PICTURE POST-CARD COUNTRY
Another adventure was about to begin. A much needed break. Certainly not at the seaside during the summer months. A place where I could swim and get away from it all. After a bit of zapping around on Internet in the early months of the year, I decided on a place called Duingt. The name was impossible to pronounce so maybe easier to say it was on the Annency lake in the Haute Savoie. A three and a half hour TGV trip from Paris in very gloomy weather, a taxi ride and there I was in a breath taking spot right on the lake. For the moment the sun was trying its best to shine but with a lot of difficulty. I plunged my toes into the lake and as they didn't drop off, this was to dive into. Five minutes later I did. Outside of a swimming pool, this was my first swim in a "natural environment" in more than four years. Bliss and all those hours spent in the gym, gave me the strength to swim quite a distance.
After that I went on a walk of discovery. Duingt, is described as "The Unknown Village" tucked away between Lake Annency and the Taillefer Mountain. A population of 800 and a village you walk through without knowing that you have.
There is a chateau,
a walk up to the Grotte, some 500 metres up a very sharp-rise track which I did do.
There I discovered that there are lots of walks around the lake, up the mountains and bicycle tracks galore. But no real escape if you didn't have a car. Well, it's not like Roche Posay where I was three years ago and there are buses and boats to go to Annency, so if it rains, there should be some escape,
The following day the skies burst with torrential rain.
As I had left something which I needed in Paris, I took the bus into Annecy.
This is not the right weather to discover a new town. The rain came down solidly and people looked cold and miserable. After a lot of enquiries and walking long distances, I found what I wanted and took the bus back to Duingt. Goodness knows how you cope if you miss it. Taxis are not too happy about the 20 minutes drive. Despite the dramatic weather conditions, there seemed to be a lot of things to do in Annency. I would come back.
For the following days until my departure, the weather was reasonable and I was able to swim a couple of times or more but had forgotten that in salt water, it is easier to swim than in fresh water. This too thanks to government recognition in the late 90's is one of the purest lakes around. The lake itself is just over 14 kilometres in length and just over again, 3 kilometres wide an average of 41 metres deep and an altitude of nearly 447 metres. I doubt if the outside temperature ever rose to more than 25C while I was there and the water was between 18-20. A bit of a shock to the system initially but after adaptation, divine.
There were many walks to do in the area but above all it is a cyclist's dream. It's an interesting story about the bicycle tracks. Marschal Petain had built a railway right around the lake during the second world war. Once the war was over, the locals didn't quite know what to do with these tracks as a train was no longer needed. So they turned them into a cycle track. The only one of its kind in France. Below it is the car motorway and above the cycle tracks, the hikers/walkers.
I took out a bike for ten minutes and although I didn't do anything stupid, I decided not to go out alone. Like that no-one could blame me for being a public danger!
It's picture post card country.
And the cemeteries were very restful overlooking the lake
Paravents glide up and down the mountains all around.
Cloud formations appear and reform. The water changes colour and depending on the breeze it is transparent like a miror or waves are created by water skiing, boats......as the trees are beginning to turn to different colours, I have no doubt that Autumn must be beautiful as the snow in winter must be another post card but one I'm not likely to see. And if you really can't find anything to do, how about rock climbing.....there was one little girl around 6
However without a car or a bike and of course all water sports and hiking, there is little else to do.
Off to Annecy for the day, equipped with a "walks to be done" map. First I walked the lake recommendation, heading over the bridge of love, admiring the boats and wishing that there was a solo pedalo!
Then into the old town and it's many churches. Mostly 15th and 16th century, including some rather strange sculptures and windows.
Then a haul up to the Chateau. It felt like a long climb up but once there of course…….
There is also a museum for both contemporary and of educational interest for children. I'm sure if parents read the lengthy texts on the different variety of birds and let the children watch the many cartoon on known bird cartoon characters, it would be OK; but it didn't hold my interest for very long. Frankly, I am not too keen on stuffed birds or animals for that matter. The aquarium was much more interesting explaining the life in the lake and the many controls to keep it the way it is.
