September 16-22 is the Semaine Européenne de la Mobilité so check your city/town’s public transportation websites for information on the programme for the week. La journée des “transports publics” is Wednesday, September 17, so buses, bikes, trams, etc. may be free or have a reduced fare for the day.
Here in Annecy, Sibra buses and Vélonecy bikes are FREE the entire day! In neighboring Chambéry, the fare will be reduced to 1 € from the regular 1,10 €.
September 20-21 is the Journées Européennes du Patrimoine where many museums and historical sites are free and/or have special guided tours. Additionally, many private collections are also open to the public so it may be the only time of the year you will have access to them.
The Musée-Château in Annecy is offering guided tours about the history and architecture fo the castle each day at 2:30pm and the Palais de L’Ile will have tours at 10 am each day, as well as a special kid-friendly Moyen Age raconté aux Familles tour at 2:30pm Sunday. The Archives Départementales will have a photo exhibit of vacances en Haute-Savoie from the beginning of the 20th century and there will be an ouverture exceptionelle of the Roman bell tower in Annecy-le-Vieux. And of course, I will be first in line for the guided tour of the Préfecture of Haute-Savoie because I haven’t been there enough times over the past two years…
