Thiou Walk

An extremely easy walk in the heart of Annecy (because even city dwellers are allowed to take a stroll), along the famous lake spillway: the Thiou. A flat walk through the trees, dotted with numerous wash houses, mills and ducks... Ideal for a short stroll after lunch or a family outing.

Details

22701
Creation:
Last update:
Last review:
  • Walking
    Activity: Walking
  • ↔
    Distance: 7.03 km
  • ◔
    Average duration: 2h 10 
  • ▲
    Difficulty: Easy

  • ⚐
    Back to start: Yes
  • ↗
    Ascent: + 57 m
  • ↘
    Descent: - 55 m

  • ▲
    Highest point: 463 m
  • ▼
    Lowest point: 415 m

Photos

Description of the walk

(S/E) Start at the Jardins de l'Europe (at the end of the lake, towards the Town Hall) and follow the spillway (the small river) until it joins the Fier (the larger river).

Most of the time, there is a path on both banks that leads to the same place, but here we will stay on the right side of the river. The only pitfall is halfway along: if you are on the right bank (in the direction of the current).

(1) Cross the blue bridge (with the two protrusions for looking at the water in the middle) because the path on the right ends in a dead end about 100 metres further on.

Almost the entire walk follows a footpath, only the last part, which joins the bridge over the Fier, moves away from the Thiou (for about 500 metres) and must currently be done on the road.

Return to the starting point via the same route (S/E).

Waypoints

  1. S/E : km 0 - alt. 449 m - Gardens of Europe - Lac d'Annecy (Haute-Savoie)
  2. 1 : km 1.5 - alt. 448 m - Cross via the bridge at - Thiou (rivière)
  3. S/E : km 7.03 - alt. 449 m - Gardens of Europe

Notes

No special equipment required.
Gravel path throughout.
However, avoid wearing high heels.

Worth a visit

Start by visiting old Annecy and the castle museum.
Towards the end of the route, the path passes right next to the turbine exhibition centre.

Reviews and comments

4.4 / 5
Based on 30 reviews

Reliability of the description
4.4 / 5
Ease of following the route
4.3 / 5
Route interest
4.5 / 5
hiker38
hiker38

Overall rating : 4.3 / 5

Date of your route : Aug 02, 2025
Reliability of the description : ★★★★☆ Good
Ease of following the route : ★★★★★ Very good
Route interest : ★★★★☆ Good
Very busy route : Yes

Round trip along the banks of the Thiou.
It was Lake Festival day, so there were huge crowds until halfway along the route. The press reported 220,000 people in the streets of Annecy, particularly on the small bridges spanning the Thiou. Then suddenly there was no one left on the fishing route to Le Fier. What a contrast!
Thank you to the author of this little walk, which allowed us to escape the crowds.

Machine-translated

joseph.deschamps
joseph.deschamps

Overall rating : 3 / 5

Date of your route : Oct 30, 2023
Reliability of the description : ★★☆☆☆ Disappointing
Ease of following the route : ★★☆☆☆ Disappointing
Route interest : ★★★★★ Very good
Very busy route : Yes

Very pleasant route, poorly signposted and very busy with cyclists and, in some places, city dwellers

Machine-translated

Hasnaa
Hasnaa

Overall rating : 5 / 5

Date of your route : Jun 15, 2023
Reliability of the description : ★★★★★ Very good
Ease of following the route : ★★★★★ Very good
Route interest : ★★★★★ Very good
Very busy route : Yes

A magnificent hike in the heart of Annecy where you are guaranteed to see a variety of landscapes! Very easy and enjoyable, a great way to discover Annecy in a different way

Machine-translated

Hervé Po.
Hervé Po.

Overall rating : 4.7 / 5

Date of your route : Aug 27, 2022
Reliability of the description : ★★★★★ Very good
Ease of following the route : ★★★★★ Very good
Route interest : ★★★★☆ Good
Very busy route : Yes

Easy hike. Nice because it's in the town of Annecy along the Thiou River.
However, the walk should end at Avenue des Harmonies, as there is nothing of interest beyond that point until Le Fier.

Machine-translated

lauvisorando
lauvisorando

Overall rating : 4.7 / 5

Date of your route : Mar 29, 2022
Reliability of the description : ★★★★★ Very good
Ease of following the route : ★★★★★ Very good
Route interest : ★★★★☆ Good
Very busy route : No

An easy urban walk that allows you to discover several aspects of Annecy: the old town, the centre and the outlying districts. The Thiou is a pretty river, populated by ducks and swans. A pleasant and interesting stroll.

