Moving from London to annecy

Hello,

Welcome to Annecy, I suppose you have arrived

It's just great living in this area in between the lake and mountains and for your child there is a bilingual school in Annecy le Vieux.

Have you found an appartment, ***
All the best.

Fleur

hi Fleur

We arrive Tuesday next week & have not found a place to rent as yet so staying in a hotel until we do. Could you send me more info of the flat like cost, photos etc?

Many thanks

Victoria

Hello Victoria,

I moved from Paris to Sevrier 17 years ago with my husband and 2 children. They grew up in Sevrier and had a very happy and privileged childhood. Living near the lake is obviously a totally different life style from London which I am sure you will enjoy with time and you will make friends. There are so many English families around so you won't feel lonely.

***

Also when you arrive and walk around Annecy stop off at the tea ship "Folie Royal" in rue Royal. Peter and Sylvie our neighbors also arrived in Annecy and opened their tea shop. Peter being Austrian speaks a perfect English and is very friendly he will also give you some good tips. He plays golf once a week with my parents who decided to retire here in Sevrier.

Are you settling down in Annecy for work reasons?

If I can help you in anyway. Please feel free to contact me.

Fleur

Hi there,

I guess you've made the move? Welcome to Annecy!
We moved from near Twickenham to France in June and happened to find Annecy one weekend. We have fallen in love with it and yes, it's not London but it is very special in many ways. Our son doesn't miss England but of course it's still very early days for us and we're still finding our feet with regards to accommodation, learning the language, getting our son into school, work, administration etc but we still feel this is the place for us.  I guess it depends on what kind of lifestyle you want, the reason for your move etc.

If you would like to meet for a chat, please let me know.

Best wishes,
Bernadette

Hello Fleur,

I just read your post.  We also recently arrived in Annecy (July this year) with our 4 year old boy and love it but we are struggling with finding accommodation and a couple of other things. Our main problem is that my husband is a freelance worker so estate agents are wary of us. We've moved three times so far.  We  would love to get a long term let (our furniture is in storage here in France). I check Le Bon Coin every day but we haven't had any luck so far. We are currently in Annecy le Vieux and would like to stay in the area as my son has just got a place in a local maternelle.

I wonder, do you know of anyone who has had similar problems? This is a long term move for us. We are committed to learning the language and staying in France. Any tips you can give is much appreciated.

Many thanks,
Bernadette

Hello,

I let my 3 bedroom flat a few months ago to a franco American couple with 2 young children and I know it isn't easy to find. Maybe the best way for you is to get in touch with the Association Chatterbox in Annecy, they contribute to the needs of a growing  English-speaking community in the Annecy area. Here is their website : chatterboxfr.net/English/.
We arrived 17 years ago and also fell in love of Annecy, our children had a lovely enriching childhood and there are so many english families around .
Have you been up to the bilingual school at Annecy le Vieux, they are a great team?
All the best and have a nice day
Fleur

Hi Fleur,
Thank you for your reply  and for the information. I will certainly look into it.
All the best,
Bernadette

Hello ladies

I came across your thread tonight and I was wondering if I could ask all of you how were doing and how your situation has evolved since you have arrived. I know Fleur you have been here for a long time, but what about you Bernadette and ; have you managed to rent a place, find schools for your children, etc.

My husband and I are thinking of making the same move as you in the summer and although we are very much at the beginning of the process , we are trying to organise/plan accommodation, schools, jobs, etc. I'm french but I have been living in England for so long, I am completely lost!
My husband is British and we have two daughters, who are 5 and 2.

We will be in Annecy in April to see schools and sort out stuff but any info to help me plan this trip would be very welcome!
Many thanks and perhaps, a bientot in Annecy!

Hello everyone,
Thanks for sharing all your experiences, it is nice to see I am not alone
After 12 years in London, my husband and I moved back to France last August, in Lyon first, then Annecy since January 2018.
I am not working currently, and we are expecting our first child, so the days can be long sometimes. It would be lovely to meet people, especially having kind of the same background (UK=>Annecy). We used to live in Islington, near Kings cross, and I have to say, even though we missed french food and family, I still feel I have left my home when we left London.
Don't hesitate to get in touch, would love to go for drinks (soft until July! ), and get to meet new people!

Congratulations Vanouss !

And come on, don't be shy and don't stay only between english speaker ! There are lots of Haut-Savoyards and Savoyards who are waiting for you and your futur little baby ! I hope he will become a skiing champion ! (psst, chose france for the olympic games!)

Hello Bernadette. Fleur, Vanouss & all,
I hope you are now settled in Annecy and loving life there. I would love to meet up with some people when we move there in a few weeks!  I come via UK (London), New Zealand (rural and villagey seaside suburb of Auckland), UK again (Bristol) and Tignes in the French Alps. I'm a mix-up of country lover, overseas liver and homesick for England and the dank grey skies!! (ha ha). My children are 8 and 10, I work but from home so not a very social job, love to trail run, mountain bike, hike, drink coffee and write.
Wishing you all well,
Nimnom

Hello,

Great to find this thread. We are also planning a move to Annecy (from Australia) with a 4 and 2 year old. Has anyone got any experience with starting 4year old in school with only a little French ? She’s already quite shy. We will move to st jorioz, so any tips on schools there would be fantastic

