A Swiss Vibe in the French Alps

The first thing you notice on arrival in the town of Annecy high in the Haute-Savoie region is the fresh alpine air and clear blue sky. Its cobbled, medieval streets have that Swiss vibe. Situated as it is on a pristine lake and surrounded by the French Alps, Annecy is the perfect Switzerland proxy. Every bit as charming and sketchable though far less pricey.

From the vantage point of the leafy Jardin de l’Europe, the eye travels past the micro Île des Cygnes to the mountains on the other side of Lac d’Annecy: Mont Veyrier, La Tournette and at a distance of only 50 km, Mont Blanc.

The spring-fed lake could not be clearer or more perfect. Swans glide effortlessly across the turquoise surface and the bottom can be clearly seen from the middle of the lake. It is the landscape painter’s dream.

But if natural perfection is just too sweet for you, there is the grit and crumble of a medieval town with its abundance of arched arcades and faded patina. Here the clock towers, church steeples and meandering canal offer endless vistas for the pen & ink inclined.

From its strategic position on a hill, Château d’Annecy watches over the comings and goings of this town. Originally built between the 12th and 16th centuries, it served as the residence for the Counts of Geneva. With walls measuring up to 4 meters thick in places, it is a blend of medieval defensive structures and Renaissance elegance.

Down below, medieval buildings seem to rise up out of the canal-river Le Thiou, giving rise to its nickname, the “Venice of the Alps.” In the middle of this river is Le Palais de I'Île. Its prow-shaped quadrangle splits the river into two parts. Inside the high walls prisoners once languished. It also served as a gold and silver minting workshop and a courthouse. We wander the maze of cells ducking under the low doorframes.

Ubiquitous is the flag of the Haute-Savoie region with its white cross on a red background which, without careful examination, could be easily mistaken for its Swiss counterpart.

But the similarities don’t end there. Swiss influence can be seen in the cuisine such as raclette and fondue and every other dish features quantities of melted Reblochon, Beaufort and Emmental. Swiss chocolate and cowbells are featured in the shop windows and one can never have too much cowbell.

Just a short drive away and we are exploring the steep rooves and onion-domed churches of Chamonix. In summer the window boxes in this ski village are overflowing with flowers and a cable car takes visitors to a height of 3,842 meters on Mont Blanc. We slide on our sunglasses and our group settles under the shade of a tree for our plein air art class. It’s the perfect day and the perfect place to sketch and paint.

Join us next May 2026 for a painting holiday in the glorious French Alps featuring art classes with Irish plein air watercolour artist and urban sketcher, Sebastian Thommen. We will enjoy lots of opportunities to explore and make art in good company.

Sign up early for the Early Bird discount and save $200!

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