There was one temporary exhibition that caught my attention.
And up I climbed again to the permanent section......
And up again to the contemporary. Some of the work was interesting but to have such a spectacular space with an artist per room, was quite something.
By the end of the afternoon I had covered the walks and was ready to come back to my boutique hotel.
It is a beautiful place but obviously for tourists who are "de passage" no one staying for more than a couple of nights, unless they can get out to other restaurants. The dinner menu stayed in place for three months. There were a couple of dishes which were not to my liking so in 4 evenings I had done the lot. The food was fabulous, but now I'm longing for a grilled chop or a piece of salmon. I’m glad Anne-Sophie was looking after me. We could joke about what I would eat « tonight » but most important, she introduced me to some marvelous Haute-Savoie White wines. One in particular that I would recommend. A Chignin Bergeron, "Les Terrasses". Anne-Sophie was studying to go into the hotel business and told me that she had worked in Australia for nine months. That really knocked me. Only perhaps she is the first young woman who I have met who had taken such an initiative. A highly competent young woman and I know she will go a long way.
I'm enchanted by the region and hope to come back. I know the ropes now. But it was back to Paris and the following morning that very close friend from Berlin would be knocking on my door.
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| From my bedroom window |
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| The Main Building |
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| Down to swim |
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| and afterwards.... |
After that I went on a walk of discovery. Duingt, is described as "The Unknown Village" tucked away between Lake Annency and the Taillefer Mountain. A population of 800 and a village you walk through without knowing that you have. There is a chateau,
 |
| Chateauvieux- medieval castle and village |
a walk up to the Grotte, some 500 metres up a very sharp-rise track which I did do.
 |
| Looking back |
 |
| Half way up to the Grotte |
 |
| Looking down at the cyclistes |
 |
| The grotte and Dame of the Lake |
 |
| Coming down |
 |
| and again |
 |
| down or nearly and weather looking gloomy |
There I discovered that there are lots of walks around the lake, up the mountains and bicycle tracks galore. But no real escape if you didn't have a car. Well, it's not like Roche Posay where I was three years ago and there are buses and boats to go to Annency, so if it rains, there should be some escape,
The following day the skies burst with torrential rain.
 |
| Going into Annecy by the Bus.... |
As I had left something which I needed in Paris, I took the bus into Annecy.
This is not the right weather to discover a new town. The rain came down solidly and people looked cold and miserable. After a lot of enquiries and walking long distances, I found what I wanted and took the bus back to Duingt. Goodness knows how you cope if you miss it. Taxis are not too happy about the 20 minutes drive. Despite the dramatic weather conditions, there seemed to be a lot of things to do in Annency. I would come back.
For the following days until my departure, the weather was reasonable and I was able to swim a couple of times or more but had forgotten that in salt water, it is easier to swim than in fresh water. This too thanks to government recognition in the late 90's is one of the purest lakes around. The lake itself is just over 14 kilometres in length and just over again, 3 kilometres wide an average of 41 metres deep and an altitude of nearly 447 metres. I doubt if the outside temperature ever rose to more than 25C while I was there and the water was between 18-20. A bit of a shock to the system initially but after adaptation, divine.
There were many walks to do in the area but above all it is a cyclist's dream. It's an interesting story about the bicycle tracks. Marschal Petain had built a railway right around the lake during the second world war. Once the war was over, the locals didn't quite know what to do with these tracks as a train was no longer needed. So they turned them into a cycle track. The only one of its kind in France. Below it is the car motorway and above the cycle tracks, the hikers/walkers.
 |
| Even horse wagons but on the hiker's track |
 |
| they were everywhere |
 |
| babies asleep in their carriages |
 |
| running and cycling too |
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| just through the flowers |
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| on rollers |
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| a couple of girls on rollers |
 | |||
| running next to the bike |
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| From one track to another |
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| under the railway |
I took out a bike for ten minutes and although I didn't do anything stupid, I decided not to go out alone. Like that no-one could blame me for being a public danger!
