Festivals and Events

This entire area has a rich and varied cultural life. It ranges from the rustic in the villages to the sophisticated in the cities and it goes on all year round.
Annecy has a musical programme that includes concerts recitals from the classical to jazz and exhibitions by artists from all over the world.
The most spectacular is the Fete du Lac which is a spectacle of music and dance set on stages in the lake and finished of with a stupendous display of fireworks.
Annecy also hosts the International Festival of Film Animation.

In the villages there are celebrations of local culture every week. Traditional music and dancing are alive and well in the area. The region has always attracted artists and there are always exhibitions of paintings in the local galleries.
The earthenware pottery decorated with birds and flowers in a simple style can be bought from several shops.

The high mountain pasture is the summer home of the shepherd and cowherd who look after their flocks from remote Fermes d'Alpage. Cheese is made every day and brought down the valley once a week to market.
The villages celebrate the ongoing traditions in fetes dedicated to the skills of rural craftsmen. You can have a go at some of the crafts and find out just how talented the locals are.

photos: OT Annecy/JP Noisillier/O Jacquot/Mairie d'Annecy