Annecy, a tangle of cobbled streets squeezed between rows of jauntily-angled, pastel-painted houses, has its own 12th century chateau and a wealth of romantic lakeside sights and medieval structures that seem to have popped up out of a folk tale.

The local farming traditions are almost as old as the city itself, and the docile, tan-and-cream cows still spend the summer wandering the mountain pastures and are welcomed back in style every October. On the second Saturday in the month, cows, donkeys, geese and other livestock are spruced up and adorned with ribbons, flowers and bells, and locals dress in traditional costume and lead the animals or display the results of the harvest as part of a parade through the streets, which honours customs kept for generations and expresses a respect for and love of the land.

This weekend sees Annecy's cultural heritage celebrated more generally, too, at old-time craft fairs, music and dance events and in the preparation of seasonal, local dishes.

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Written by  larapiegeler.

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