Following the water to
understand and learn about Annecy
The canals of the Thiou
River lend the old town a charming, refreshing air. This waterway, fed into by Lake
Annecy, has an almost constant current. It once supported water wheels, mills
and breeding ponds for fish during the Middle Ages, while also offering an invaluable
way of transporting foodstuffs and materials into the town centre. The Thiou is
one of the shortest rivers in France (2.2 miles), but also one of the most
renowned.
When it comes to romance,
Annecy is reigns supreme. No-one can resist taking a photo or a selfie while crossing
the Pont des Amours footbridge. One side features the lake and its mountains watching
over the town; the other offers views of the Canal du Vassé and its boats floating
under an archway of plane trees. The construction by Claude Grandchamp, which
replaced the former wooden footbridge in 1907, is truly iconic. And according
to legend, lovers who kiss on the bridge will be together forever…