The history of Annecy is rich in several important stages such as the Gallo-Roman period, the Middle Ages, the influence of Saint-François-de-Salles, the French revolution, the Sardinian period and the contemporary period with the creation of a new commune.
Annecy, a Roman town
The fall of the Roman Empire caused the town to wither following the great barbarian invasions from Gaul, which brought insecurity to the town. These invasions nevertheless heralded the beginning of the feudal era for Annecy.
Annecy in the feudal era
The town’s activities resumed in the 7th century on the banks of the Thiou; the church of Saint Maurice is the starting point. It was also during this period that Annecy Castle was built. The wars and battles never ceased and opposed the people of Annecy to the bishops of Geneva. The counts of Geneva ended up taking refuge in Annecy in the manor of Novel (plaines des Fins). The town then became the capital of the county.
The last Count of Geneva, by becoming the antipope Clement VII in residence in Avignon, caused the Great Western Schism.
Annecy: a Savoyard town
Janus died in 1491 and Annecy was attached to Savoy from 1491 to 1514, the year in which Charles III bequeathed the Genevois and other regions to his brother Philippe. Annecy is the new centre of an apanage of the Genevois around Ugine.
Annecy: The Rome of the Alps
In the 16th century, when the Calvinist reformation in Geneva prevailed, the Catholics fled to Annecy. It was at this time that a series of beautiful monuments were built (Logis de Nemours, Cathédrale Saint Pierre, Maison Lambert…).
In 1600, Charles Emmanuel I, the Duke of Savoy, and Henri IV, then King of France, came into conflict. The Calvinists took advantage of this to take over regional property. This war ended in the late 1590s and led to the Treaty of Lyon.
In 1602, St François de Sales, the local boy, became bishop of the town. His intelligence and spirituality left a lasting impression on the city and its entire region. Moreover, he inspired a dynamic religious and cultural renewal, the counter-reformation. Annecy thus became the Rome of the Alps.
The French Revolution
It was at the end of the same year that the “despotism” was abolished by the assembly of the Allobroges, meeting in the cathedral of Chambéry. No more drudgery and militia. The department of Mont Blanc was born.
The people of Annecy then became French for 23 years. Following the flight of the Duke of Savoy when the French troops arrived, the population had the feeling of being liberated. However, the mass mobilisation of men, the flight of the nobility and clergy, and the anti-religious policies of the revolution eventually forced the inhabitants to rebel.
During this period, the important markets of France were open and many factories were built along the Thiou to benefit from the hydraulic power. In addition, the industrial knowledge of the people of Annecy represented a real potential.
Annecy: a modern city
The tourist boom in the town was accompanied by an industrial boom with the names of emblematic industries such as: Aussedat, Dunant, Crolard, Léon Laydernier… In 1936, paid holidays enabled the working classes to discover Annecy, the lake and the mountains. The town’s urban development began to decline after the “Trente Glorieuses” in the 1960s and 1970s.
On 1 January 2017, the five inter-municipalities of the Annecy basin merged. Greater Annecy is now made up of 34 communes and nearly 208,000 inhabitants. This grouping brings together several issues such as the improvement of regional development, a reorganisation of transport to promote mobility, as well as economic and tourist development.
It was also on this date that the New Commune of Annecy was created. It brings together the former historic communes ofAnnecy, Annecy-le-Vieux, Seynod, Cran-Gevrier, Meythet and Pringy. The population of Annecy thus exceeds 120,000 inhabitants. In 2020, the municipal elections elected a mayor with a green bias after more than 60 years of centre-right mayors.
The city of Annecy is particularly attractive both in terms of leisure and economic activities. Most mountain and water sports are practiced. On a cultural level, many events are organised throughout the year. Traditions are also honoured with the Fête du Lac in August and the Descente des Alpagesin October. The economic dynamism is linked to the industrial fabric, the moving image and mechatronics. The tourist activity also generates a significant employment offer. Tourism outside the summer and winter seasons allows people to discover the Annecy region outside of the main tourist periods. In 2020 and 2021, Annecy was ranked first in France’s cities where it is good to live.