] Geography
The Fier forms part of the commune's northwestern border.
[edit] Culture
Annecy has hosted the Annecy International Animated Film Festival since 1960.
[edit] Main sights
Sights in Annecy include:
- The Palais de l'Isle, also called the "old prison", was built from the 12th century. Taking up most of the island in a canal, it is the symbol of the town and is among the most photographed monuments in all of France.
- The Château d'Annecy (Annecy Castle) was the home of the Counts of Geneva and the Dukes of Genevois-Nemours, an offshoot of the House of Savoie (12th-16th century). Today the restored castle houses the Art and History Conservatory of Annecy and the Regional Office of the Alpine Lakes. [2],[3]
- The Cathedral of Saint-Pierre, built in the early 16th century as a Franciscan friary, was the cathedral of François de Sales and is home to a number of artworks and baroque pieces from the 19th century. [4],[5]
- The rue Sainte-Claire and its romantic arches date from the 17th and 18th centuries.
- The rue royale, with its numerous shops, gardens and the fountain of Saint Jean is the heart of the commercial and political activities of the town.
- The money workshop of the Genevois now houses the Musée de l'Histoire d'Annecy.
- The church of Saint-Maurice, originally constructed as a church of the Dominican order, has a flamboyant gothic style of the 15th century, and houses some very memorial interesting paintings from the 15th and 16th centuries. [6],[7]
- The European Gardens, made just after the annexing of Savoie in 1863, where one can admire the very rich and diverse vegetation.
- The Pont des Amours (Lovers' Bridge), a beautiful example of the iron architecture typical of the 20th century.
- The Impérial Palace, inaugurated in 1913, with its public gardens, its beach and its casino.
- The Basilique de la Visitation, built in the 20th century, home of the tomb of François de Sales and Jeanne de Chantal, offers a magnificent view of the town and the agglomeration.
[edit] Education
[edit] Research organisations
- LAPP Laboratoire d'Annecy-le-Vieux de Physique des Particules specialized in Physics
- Mecatronics department of CETIM [2]
- Different R&D activities in the Université de Savoie and its Ecole Polytechnique d'Ingenieurs: Polytech'Savoie.
[edit] Economy
Companies located in and around Annecy include:
- Salomon Group
- SNR Roulements
- Staubli
- Alcatel Vacuum Technology
- Sopra Group
- Ubisoft
[edit] Twin towns
Annecy is twinned with:
![Panoramic view of Annecy[3].](http://roadsat.com/wiki/File:Annecy-lac-1.jpg)
[edit] See also
- Arpitan language
- Arpitania
- Duchy of Savoy
- House of Savoy
- Kingdom of Sardinia
- Communes of the Haute-Savoie department
[edit] References
This article incorporates text from the Encyclopædia Britannica, Eleventh Edition, a publication now in the public domain.
[edit] External links
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Wikimedia Commons has media related to: Annecy |
- Annecy town website (French) (English)
- Annecy photos guide (French)
- The former mayor of Annecy Bernard Bosson (French)
- Satellite's view of Annecy's Lake
- Official web site of the Association Annecy Traditions, organizer (English)
- The International Animated Film Festival
- Festival du film italien d'Annecy
- Annecy City (English) (French)
- Annecy Tourist guide (French)
[edit] Gallery
 Palais de l'Isle jail by night.. |
 View of the Lake. |
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![[2]](http://perso.orange.fr/istanbul/ANNECY/photographie_annecy_chateau4.JPG){kind=link}
![[3]](http://perso.orange.fr/istanbul/ANNECY/photographie_annecy_chateau6.jpg){kind=link}
![[4]](http://perso.orange.fr/istanbul/ANNECY/photographie_annecy_cathedrale-saint-pierre2.jpg){kind=link}
![[5]](http://michele-gabriel.chez-alice.fr/images/vigorg/acy.cth219org.jpg){kind=link}
![[6]](http://christian.pourre.free.fr/p640/annecy_saint_maurice.jpg){kind=link}
![[7]](http://www.sav.org/montmin/images/o07b.jpg){kind=link}