The Île des Cygnes is a small island on Lake Annecy. To discover it, you need to stroll along the shores of the lake. It is close to many very touristy places.
Admire the Île des Cygnes
In the evening, at nightfall, this small islet is illuminated by two large fountains placed nearby, in Lake Annecy. It is located at the end of the Jardins de l’Europe, which is a large wooded and shaded natural park in the summer. You need to go to the statue of Berthollet, on the shores of the lake, next to the sundial to be closest to the island.
Numerous benches facing the lake will allow you to appreciate the tranquility of the place. The Île des Cygnes is not open for visits; its surface is made up of trees and bushes.
During the summer, this island serves as a backdrop for the Festival Annecy Paysages, to showcase contemporary art pieces.
Many birds use it for nesting and breeding. If you walk on the Pâquier, which is a large lawn on the shores of the lake, you will see the Île des Cygnes. To admire it up close, you can rent a pedal boat or a motorboat nearby and swim not far away.
The history of the Île des Cygnes
To make the river the Thiou more navigable, it was regularly drained in the past. The product of this drainage was used in 1854 to artificially create the Île des Cygnes. From its creation, it was planted with large trees and protected from the waters by a wall that surrounds it. It is the only island in Lake Annecy.
The origin of its name: the city of Geneva in 1857 and the House of Savoy in 1858 offered the city of Annecy the first two pairs of swans. The birds initially nested on the island, and the people of Annecy have called it that since that time.
