ANNECY, DIOCESE OF. — In south-eastern France, with its see at Annecy. Situated at an altitude of 450 m. on the shores of the lake of the same name, this city is also the chief town of the department of Haute-Savoie (4,598 sq. km.).
Belonging to the Civitas Gebennensis, it formed part of the diocese of Geneva, which was to continue until 1801. At that date the whole of Savoy was included in the single diocese of Chambéry and Geneva. Finally, on 15 February 1822, with the bull Sollicita catholici gregis, Pius VII erected a new diocese, suffragan of Chambéry, fixing its see at Annecy. The diocese, which embraces the territory of the department of Haute-Savoie, except for the cantons of Alby and Rumilly, ceded to that of Chambéry, and the canton of Ugine (Savoie), has a population of 260,000 Catholics out of 270,742 inhabitants, with 477 priests. It comprises 2 archdeaconries, 3 vicariates, 43 archpriestships and 312 parishes. The diocese of Annecy, whose religious vitality is noteworthy, is particularly famous for St Francis (v.) of Sales and St Jane Frances (v.) of Chantal.