Explore Annecy's shops and restaurants and lakeside beaches from historic apartment
- Historic building
- Slopes 16 km, In Town centre
- Historic home
- Free parking
- Short walk to lake
Property tour
About Le SwansDoors ...
If location is everything, then you've got it all at Le SwansDoors. This stylish 4 star apartment is actually part of the ancient city walls, and the Perrière Gate, which was the main entrance to the medieval town. Perfect sound proofing will insure a quiet environment in the heart of the action.
The apartment is on the Rue Perrière, which runs parallel to the main canal, and the famous Palais de l’Île is just a few steps away. Here you'll find beautiful waterside restaurants, shops, and many pretty bridges spanning the canal and waterways. You can actually see the Perrière Bridge, which crosses the Thiou canal, from the living room window.
What more could you want? Well how about ice cream? The apartment sits over the town's most famous ice cream parlour, the Glacier des Alpes,where the choice of flavours will make your head spin.
You don't need a car when you stay at Le SwansDoors - everything you could need is right on your doorstep - cafes, bars and restaurants, a huge variety of unique shops, lakeside beaches and cycle trails. However, the owner has arranged a free secure parking space for guests in a nearby car park - a great bonus in this pedestrianised town.
Pick up delicious cheese, chocolates and other local produce at the markets, which take place three times a week, rummage through dusty antique and book shops, browse in the art galleries, or just explore the cobbled streets and canals that criss-cross this Venice of the Alps. There's also a popular flea market, on the last Saturday of the month, which is well worth a visit.
Annecy is just four hours from Paris by train, and less than 30 minutes from Geneva airport, so it’s perfect for a short break, but if you can, make time to explore the lakeside villages and the mountains that surround them.
The property ...
This beautifully renovated second-floor apartment has plenty of space for six guests. Natural wood is used to great effect in the quirky decor, which seamlessly blends contemporary style with the character of this historic building.
There are three spacious bedrooms with plenty of storage space. The master bedroom is a large double with an en suite bathroom, and has twin beds that can be made up as a double. The same bed system has been installed in one of the other bedrooms and in the third bedroom there is a double bed. There is also another stylish shower room and a separate WC, making it very practical for a family or group of friends.
The door to the apartment opens into the open plan living room, with the well-equipped kitchen to the left. The dining area and living room have great views over the medieval town and the Palais de l’Île, as well as the much-photographed Perrière Bridge (Pont Perrière).
The chateau and the stunning lake are just a minute's walk away, as is the Paquier - a large grassed area perfect for an evening stroll. It's also the venue for many of Annecy's festivals and sports events, as well as open-air film screenings in the summer.
A free, secure parking space has been arranged for guests in a nearby car park.
About the area ...
A town apartment may not seem the obvious choice for a winter holiday, but Annecy’s Alpine location puts it at the heart of five ski resorts that all offer fabulous skiing.
The intimate resort of Semnoz is just 28 minutes away; you can catch the bus close to the apartment. It's just 600m to the main bus station in Annecy, from where buses also run to the Aravis resorts of La Clusaz (45 minutes away), Le Grand Bornand (43 minutes away) and Manigod (39 minutes by car). Here in the Aravis, 220km of pistes offer challenges for skiers of all abilities, and there is plenty of scope for cross-country skiers and snowshoe walkers. The small resort of Sambuy Seythenex is 45 minutes away - try out the luge, the sledge piste as well as some exhilarating unpisted runs.
At the end of a day in the mountains, enjoy an evening in one of the many bars or restaurants in this medieval town - apres-ski doesn’t come much better than this!
In December, the whole town gets the festive spirit, with fairy lights, Christmas markets, concerts and an open air ice rink. The weekend following Shrove Tuesday, Annecy plays host to a Venetian carnival, when hundreds of masked and costumed figures parade around the cobbled streets and bridges posing for photographs. It’s a sight not to be missed.
In the summer, Annecy has something for everyone - a romantic city steeped in history, fine dining, boutique shopping, watersports, mountain activities and picturesque villages to explore. Book a holiday at Le SwansDoors and you can explore the flower-decked streets and canals, the castle, and the 12th century Palais de l’Île.
Watch the world go by over a coffee in a street cafe, take a cruise on the lake, or pick up some local specialities at the Sunday food market.
If you’ve a little more time and energy, enjoy a round of golf or hire bikes and cycle the 44 Km route around the lake. The more energetic might prefer to tackle the mountain routes, which often feature in the Tour de France. There is a great bike hire shop with late opening hours very close to the apartment, for more info see our cycling in Annecy page.
