A little get away took us to Annecy this past weekend. As we were returning to France in July we overhead a Frenchman tell his seat partner that Annecy was beautiful, an excellent place to visit.
I try to make a mental note when I hear a native praise a particular location, because who knows better than locals, what to see and where to go. And this one stuck because Annecy, located at the foot of the Alps, is an area George and I have visited several times, but never in the summer. And seeing how summer is not quitting here...yet, we decided to take advantage of the fabulous weather.
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| Lake Annecy |
The backdrop of Annecy has something for everyone, its environment inspires countless outdoor activities, if you can imagine it, anything is possible. The lake is surrounded by lush wooded mountains with rocky outcroppings. Protection efforts over the past 50 years have bestowed the status of Lake Annecy, the cleanest lake in Europe, an accolade the citizens of Annecy should be very proud of, for it is super clean and so clear. Annecy was also a candidate for the 2018 winter Olympics, awarded to South Korea in 2011.
Once a railroad bed, now a bike path that wraps around most of the lake, it offers over 25 miles (40km) of dedicated paths. We took advantage of this shoreline hugging path that winds its way through residential areas, tunnels, beside marinas and campgrounds.
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| Annecy bike path |
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Views from the bike path, the castle like structure
in the village background is Chateau de Duingt |
What was most fascinating to us were the hundreds of colorful paragliders in the sky floating above the picture-perfect landscape of mountains and crystal clear waters. We took the opportunity to visit the launch area, Col de la Forclaz (alt 3772 ft, 1150m), where the brave at heart took off for the skies with a nylon canopy attached to a harness. It looked fairly easy, but without a doubt looks are deceiving. They are pilots, after all, with most securing successful take-offs, however a few had to stop before the point of no return, making adjustments, and trying again. But once in the sky, in all honesty, the ride looks exhilarating. After reading more about this sport, I've come to learn that France has the most paragliding sites of any in the world, Annecy being one of the top!
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| Col de la Forclaz launch area |
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| Col de la Forclaz launch area |
Imagine the sound of an alpine cow bell. I've heard them before, what a pleasant sound. The local farmer was rounding up the cows for the night milking and we hurried up to catch a glimpse before they were out of sight...but not out of hearing distance.
The old town area of Annecy could not be more charming. Coined "Venice of the Alps" because of the turquoise canals flowing through the center city. Narrow cobble stoned streets stretch back and forth across the canals with colonnaded passageways along many restaurants and shops to explore. An abundance of flowers line the railing and window boxes of the homes and businesses in the city.
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| Old town Annecy |
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| Old town Annecy |
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| Old town Annecy |
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| Old town Annecy |
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| Old town Annecy |
On Sunday mornings there is an open market selling regional cheeses, meats and sausages, bread (of course), cooked foods, and produce along with the usual leather goods and clothing, etc. The vast majority of the vendors are sophisticated with decorative displays, refrigerated cases, and credit card capabilities.
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| Market day in Annecy |
However, I noticed this little old lady selling her wares with an old time scale, the kind we see at flea markets with measuring weights on the opposite side of the produce. Nothing was sophisticated at her stand, you can even see what she is sitting on. It reminded me of markets of by gone days. She was doing a brisk business.
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| Market day in Annecy |
Annecy's beginning pre-dates the birth of Jesus Christ by several thousand years, but it wasn't until around 1100 that fortifications were built along with the castle known today as Chateau D'Annecy that rises dramatically above the old town. The Chateau is owned by the city and houses a museum with a wide range of exhibitions encompassing contemporary, cultural, and historical.
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| Chateau D'Annecy |
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| Chateau D'Annecy |
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| Chateau D'Annecy |
Numerous castles sit adjacent to the lake. We visited the the Menthon-Saint-Bernard Castle built between the 12th and 19th centuries. It has been inhabited by the same family since the 12th century. It was the inspiration for Sleep Beauty's castle after a visit by none other than Walt Disney on vacation. It is also the namesake of the breed of dogs, the Saint Bernard.
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| Menthon-Saint-Bernard Castle |
Just a short drive from Annecy we visited Les Gorges du Fier. Sculpted by the erosion of the River Fier, a suspended walkway sits a frightening 82 feet above the narrow gorge of rushing water. During times of flooding the walkway can become submerged and above.
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| Les Gorges du Fier |
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| Les Gorges du Fier |
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| Les Gorges du Fier |
Here is more photos of our weekend.
http://flic.kr/ps/285kjt
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