The Pearl of the French Alps. Annecy is the capital of the Haute-Savoie department of the Auvergne-Rhone-Alpes region in South-eastern France. It lies at the tip of Lake Annecy and is at a crossroads between France, Italy, and Switzerland.
The City of Art and Culture
Throughout my design career overseas, I met and was blessed to have worked with talented architects and interior designers from almost every corner of the world.
What fascinated me, however, was that I had met a handful of exceptionally creative designers and all of them had one thing in common. They all hailed particularly from this region, in the charming city of Annecy.
I had always been intrigued and curious about what was there. So I have subconsciously promised myself to visit Annecy one day. To drink the same water and eat the same food in the hopes that perhaps creativity could be infectious. With just a whiff, that I may acquire even just a fraction of their relentless talent, haha.
My senses lit up as soon as I stepped into the old town and this photo gave me a glimpse of why.
Our Stay
One late Friday afternoon in April 2019
It was almost sundown when we crossed the border from Geneva. The IBIS Budget Hotel we booked in for the night looked pretty funky. There was nothing "budget" about it. The hotel was located in a rural residential area of Poisy, a short bus ride away from Vielle-Ville (Old Town). The eclectic mix of furniture and materials in the main lobby made it eligible to gain more stars.
We had free parking within the hotel complex that was shared with the adjacent office building. We were only there for the weekend, so that was one less thing to worry about.
The hotel gave us discounted dinner vouchers for next-door's Grill Courtepaille, a french restaurant chain known for its simple cuisine of grilled meat and side dishes. Dinner was sorted. We didn't need to go very far after a full day of driving from Zurich to Geneva.
Getting to the Old Town of Annecy
By experience, we knew it was convenient to leave the car at the hotel. Cities that are profusely occupied with rue piétonne or paved streets reserved for walking usually have expensive paid parking. This also meant losing time searching for an available parking spot on a busy weekend.
The bus was the easiest mode of transportation. Less stress. The bus stop stood less than a block away and I admired modern building facades while we waited for the proper line.
Indian Food in France
First things first. Lunch. We craved a rich bowl of Paneer Tikka Masala out of the blue. Indian cuisine in France, why not?
I quickly scrolled through my phone for the nearest Indian Restaurant in town. The kind owner welcomed us at the door and proposed that his wife could cook our ordered dishes to be as spicy as we wanted them. While waiting for our food, we chatted about how his family ended up in Europe, his life growing up there, and how he started his business.
The food was delicious and it came close to the dishes we used to enjoy when we were living in the Middle East.
Old town on a Saturday.
Around this time last year, Les gilets jaunes (The yellow vest movement) peacefully protested across the street right in front of the Town Hall or La Mairie while a newly-wed couple emerged from the building and posed for pictures with their formally-dressed wedding guests.
After a quick visit to the Tourism Office, we received a well-indicated map on a self-guided city walking tours of the lake and the Old Town along with helpful information on nearby attractions.
Annecy is also known as the Venice of the Alps visibly seen from the canals that ran through the veins of the maze-like cobblestone streets.
Annecy Treasure Hunt
Speaking of the maze, during the walk, we spotted a large group of residents and vacationers participating in a connected treasure hunt. A team escape game of 2 to 10 players solving puzzles and challenges in a geo-located pursuit throughout the Old Town.
Palais de l’Île
An art & history museum housed within a 12th-century castle, courthouse, and prison. It is perched on a rock in the middle of Thiou River separating it into two canals. The picture was taken on Pont Perrière.
Porte Perrière (Perrière Gate)
The Porte Perrière is the main entrance to Annecy Old Town during the Middle Ages.
Lake Annecy
The third-largest lake in France and deemed as the cleanest lake in Europe due to strict environmental regulations. It is popular for swimming and water sports -kayaking, sailing on pedal boats, paddleboarding, or wakeboarding.
Cruise on the lake. Sail on a catamaran or in any of the yachts for rent. If you're feeling more adventurous, snorkel, and scuba dive in the France Wreck in the middle of the purest lake in Europe.
Fly in a hot air balloon, a paraglide, or a gyrocopter and see the turquoise lake from the sky.
Marquisats Beach
Swim or sunbathe on the quiet grassy beaches of Plage des Marquisats. It is within walking distance from Musée Chateau d'Annecy. The entry is free. It is manned by lifeguards, equipped with a parking lot, shower facilities, and a restaurant snack bar.
Pont des Amours
A romantic footbridge that connects the Gardens of Europe and Le Pâquier, a grand promenade along the lake that is a perfect meet-up place. Pont des Amours offers a picturesque view of Canal du Vasse as seen above.
Gardens of Europe
Jardins de l'Europe is a scenic lakeside park where you can enjoy a stroll and a picnic during warm days.
More pictures:
My Takeaway
Annecy is a city of Art. The designers I have worked with came from The Annecy School of Art, in french ESAAA or École Supérieure d’Art Annecy Alpes. It is located next to Marquisats Beach This unique art school focuses its education on research and experimentation of its work on space, landscape, and spatial planning.
During the first year alone, its full and demanding curriculum allows students to determine their capacity and motivation to continue their studies in an art school. An institution focused on higher education, its teachers are artists and researchers. They continue to question their practice and expect their students not merely to learn from their mentors, but to explore the depths of their creativity and identity.
The city of Annecy brims with museums, galleries, and exhibitions that are worth visiting.
Nope, I didn't turn into an exceptional designer as a result of drinking their freshwater. However, to admire the charming canals, the harmonious architectural balance of the Old Town and the crystal clear alpine lake of Lake Annecy would encourage contemplation.
Therefore, I learned that the sublime landscape of Annecy provides an idyllic environment for creative inspiration and daydreaming. Paul Cézanne's 1896 work of Lac d’Annecy was a great example of that. The artistic and intellectual community this city harnesses. These are the reasons why it gave birth to many talented artists that are making their mark around the globe.
Thank you for reading.
References:
Annecy-Wikipedia
The Culture Trip: Reason Why You Should Visit Annecy France by Sarah Borg
France-Voyage.com - Annecy
ESAAA Experimental School of Art Annecy Alps