Annecy Unbound

Friday

You had to know that title would come up.

Listed as a historic monument in 1959, Annecy Castle was the residence of the Counts of Geneva in the 13th and 14th centuries

Today the castle serves as both an artspace in one wing of the castle, and an ethnographic exploration of societies on the lake. Beginning with excavations of neolithics homes built on the pilings on what today is near shore waters, to the age of large steamships tripping tourists around the lake.

The last large touring ship was taken out of commission in 1960, then mysteriously sank in 1972. It was believed to have been tied in with the myth of the lady of the lake who raiaed Sir Lancelot .

The art space host a collection of artists focused on nature ( who could miss with this scenery), on one floor paintings throughout the past two centuries, leading up to one which undeniably pivots to the start of the impressionist era of the early 1900s…

Albert-Charles LeBourg 1902

Moving on, other floors and rooms delve further into esoteric and heady environmental interpretations. Such as this tapestry decrying the loss of 39 languages…

Another room of glass etching which present shadows of their engraved images….

Most delightful is this moving mountain range comprised of a slowly turning bicycle wheel which has triangular slices of glass embedded on its rim, with a lamp projecting through the glass onto a remote wall. A video of the nearby ranges couldn’t be no more realiatic…

On to rooms of local wildlife, more diverae than expected for this climate…

Oh yes, back to lake dreams and Sir Lancelot, as the myths continue to build to this day….

And of course, homage to the wheel, which makes all things modern possible…

Ok, nearly lunchtime as we stroll back downhill to rejoin the maddening crowds on this market day in Annecy…

Lunch it turns out is a Plat du Jour, pick three..

Notice, this menu is in english, and the waiter is equally accomodating….

Now pay attention, I can only say this once; plates of haddock, marinated peppers, deviled eggs, ratatouile, leeks, and pork shoulder. Wine and beer as well. Whew!

Weather looking dicey for tomorrow, we’ll play it by ear.

For those seeking for further reading Karen recommends ‘James’, while Ron is ploughing through ‘The Doorman’ by Chris Pavone - a tome of NYC Upper West Side excess versus the under served.

Nite, nite!