This last weekend we did a driving trip to
Annecy, France. This is the first
time that we have rented a car.
Paula did all of the driving and did a very good job in dealing with the
myriad signs between Vevey and Annecy. It was exhilarating to have the freedom of transportation by car and it puts more destinations in play for a weekend.
Annecy is located about 78 miles southwest of
Vevey on the northern tip of Lake Annecy. It sits in a small valley surrounded by the French
Alps. It took about an hour and a
half to make the drive. Two of
Paula’s Nestle colleagues also made the trip with us.
Once we arrived in Annecy we checked into our respective
hotels and then met for a great lunch prior to touring the "old town".
Annecy, which is located about 21 miles south
of Geneva, has much of its history tied to Switzerland. The town is one of the oldest inhabited
sites in the Northern Alps. It was
established 3,100 years before Christ.
Much later it was established as the capital
of the county of Geneva. In 1444, it was set up by the Princes of Savoy as the
capital of a region covering the provinces of Genevois, Faucigny and
Beaufortain. With the advance of Calvinism in 1535, it became a center for the
Counter-Reformation and the bishop's see of Geneva was transferred here.
After the French Revolution, it was returned
to the Duchy of Savoy. When Savoy
was sold to France in 1860, Annecy became the capital of the new Savoy region.
Annecy,
with a population of over 138,000 inhabitants, made a bid for the 2018 Winter Olympics;
however, they were awarded to Pyeongchang, South Korea. If Annecy had been selected it would
have been the fourth French city to hold the Olympics. Chamonix was the site for the 1924
Olympics, Grenoble as the site for 1968 and Albertville was the site for
1992. All of these towns are
within a 50-mile radius of Annecy.
The church was demolished during the French Revolution. It was rebuilt in the neoclassical style in 1850.
This former Dominican church was built during the 15th century. In the 15th and 16th centuries, the church held a central position in local life. Craft guilds and prominent families founded chapels there. Saint Maurice is the patron saint of Annecy and Savoy.
Note - the church is currently under going an interior restoration.
The church sits on the site of the church of the first convent of the Order of the Visitation of Holy Mary, founded in 1610 by Francis of Sales (the bishop of Geneva in Annecy from 1601 to 1622) and Jane of Chantal (a Roman Catholic Saint).
(The special charisma of the Visitation Order
combines gentleness with a valiant spirit; initiative with communal support;
dedication to prayer with presence in the world; a contemplative life with an
apostolic dimension).
It was rebuilt in 1644 in the architectural style of the Counter Reformation.
In 1795, following the suppression of clergy's property, the convent and church were converted into factories producing calicoes. In 1923 the church was given to the Italian community.
Saint Pierre Cathedral.
The cathedral was built around 1535 for the Franciscans. It immediately became the provisional cathedral for the bishops of Geneva, who had taken refuge in Annecy following the Reformation in Geneva.
The interior of the cathedral. A statue of Mary and angels.
The Thiou is less than 2 miles long and is one of the shortest and cleanest rivers in France. It crosses the city forming small canals, thus the city is often called the Venice of the Alps.
During the 19th century, the Thiou played an important role in manufacturing activities and provided the necessary energy to the industries that developed in the city of Annecy.
Palais de I'lsle (Palace on
the Island)
This structure sits in the middle of the Thiou river. Due to its triangular shape, it reminds visitors of the prow of a ship anchored in the river. It was built in the 12th century as the residence of the Lord of Annecy. It was later used as a courthouse and a mint. From the Middle Ages until 1865 it was used as a prison. After 1865 it was used as a government building. During the Second World War, it was used by the Nazis as a prison for resistance fighters. It is now a museum featuring exhibitions on local history and culture.
The Palais de I'Isle is the symbol of the town and is among the most photographed monuments in all of France.
The mechanical gate, in the center of the photo, directed the water to the turbines of a large cotton factory established after the French Revolution.
This picturesque medieval gate is famous for its ancient clock and its bell that has been regulating the life of the area for centuries. By this gate Henri IV, king of France, made his entry into Annecy, escorted by his court on October 5, 1600. The Duke of Geneva opened the doors of the city to the invader without any resistance. Humiliated, the locals deserted the city which the king crossed to go up to the Chateau d'Annecy. In normal times, this was the place where tolls were collected, also called town dues, on the goods brought into the city. In times of plague, however, it remained closed to prevent travelers from entering the city.
The majestic lake with the French Alps looming above and a lakefront of beauty and activity is a major attraction. The second largest lake in France (the largest lake is Lake Bourget, which is located just 28 miles southwest of Lake Annecy) rests at the foot of the Alps at the altitude of 1,466 feet. It was created 18,000 years ago from thawing glaciers and covers 10.5 square miles. It is a long narrow lake (max-length 9 miles, max-width 2 miles, and max-depth 212 feet). It is reported to be one of the cleanest lakes in the world.
The castle was constructed in the eleventh century. Today it is privately owned.
In 1394 the chateau became the official
residence of the Counts of Geneva and remained so until the end of the family
line. Dukes of Savoy were their
successors until the 18th century, when the chateau was abandoned. It was turned into barracks in 1742 and
remained so until 1947. In 1953 it
was converted into a museum.
This was just the perfect ending to a wonderful weekend in Annecy.
