There are those who take life as a continuous sprint, full of trips, fences and ditches of water that must be avoided, while others, perhaps the least, face it as a long-distance race where it is better to approach obstacles calmly and philosophically, approaching them for what they are: part of a human life that we will never really know where it leads us.
The seconds seem to have found their place in Annecy (Auvergne-Rhône-Alpes), a small French town located on the banks of the homonymous lake whose exceptional landscapes invite you to breathe in another way, deeper and slower, than we usually do on our hectic days of early risers and stressful traffic.
The lake, the city of Annecy and the imposing mountains
The lake, whose waters are considered among the cleanest in the world, it is the second largest in France, but its landscape setting is perhaps the most beautiful of all the Gallic lakes.
guarded by the slender massifs of Bornes and Bauges, with peaks that exceed 2,000 meters in height, walking along its shore is to attend the immobile spectacle that they offer the peaks and snows of the Alps reflected in water that dances between turquoise and indigo, criss-crossed by numerous sailboats, canoes, stand up paddle boarders and windsurfers who take advantage of the size of Lake Annecy and its perennial alpine winds.
Most of the schools and businesses specializing in water sports are located in the nearby village of Saint-Jorioz. There, the shore of the lake is dotted with fairy tale castles, As the Château de Duingt (formerly called Châteauvieux ), where photography enthusiasts can enjoy the incomparable natural setting offered by the peaks of La Tournette which, in turn, represent an attractive option for the most mountaineers.
The castle, owned by the ancient family of the Counts of Duingt, was a fundamental point of vigilance: Lake Annecy was, during the Roman Empire and the Middle Ages, the main road of communication between northern France and Italy , because its paths, both river and land, allowed reaching the famous mountain passes of Little San Bernardo and Moncenisio, heading for the Aosta Valley.
Château de Duingt
Annecy's commercial past brought to the city wealth and Mediterranean and North European influences that found their own expression on the banks of the Thiou River, where the medieval historic center is located.
The houses, with shutters clearly influenced by Italics but with width and eminently French facades, are a colorful compendium of architectural prowess, hanging on the bank of the river or climbing on the slope that leads to the city castle.
The climb up to the walled complex is short, and our legs will appreciate the effort admire the reddish roofs of the medieval town from the ramparts and the endless peaks of the Alps.
Annecy Castle houses a museum, ** L'Observatoire regional des lacs alpins ,** which exhibits separately both the natural wealth of the lake as well as the history of its inhabitants through very well preserved medieval halls, and also has a museum of alpine folk art that is worth visiting to understand the link between the lake and its inhabitants with the mountains that surround them, valuable both at the time of serving as artistic inspiration and at the moment of procuring some traditional ways of life that today are in clear decline.
annecy castle
The importance of grazing and ranching in Annecy it will be better appreciated when its fruits rest in our stomachs. To do this, it will be necessary to let ourselves fall through the ancient arcades that surround the Place Sainte-Claire , where we will be offered endless mountain cheeses that deserve all the fame that the locals attribute to them: the Tome des Bauges , from the alpine massif that surrounds the lake in the southeast, with its moldy crust and its strong and creamy flavor or the best known Beaufort, the 'prince of Gruyères' that will delight the most classic, served with mountain sausages such as hams and dry sausages whose reason for being is to accompany the king of local dishes: the raclette.
On the other hand, the nearby Cafe du Pont Morens, whose terrace overlooks the Thiou river, offers an option for those who prefer to taste the famous French desserts, chocolates and coffees, which in Annecy, made with the milk of cows raised in the Alps, gain recognized fame.
We can enjoy it sitting in a charming terrace, admiring the view Palais de l'Isle, a fortified complex built in the 12th century sitting on a tiny island in the river itself. The original fortification, which served as both a palace and a prison, is today one of the most photographed monuments in France.
If our tour of Annecy has not yet served to relax the pulse and approach life as a bon vivant, the traveler can still give this hidden corner of France a chance by visiting the surroundings of the Imperial Casino, located on a green peninsula to the north of the city.
Profile of the Palais de l'Isle
Their beautiful gardens they look towards the peaks of the south and east, and are often frequented by romantic couples who seek the complicit silence of their gazes or elegantly dressed retirees who remember the first time they swam in the transparent waters of the lake.
The Casino building is a beautiful example of the belle epoque architecture and suffered in his flesh the ups and downs of Annecy's recent history: during World War II it was bombed by the Germans and, in 2013, completely renovated respecting the original lines as much as possible, equipping it with games rooms and a restaurant.
During the summer nights a quartet plays in the garden, to the delight of walkers, onlookers and travelers who, at the sight of the Alps and Lake Annecy, feel immersed in a Cézanne painting.
The colors melt into a single turquoise blue that floods our senses and, finally, under classical music, our heart slows down and we stop, ready to continue our journey as life deserves: without haste, without pause.
People enjoying Lake Annecy