The Thiou canals

The Thiou canals, in Annecy

The Thiou canals wind in the heart of the old town of Annecy, earning it the nickname of Venice of the Alps. The Annecy audio-guided tour stops here to evoke these picturesque waterways, lined with colourful houses and flowered quays.

The Venice of the Alps

The Thiou canals are the soul and the charm of the old town of Annecy. The Thiou is the river that takes its source in the lake and flows through the town, forming canals that wind between the old houses. This presence of the water in the heart of the town earned it its famous nickname of Venice of the Alps. Along the canals are aligned picturesque houses with colourful façades, flowered quays, bridges and vaulted passages, which are reflected in the water and compose pictures of great beauty. Lined with cafés, shops and restaurants, lively with walkers, the banks of the Thiou are the must-see and romantic setting of Annecy. To stroll along the canals is one of the finest experiences of the visit of the town.

What to see

Here you wander along the Thiou canals that wind between the old houses with colourful façades, the flowered quays, the bridges and the vaulted passages reflected in the water, lined with cafés and shops. The Thiou canals earn Annecy its nickname of Venice of the Alps. It is a must-see stop, to be explored on foot.

Practical information

The Thiou canals wind in the heart of the old town of Annecy, reachable on foot along the quays, public spaces freely accessible. The cafés, shops and restaurants of the banks of the Thiou have their own hours. The promenade is particularly beautiful and flowered in the fine season.

Why is Annecy nicknamed the Venice of the Alps?

Because of the Thiou canals, the river from the lake that winds in the heart of the old town between the colourful houses, the flowered quays and the bridges, creating a presence of the water that recalls Venice.

Where are the Thiou canals?

In the heart of the old town of Annecy, in France.