Annecy is the paragliding centre of France and it’s an adrenalin-filled way to get a whole new perspective on the city.
As the summer turns to autumn, the city celebrates the return of the animals from the pasture (Retour des Alpages) - local produce is the star of this festival, when the streets are packed with folk bands, food stalls and cows. Other dates for your diary are the Festival International du Film d'Animation in June - an animation festival that was originally part of the Cannes film festival - and the Lake Annecy marathon in April. Even if you're not running, it's a great spectacle and the atmosphere in the town is buzzing!
Whether you are looking for a romantic break, a shopping weekend with friends or an active family holiday, Annecy is the perfect destination, SwansDoors a great apartment.
What next?
If you like the idea of exploring Annecy and the Alps from this stunning apartment, why not check our availability calendar and book your dates. If you need a little time, we can hold your booking for 24 hours. But don't wait too long - properties in such a stunning location are very unusual, and one this good is sure to get booked up very quickly!
Large Groups:
Le SwansDoors is located close to Petit SwansDoors. Book both to accommodate groups of up to 10 people.
“In the heart of the old town!”
— Ryan W.
“A great apartment!”
— Ibrahim A.
“The host is terrific: friendly, responsive, and a real people-person!”
— Stephan R.
Other properties you might like...
Features
- Cool for kids
- Ski store
- Apartment building
- 4-star classification
- Central location
- More
Inclusions
- Free WiFi
- Linen and towels provided
- Non-smoking rental
- More
- Check-in: after 16h00
- Check-out: before 11h00
Full list of features, inclusions, activities, nearby points of interest and special conditions:
Deposit
Book 8 weeks or more before your arrival date and pay only 25% to secure your booking.
The full amount of your rental is due 8 weeks prior to your arrival date
Cancellation
Free cancellation if you cancel 6 months or more before your arrival date
· 8 weeks to 6 months before arrival: 25% fee applies
· Less than 8 weeks before arrival: no refund
We recommend that you take out a comprehensive travel insurance policy to cover any costs associated with the potential cancellation or curtailment of your trip.
Please Note
Please note there is no lift in this ancient building, and there are 32 steps from street level to the front door of the apartment.
There is no A/C system per se, but standing fans with a cooling system that helps during eventual heat waves.
Every stay includes
WiFi
Local tips & concierge
Linen & towels
Sparkling cleaning
Location
Annecy
Undoubtedly one of France’s most beautiful cities, Annecy sits on the shores of Lake Annecy with its stunning mountain backdrop.
Known as the ‘Venice of the Alps’, ancient buildings line the canals and house boutique shops, wonderful restaurants and a multitude of ice cream parlours.
Add to this a wealth of history and culture, plus beaches, watersports and world-class ski resorts, and you’ll want to return to Annecy year after year.
Getting around
- Ski slopes
- 16 km
- Town centre
- adjacent
- Lake
- 200 m
- Supermarket
- 500 m
- Public bus stop
- 150 m
- Train station
- 900 m
- Cycle path
- 200 m
The OVO Network Review
This newly-renovated three-bedroom, two-bathroom second floor apartment is situated inside the medieval city walls of the old town of Annecy, just inside the Perrière gate. Spread over 92m², it is set up to welcome six guests, and has one double bed, and two sets of twin beds which can be joined together to form doubles as required.
The owners have thought this project through very carefully: the renovations are of an exceptional quality. The decor has funky contemporary touches and there are subtle references to swans throughout.
Real swans are to be found just down the road, on the canals and the lake. Bedrooms are spacious, there is lots of storage space, and a great open plan kitchen/dining lounge space.
Views from the apartment are across to the Pont Perrière, facing the famous Palais de l'îsle in one direction, and towards La Tournette in the other direction. It's a 30-second walk to the canal, a one-minute walk to the lake, and the shopping/dining experience begins as soon as you walk through the street door! Skiing in the Aravis is a 45-minute car or bus ride away, or a 20-minute drive or bus ride to Semnoz.
The property will suit families, couples or groups of friends, and everything in between. The amazing location offers infinite possibilities for cycling, fishing, shopping, eating etc.