Thanks! Jacqui

Hi All
Very happy to find this thread! Sounds like so many English speaking people moving to Annecy. My husband and I are contemplating moving there too. Early stages of research. We live in Cape Town South Africa. I have a British passport and my husband and son have Italian passports. We cannot speak a word of French but I see there are some great interactive apps that one can learn on. Our son is 8 yrs old. I see there is a bilingual schools in Annecy - Ecole bilingue Haute Savoie. Is that the only one? English international schools are too expensive for us. Any other school recommendations? And which areas are affordable but nice and have some English? What's the bandwidth like? If I need to work from home online I'll need good bandwidth.
Would really appreciate any input. Big decision and a lot at stake as you know I'm sure.
Thanks.
Sandra

Hi Ladies
My family just moved to Annecy this July and my girl just started in a bilingual Montessori preschool in Sevrier. (Jacqui: this school might be close enough for you at st jorioz) Sandravdo: we checked out Ecole bilingue Haute Savoie too but decided it maybe too intimidating for our girl, but it may appeal to you.)

She's struggling quite a bit in school. She understands French but not really able to speak well in it. I'm Singaporean and my husband is French. She has been exposed to French all her life but English has been her first language. I guessed my husband and I had quite high expectations that she could brush up the language skills and being in the bilingual school could soften the impact of a foreign place and in a French speaking environment.
Things didn't go as expected. The schooling experience didn't turn out the way we had hoped.  We are working on a different approach and meantime I am hoping to find more activities for her but it seems to be quite a challenge!
We are staying in the centre of Annecy (5mins away from Courier) and would love to meet up with other moms and kids.
I'm trying to work on my French but English is my comfort zone.
Cheers !
Dawn

Hello everyone,

I just read all your answers, haven’t been online for a while as you can see
I don’t know if everyone here moved to Annecy as they planned or not yet, but  if it is the case, I was thinking we could all meet up to get to know each other, it’s always nice to see new faces and maybe make friends
Would you be up for it? If yes, where/when?

Have a look at the Facebook group 'Expat in Annecy' and 'The Lake Lowdown' - lots of immigrants like us on there. 

Love to meet up - tell me a bit about you!  I'm an English / New Zealander into trail running, mountain biking and being outdoors generally, love swimming in the lake, Have two children, work freelance.

Hi Sandra,

Did you end up moving here?  I'm a little late in my response to your post!  We moved from the high Alps to near Annecy in Sept 2018 and the move was a little distracting. My eldest started college and my youngest obviously had to start a new primaire.

We have put our children in the local French schools since we moved to France in March 2017. At that point they could say 'Bonjour'. Now they are fluent.  We couldn't afford an international school, and though the French private schools are often very affordable there were no places as we moved at quite short notice so hadn't been on a waiting list.  We've been overall v happy with the schools. I am likely to put their names down on the list for the nearby private lycée, just to have the option there.

all the best

Naomi

Hey dawn,

Nice to hear from u. We are settled but not started school yet. We’ve enrolled in the local school in st jorioz. The girls don’t really speak French yet so I’m sure we’ll havecthecsame challenges. There is a nice expat group on Facebook. Annecy baby and toddler group. Heaps of meet ups with babies and a lots of mums night out. You should join it, I’m on there too! Hope to meet u soon

Hi All, We are targeting a Summer 2020 move from the states.  Annecy would be our first choice but for schooling.  Our boys will be almost 12 and 15 by the time of the move.  They have no french conversational skills.  We've spoken to a couple of people who put their kids in local french school but I remain dubious that it's viable for a teenager and preteen. Anyone have experience with that?  The international school in Annecy stops at middle school - no lycee. We will be in Annecy in a week on a scouting mission. Anyone we should meet with when we are there?

Hello,

I would suggest joining the Facebook group, the lake lowdown, tgere will be someone on there who will have an answer for you! It’s all the expats in Annecy.

Good luck

Thank you for the suggestion.  Hopefully, they'll let me in. ;-)

Hi,

I think you're right about the age of your children & not plunging them into 100% French. But take a look at the bilingual school in Annecy le Vieux, which runs through collège years (until about 14) - that could work for your youngest.

https://ebihs.fr/fr/

For the eldest that's a bit more tricky. I agree with Jacqui - ask on The Lake Lowdown, there's another FB group called Expat in Annecy.

Good luck,

Naomi

Thanks Naomi.  I have been in contact with EBIHS and you're right that it would solve the issue for our younger boy.  Also, the Lake Lowdown group on FB was very helpful with suggestions.

Hello everyone!
I might be in Annecy on tuesday morning to finish my Christmas shopping, anyone wants to join for a coffee?
Cheers!

@wadams92101

Hello,

Hope you appreciate your life in Annecy !

I was wondering if you would have any recommendations for our family. We are currently living near Seattle since 2019 and will move to Annecy in June 2024. Our youngest son will be 12 and will go the middle school in grade 7th (cinquieme), He studies in American schools for 4 years and is totally bilingual.

Do you have any suggestions for schools in Annecy? The bilingual school, a public middle school, or a private one?

Thanks in advance for your help.

@LaurenceMeg Hello,

Please note that it's been a while since that members logged in to the website. I would suggest that you send her a private message by clicking on her photo > send a message. She will be notified.

All the best

Bhavna