In the city of Annecy, in the department of Haute-Savoie, France

 “So lovely was the loneliness of a wild lake.” -- Edgar Allan Poe

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(in the French Alps, in the department of Haute-Savoie.) The city of Annecy ia found near the Lake of Annecy (the  2nd largest in France), which is known for being one of the purest bodies of water in the world. Nicknamed the Venice of the Alps, the city is in southeastern France (to the south of Geneva) and features great views of Lake Annecy, delicious Alpine cuisine, and stunning canals. The city lies along the northwestern shore of the lake at the entrance to one of the cluses (gorges) of the Savoy Pre-Alps.
+ The seat of the counts of Genevois from the 10th century, Annecy was attached to the dukedom of Savoy from 1401, and gained attention during the Reformation when the bishop’s seat was shifted here from Geneva in 1535, (with the monastic institutions that had been expelled from Geneva during the Reformation). St. Francis de Sales, the bishop (from 1602–22), with help from St. Jane Frances Chantal, founded the first Convent of the Visitation of the Virgin in Annecy. (In 1728 the 16-year-old Jean-Jacques Rousseau took refuge in the city.)

+ Annecy, became part of France in 1860. The old part of the city has arcaded streets interlaced with canals. Though tourism is now an economic mainstay, the city’s industries include electronics, confections, and precision instruments. Nicknamed the "Pearl of French Alps" in Raoul Blanchard's monograph describing its location between lake and mountains, the city controls the northern entrance to the lake gorge.

+ Switching from the counts of Geneva's dwelling in the 13th century, to the counts of Savoy's in the 14th century, Annecy became Savoy's capital in 1434 during the Genevois-Nemours prerogative until 1659. Its role increased in 1536 during the Calvinist Reformation in Geneva, while the bishop took refuge in Annecy. Saint Francis de Sales gave Annecy its advanced Catholic citadel role known as Counter-Reformation. The annexation of Savoy merged the city to France in 1860.

+ From the end of the 19th century, Annecy furthered development of tourism around its lake, summer facilities, and winter resorts; while also enhancing its cultural attraction with its castle renovation and fine art museum (opened in 1956). and the Animated Film Festival hosted in Bonlieu's cultural center.

+ With the advance of Calvinism, Annecy became a center for the Counter-Reformation, the old Bishopric of Geneva being moved here in 1535. Francis of Sales was born in Sales, France in 1567 and served as bishop of Annecy from 1602 to 1622. During the French Revolution, the Savoy region was conquered by France. Annecy became attached to the department of Mont Blanc, whose capital was Chambéry.

+ After the Bourbon Restoration in 1815, Annecy was returned to the King of Sardinia and the Catholic diocese was restored in 1822. When Savoy was annexed to France in 1860 with the Treaty of Turin, it became the capital of the new department of Haute-Savoie.