Forming part of Greater Geneva, Annemasse is a small French commune in the Auvergne-Rhône-Alpes region. It lies just a stone’s throw from the Swiss border and is connected to Geneva by a tram while a historic cable car ascends from nearby Veyrier to the panoramic ridge of Salève.
Things to do in Annemasse
Stretch your legs on the leafy walking trails of Park Montessuit or head to Olympe de Gouges, which is named after the French playwright and political activist. Be sure to admire the soaring spire of the Eglise Saint-Andre Annemasse, which dates back to 1860 when it was designed in a Neo-Gothic style. Within the church is an impressive organ crafted by Joseph Merklin.
Located outside the town hall is a statue of Michael Servetus, a dissident who was burned at the stake in Geneva on the orders of John Calvin in 1553. In 1903, a statue of the Spaniard was sculpted by Clothilde Roch and gifted to Annemasse. While the statue was removed by the Vichy Government in 1942, it was recast and returned to its original position in 1960.
For elevated views across the French-Swiss border, ride the Telepherique du Salève from the town of Veyrier. Inaugurated in 1932, the cable car ascends to 1,097 metres up the near-vertical face of the Salève ridge, which has been nicknamed the "Balcony of Geneva”. At the Maison du Salève, you can learn about life on the mountain in a beautifully preserved, 18th-century farmhouse.
Getting around Annemasse
Annemasse is around 20 minutes’ drive from the centre of Geneva and 30 minutes from Geneva International Airport. Trains and trams connect to the Annemasse railway station and buses travel throughout the town. The centre of Annemasse is compact enough to explore on foot.