Lake Annecy
Executive summary by Darmansjah
Annecy is a commune
in the Haute-Savoie department in the Rhône-Alpes region in south-eastern
France.
It lies on the northern tip of Lake Annecy (Lac d'Annecy),
35 kilometres (22 miles) south of Geneva.
History
Starting as the capital of the county of Geneva, after the
demisethe counts of Geneva, it became integrated into the House of Savoy's
possessions in 1401[clarification needed]. In 1444, it was set up by the
Princes of Savoy as the capital of a region covering the possessions of the
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.
During the French Revolution the Savoy region was conquered
by France. Annecy became attached to the département of Mont Blanc, of which
the capital was Chambéry. After the Bourbon Restoration in 1815, it was
returned to the Kingdom of Sardinia (heir of the Duchy of Savoy). When Savoy
was sold to France in 1860, it became the capital of the new département of
Haute-Savoie.
The Hôtel de Ville (Town Hall)
Francis of Sales was born at the nearby castle of Sales in
1567. He was bishop of Annecy from 1602 to 1622.
Annecy was the site of the second round of General Agreement
on Tariffs and Trade (GATT) talks in 1949.
In 2012, a multiple murder occurred in the Annecy area.
The Fier forms part of the commune's north-western border.
The mountains around the town of Annecy are: Le Mont Veyrier, Le Semnoz, La
Tournette and the Parmelan.
Main sights
Palais de l'Isle is a castle in the centre of the Thiou
canal, built in 1132. It was the primary residence of the Lord of Annecy as
early as the 12th century, and later became the Count of Geneva's
administrative headquarters, then alternately a courthouse, a mint, and finally
a jail from the Middle Ages until 1865 and then again during World War II. The
Palais de l'Ile was classified as a Historical Monument in 1900, and today
houses a local history museum.
Other sights in Annecy include:
.The Château
d'Annecy (Annecy Castle) was the home of the Counts of Geneva and the Dukes of
Genevois-Nemours, an offshoot of the House of Savoie (12th–16th century).
Today, the restored castle houses the Art and History Conservatory of Annecy
and the Regional Office of the Alpine Lakes.
.The Cathedral of
Saint-Pierre, built in the early 16th century as a Franciscan friary, was the
cathedral of Francis de Sales and is home to a number of baroque pieces from
the 16th century.
.The rue
Sainte-Claire and its romantic arches date from the 17th and 18th centuries.
.The rue royale,
with its numerous shops, gardens and the fountain of Saint Jean is the heart of
the commercial and political activities of the town.
.The money workshop
of the Genevois now houses the Musée de l'Histoire d'Annecy.
.The Church of
Saint-Maurice, originally constructed as a church of the Dominican order, has a
flamboyant gothic style of the 15th century, and houses some very memorial
interesting paintings from the 15th and 16th centuries.
.The European
Gardens, made just after the annexing of Savoie in 1863, where one can admire
the very rich and diverse vegetation.
*The Pont des
Amours (Lovers' Bridge), a beautiful example of the iron architecture typical
of the 20th century.
*The Impérial
Palace, inaugurated in 1913, with its public gardens, its beach and its casino.
*The Basilique de
la Visitation, built in the 20th century, home of the tomb of François de Sales
and Jeanne de Chantal, offers a magnificent view of the town and the
agglomeration.
Talloires is a commune in the Haute-Savoie department in the
Rhône-Alpes region in south-eastern France. Due to its marvelous setting on
Lake Annecy Talloires has become a popular resort town not only since it has
been rediscovered by a privileged society of artists and writers but also since
the start of the 21th century[clarification needed] when the place became a
world-renowned location.
Location
The Tufts European
Center on the Talloires campus
Talloires is located south of Geneva, Switzerland, on Lake
Annecy and 13 km (8.1 mi) from the local "prefecture" Annecy, near
the border of Italy. The town is situated in the French Alps, along a bay on
the east side of the lake.
Tourism
The area of Talloires has been settled since Neolithic
times. In Roman times, Talloires was a stage on the consular road leading from
Milan to Strasbourg; the town is however mentioned for the first time in the
9th century AD. In 1016 an abbey was founded here by King Rudolph III of
Burgundy and monks from Savigny and Lyon. The now standing structures of the
Abbey were built in 1681.
View of Lake Annecy
from Talloires
Talloires' mountainous landscapes and picturesque setting on
Lake Annecy, medieval architecture, charming character, and summer and winter sports
and activities, have created a small but vibrant tourist industry in the
village.
The summer activities in and around the Lake Annecy include
sports (golf, water skiing, sailing, trekking in the surrounding Alps, tennis,
canyoning, paragliding, horse back riding, and other activities) and events
(the annual Fête du Lac and Pyro Concerts). The Tour De France has been staged
in the area on several occasions with a time trial stage around the lake.
Talloires is also close to famed ski resorts, such as Megève, Espace Diamant,
and La Clusaz, less than 30 minutes away.
The village of Talloires is 13 km (8.1 mi) away from Annecy,
a larger city and major tourist destination. Annecy is three and a half hours
from Paris on the TGV high-speed trains. Geneva International Airport is 50
minutes away on the A43 highway.
The primary business of the town today is tourism, although
it is still a complete community in its own right, with a central church, post
office, bank, library, and a small general store.
Panoramic sight of Annecy and Lake Annecy
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