The Medieval Town of Annecy, France
Annecy, France is a medieval town only 80km/50 miles from Chamonix and 45km/28 from Geneva. In hindsight, it would have been easier to fly Chicago-Geneva instead of Chicago-Paris. Annecy is called "The Venice of Savoie" because of the small canals and streams running out of Lac (Lake) Annecy. It was easy to incorporate five days exploring Annecy along with Chamonix with plans to visit the picturesque villages that surround Lake Annecy. Annecy is also 140km/87 miles east of Lyon and that would simplify the return train journey to Charles de Gaulle Airport, Paris.
Annecy has a huge train station and a very nice policeman (lately it seems as if almost everyone speaks English in France) pointed the way towards **Hotel de Paris, our new home for the next four nights. It was at least a five-plus block walk dragging suitcases in the heat and a little confusing because the streets change names every block or so.
The very warm, friendly manager/owner greeted us and gave keys to our room on the second floor, no elevator. Up the stairs, threw suitcases down, took off the hotter than hell hiking boots, and armed with a highlighted map and directions, set off for the old section and a restaurant. It was now after 5:30 pm and we were starving!
A 20-minute walk, carefully following directions with a short diversion into the Annecy Tourist Information office to pick up schedules, a free booklet detailing town walks, and continued on to Le Thiou River with the Palais de L'Ile (a former prison) smack in the middle with the 14th century Chateau looming above..View image.
Narrow streets, cloister walkways, buildings...View image, and the ancient bridges of Medieval Annecy in front of our eyes. How much more gorgeous can one town get! The Palais de L'Ille is one of the most photographed sites in France. Well...duh...yes, of course it is. ...View image...
Annecy was packed to the brim with tourists and locals with everyone eating ice cream. I began snapping photos like mad, drooling over the ice cream including one shop that boasted of 56 different flavors (take that, Baskin-Robbins)...View image..., and spotted a few that make their own ice cream, Glace Artisanales...View image. That is what I'm going to try tomorrow, and Tuesday, and Wednesday.
Restaurants lining the Quais and sidestreets, Le Pichet's menu appealed to us and they were going to begin serving at 6:30 p.m. TIP: It's very difficult to find a restaurant that serves dinner before 7:00 p.m. and we were thrilled that they began at 6:30 p.m. A excellent meal of duck pate, steak with blue cheese, dessert along with the biggest portions this trip...View image... Remember this name, Le Pichet, 13 rue Perriere, Annecy.
Finished, filled to the brim and exhausted, we walked just a few blocks more to Lac Annecy before throwing in the towel and heading back to the hotel. Intensive sightseeing would have to wait until tomorrow.