Machine-translated

c.rouillard
c.rouillard

Overall rating : 4.3 / 5

Date of your route : Apr 05, 2022
Reliability of the description : ★★★★★ Very good
Ease of following the route : ★★★☆☆ Average
Route interest : ★★★★★ Very good
Very busy route : Yes

A few changes to the layout need to be made. There are three errors

Machine-translated

jla Savoie
jla Savoie

Overall rating : 5 / 5

Date of your route : Nov 15, 2021
Reliability of the description : ★★★★★ Very good
Ease of following the route : ★★★★★ Very good
Route interest : ★★★★★ Very good
Very busy route : No

A hike with a group of 33 people who all thoroughly enjoyed it. It makes a change from the usual and, although it starts off in the city, which is very beautiful and interesting, it quickly becomes green and bucolic along the Thiou. We finished at the Paquier and the Jardin de l'Europe.
A really lovely walk.

Machine-translated

Elisabeth BJ
Elisabeth BJ
• Edited:

Overall rating : 5 / 5

Date of your route : Nov 22, 2021
Reliability of the description : ★★★★★ Very good
Ease of following the route : ★★★★★ Very good
Route interest : ★★★★★ Very good
Very busy route : No

An easy urban walk in late November in the early afternoon, allowing you to discover Annecy and Cran-Gevrier while walking along a stream. The new eco-neighbourhood limits road traffic and allows you to cross the Thiou River via a spectacular footbridge.
This walk is suitable for all ages and is enlivened by numerous mallards, swans and red-crested pochards, among other birds.

Machine-translated

PatGilles34
PatGilles34

Overall rating : 5 / 5

Date of your route : Sep 06, 2021
Reliability of the description : ★★★★★ Very good
Ease of following the route : ★★★★★ Very good
Route interest : ★★★★★ Very good
Very busy route : No

A very beautiful walk that allowed us to discover Annecy and nature in the heart of the city. It was quite crowded at the beginning, but then it became very peaceful. Indeed, the last part on the road wasn't great, but it didn't spoil the outing at all. Thank you to the author.

Machine-translated

chanpat54
chanpat54

Overall rating : 4.3 / 5

Date of your route : Jun 29, 2021
Reliability of the description : ★★★★☆ Good
Ease of following the route : ★★★★☆ Good
Route interest : ★★★★★ Very good
Very busy route : Yes

The route was shortened due to a heavy storm, which was a shame.

Machine-translated

Rvdu13
Rvdu13

Overall rating : 3.7 / 5

Date of your route : May 10, 2021
Reliability of the description : ★★★★☆ Good
Ease of following the route : ★★★★☆ Good
Route interest : ★★★☆☆ Average
Very busy route : No

An "urban" hike, interesting at first with some beautiful views.

Machine-translated

Sardokar
Sardokar

Overall rating : 5 / 5

Date of your route : Apr 20, 2021
Reliability of the description : ★★★★★ Very good
Ease of following the route : ★★★★★ Very good
Route interest : ★★★★★ Very good
Very busy route : Yes

A very easy and pretty walk in an urban setting with lots of trees. All the charm of Annecy.
When you reach the bridge at the end of the route, I recommend going down to the banks of the Fier. The setting is rural and the river rocks have been eroded into shapes characteristic of limestone mountains.

Machine-translated

picetgil
picetgil

Overall rating : 3.7 / 5

Date of your route : Mar 20, 2021
Reliability of the description : ★★★☆☆ Average
Ease of following the route : ★★★☆☆ Average
Route interest : ★★★★★ Very good
Very busy route : Yes

The route is different between the map on the smartphone and the one downloaded to the PC and then printed...
This would need more explanation in the description.
Otherwise, it's a great hike, very easy, suitable for young children, and passes through some urban areas, but they are pleasant.
The route is probably very busy in good weather due to its ease and the walking facilities.
Recommended as an alternative to the lake, which can be very crowded on certain days.

Machine-translated

Lexr8
Lexr8

Overall rating : 4 / 5

Date of your route : Sep 12, 2020
Reliability of the description : ★★★★☆ Good
Ease of following the route : ★★★★★ Very good
Route interest : ★★★☆☆ Average
Very busy route : No

A moment of calm in Annecy, but it's still a very urban landscape, even though there's plenty of nature around...

Machine-translated

EVEIL
EVEIL

Overall rating : 4 / 5

Date of your route : Mar 16, 2020
Reliability of the description : ★★★★☆ Good
Ease of following the route : ★★★★☆ Good
Route interest : ★★★★☆ Good

Departure from the IBIS hotel. Easy to reach the old town and then head towards the lake. Small squares, public benches, a pleasant walk.

Machine-translated

Other walks in the area

For more walks, use our search engine .

The GPS track and description are the property of this route's author. Please do not copy them without permission.