For those who enjoy an early evening apero at a street cafe, you could try a different cafe each night for several months and still find new places to eat and drink! History enthusiasts, sports fans, thrill seekers, market browsers, theatre goers, gallery visitors - there really is something for everyone! There are so many events throughout the year taking place in and around Annecy and Lake Annecy, such as the Venetian carnival, the animation festival, the lake swim and marathon, and of course in summer 2018, the Etape du Tour (for amateur cyclists) and the Tour de France itself. Don't watch it on TV - come and experience the thrill for yourself! Visitors will be spoilt for choice as to what to do first!
The owner has decided not to make the property available to groups wanting to bring their pets on holiday. It is not possible to park next to the property so the owner rents a parking space especially for his guests.
The parking space is situated 200m away from the apartment. There are 32 steps to reach the apartment as it's on the second floor.
All in all, we think you and your group will be as enthusiastic as we are about this amazing property! Enjoy!
The OVO Network Team.
What is the OVO Network Review?
We visit the property and write an unbiased review. What’s good? What’s not so good? We’ll help you find the right chalet for you.
From the owner
Laurent
"When God created Annecy he rinsed his paintbrushes in the lake." This quote sums up our beautiful town of Annecy and the surrounding countryside between the lake and the mountains. The homes, the lake, all the colours vary throughout the day, changing according to the cloud cover, or the complete absence of clouds, and across the seasons.
The layout of the old town with its canals running through the old town reminds many visitors of Venice. We've lived in Annecy since 2001, and also love the ever-present swans on the canals and the lake.
The apartment, situated by one of the oldest gates into the medieval city, maintains the refined air of the ancient building it is housed in. The suggestion from the OVO Network team to use the name "Le SwansDoors" appealed to us very much.
The outer walls form part of the Porte Perrièrre, one of the most historic gates into the old medieval walled city, at the foot of the hill up to the Chateau. The door from the street leading to the apartment has been classified by the Minister of Culture as one of the most important doors in the old town.
The medievel stairwell, built in 1710 has a shrine with a rare statue of the Virgin Mary seated on a throne at the head of the stairs, the like of which many tourists would be very happy to see.
The decor in the apartment is understated - a mixture of old wood, high ceilings with exposed beams, arched windows, and stone walls, paired with modern furnishings from Northern Italy and flashes of "swan beak orange"!
We have totally fallen under the spell of this building while working on this project, and the apartment is a very special place, which we plan to live in ourselves one day in the not too distant future. In the meantime we are happy to imagine guests enjoying staying here.
Painting in watercolours has long been a favourite hobby of one of our very close family; regretfully it hasn't been possible for them to paint Annecy. So instead, we decided to exhibit some watercolour views from the apartment in summer and winter, by a different artist, as a kind of hommage.
We hope you will enjoy staying here, and will create your own lovely memories; wether you prefer downhill skiing or waterskiing, spending time in the lake or in the mountains, taking part in sport or spectating, walking, hang gliding up in the air, or diving to the depths of the lake, the choice of things to do while based at the apartment are enormous.
We wish you a very pleasant stay, in this historic heart of the old town where our four children have grown up!
Laurent & Bénédicte
Who is the owner?
OVO Network is the official booking partner for Le SwansDoors.
Your booking will be made directly with Laurent, who will also take and hold your payment until your arrival.
Guest reviews
“In the heart of the old town!”
The apartment is in the heart of the old part of Annecy and if you enjoy ice cream it is directly above a great little shop with amazing flavours. Laurent, the host, was fantastic, kind and very easy to communicate with. He is also extremely knowledgeable of the area and can recommend many things. We had difficulty getting to Annecy and he was very accommodating with how many times our itinerary changed. There is lots to do in and around Annecy and the apartment could easily accommodate 6 people. The only set back is it has no ac but there are multiple fans which helped.
“A great apartment!”
To be honest, it is a great apartment. The hosts were friendly and helped us a lot. The location is amazing in the heart of the old town. Again thank you so much. You made our stay great. I will come again for sure.
“The host is terrific: friendly, responsive, and a real people-person!”
This is a very special place, which the host has lovingly restored and decorated to a turnkey and highly appealing level. Incredible combination of modern amenities in a special and centuries old building with charm and character. The host is terrific: friendly, responsive, and a real people-person. No negatives at all, but it’s important that people coming to Annecy understand that the heart of the old city is a bustling and alive hive of activity. It is not quiet, and a peaceful quiet sleep requires closing the windows (which are double-paned and very effective). The included parking is a great perk, but up a steep hill a few hundred yards away. Overall, if you want to stay in a truly unique location right in the middle of all the old city has to offer — this is as good as it gets.
