The Palais de l'Isle takes center stage in the Canal du Thiou in Annecy. Built in the 12th century, the palace has a varied history, serving as the residence of a lord in its early years, then as a prison. Today, surrounded by colorful cafes and restaurants, the triangular-shape palace serves as a museum. (Pary Smith/Special to Stars and Stripes)
The Palais de l'Isle takes center stage in the Canal du Thiou in Annecy. Built in the 12th century, the palace has a varied history, serving as the residence of a lord in its early years, then as a prison. Today, surrounded by colorful cafes and restaurants, the triangular-shape palace serves as a museum. (Pary Smith/Special to Stars and Stripes)
A peaceful, early-morning stroll along the canal in Annecy, France, allows visitors to enjoy the town's picturesque atmosphere before crowds of local residents and tourists converge on canal-side cafes. (Pary Smith/Special to Stars and Stripes)
Cafes and restaurants line the canal in Annecy provide lovely as well as lively spots for rest and refreshment. (Pary Smith/Special to Stars and Stripes)
Annecy's canal-side cafes offer idyllic spots for peaceful contemplation, as well as the opportunity to toss bits of food to swans and ducks paddling by. (Pary Smith/Special to Stars and Stripes)
While Annecy has its busy walkways along the canal and the bustling lake area, it also has quiet get-away nooks and crannies to explore. This little corner had a small but wonderful restaurant surrounded by high buildings of various colors with shutter-decorated windows. (Pary Smith/Special to Stars and Stripes)
Annecy, situated on the shores of Lac d'Annecy, attracts a wide range of sports enthusiasts. Boating and other water sports are popular, and hang gliders can't resist the surrounding mountains to practice their sport. (Pary Smith/Special to Stars and Stripes)
A boat makes regular cruises around Lac d'Annecy and stops in villages that sit along the lake's shores. The cruise offers spectacular views of the surrounding mountains. Here, passengers also get a glimpse of Chateau d'Annecy, a castle-turned-museum. (Pary Smith/Special to Stars and Stripes)
Lac d'Annecy sits between the old and the new. Modern high-rise apartment buildings provide a background for Annecy's lake. But only a short distance from the lake is Annecy's medieval old town. (Pary Smith/Special to Stars and Stripes)
A row of boats lines a pristine, tree-lined canal in Annecy. The town's canals, lake and the surrounding mountains draw outdoors enthusiasts year round. (Pary Smith/Special to Stars and Stripes)
My trip started with a tiny photograph I saw on a calendar. As small as it was, it captured my imagination and it wasn’t long before I was headed to the French Alps and the lovely town of Annecy. Situated on the banks of the Lac d’Annecy and surrounded by mountains, the town beckons to boaters, hang-gliding enthusiasts, romantics and everyday tourists. Annecy has a rich abundance of French charm: flower bedecked bridges, a medieval old town and a canal lined with cafes and restaurants where patrons sip coffee and watch ducks and swans paddle by. A boat that makes regular runs around Lac d’Annecy offers passengers spectacular views of the surrounding mountains. Add to that some great French cuisine and who could ask for anything more?
