Photo of Annecy, a French Town on the Annecy Lake, not Far from the Border with Switzerland

Annecy, a French Town on the Annecy Lake, not far from the border with Switzerland. The town's population is about 50 000 residents. The Annecy International Animated Film Festival is held hear every year since 1960 and the Rencontres Internationales d'Annecy Cinéma & Architecture - since 1999. The town is also famous for its medieval castle, situated on a hill in the city center, as well as the Palais de l'Isle (a palace on an island) in the center of the Thiou river.

Photo: Oksana Philippova.