It's picture post card country.
 |
| The village |
 |
| Next to the church |
 |
| Cloud formation but no rain |
 |
| My swim out to the pontoon |
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| still no rain |
 |
| the old church |
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| I never got sick of it |
 |
| flowers outside every house |
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| and more |
And the cemeteries were very restful overlooking the lake
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| nice view to have |
 |
Paravents glide up and down the mountains all around.
 |
| Yes, paravent are there |
 |
| and many more here |
Cloud formations appear and reform. The water changes colour and depending on the breeze it is transparent like a miror or waves are created by water skiing, boats......as the trees are beginning to turn to different colours, I have no doubt that Autumn must be beautiful as the snow in winter must be another post card but one I'm not likely to see. And if you really can't find anything to do, how about rock climbing.....there was one little girl around 6 |
 |
 |
 |
| Colours must be divine in Autumn |
 |
| Dhere Castle- 15th C |
 | |
|
However without a car or a bike and of course all water sports and hiking, there is little else to do.
Off to Annecy for the day, equipped with a "walks to be done" map. First I walked the lake recommendation, heading over the bridge of love, admiring the boats and wishing that there was a solo pedalo!
 |
| Looking towards lover's bridge |
 |
| the old town |
 |
| a swan swimming against the rapids !!! |
 |
| dog more interested in me |
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| looking down from a church |
Then into the old town and it's many churches. Mostly 15th and 16th century, including some rather strange sculptures and windows.
 |
| Inside the St François church |
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| A black madonna |
 |
 |
Then a haul up to the Chateau. It felt like a long climb up but once there of course…….
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| Up I go |
 |
| and still further |
 |
| nearly there |
 |
 |
 |
There is also a museum for both contemporary and of educational interest for children. I'm sure if parents read the lengthy texts on the different variety of birds and let the children watch the many cartoon on known bird cartoon characters, it would be OK; but it didn't hold my interest for very long. Frankly, I am not too keen on stuffed birds or animals for that matter. The aquarium was much more interesting explaining the life in the lake and the many controls to keep it the way it is.
 |
| Exhibition - "Ciel en Oiseau" |
 |
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| I liked the cat |
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| A dove |
There was one temporary exhibition that caught my attention.
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| Raven Constellation by Violaine Laveaux |
 | |
|
 | |
|
 | |
|
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| part of the installation |
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| and again |
 | |
|
And up I climbed again to the permanent section......
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| Fabrice Hybert - Love 1998 |
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| Fabrice Hybert -Invention 1998 |
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| Fabrice Hybert - The Lake 2003 |
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| I could walk into this |
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| 15th C. St Jacques |
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| St Hubert - the miracle - 15th |
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| Saint Antoine - 16th |
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| 19th and rather hard |
And up again to the contemporary. Some of the work was interesting but to have such a spectacular space with an artist per room, was quite something.
 |
| Michel Paysant - Long Life |
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| Michel Paysant - Long Life |
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| Gloria Friedmann (German) 1983 |
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| G. Penone - laurel leves 1988 |
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| Bernard Moninot - shadows 1991 |
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| Bernard Moninot - shadows 1991 |
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| Bernard Moninot - shadows 1991 |
By the end of the afternoon I had covered the walks and was ready to come back to my boutique hotel.
 |
| Back to the hotel |
 |
| down for a swim and visitors |
 |
| another look at the green mountain |
 |
| and a typical house... |
It is a beautiful place but obviously for tourists who are "de passage" no one staying for more than a couple of nights, unless they can get out to other restaurants. The dinner menu stayed in place for three months. There were a couple of dishes which were not to my liking so in 4 evenings I had done the lot. The food was fabulous, but now I'm longing for a grilled chop or a piece of salmon. I’m glad Anne-Sophie was looking after me. We could joke about what I would eat « tonight » but most important, she introduced me to some marvelous Haute-Savoie White wines. One in particular that I would recommend. A Chignin Bergeron, "Les Terrasses". Anne-Sophie was studying to go into the hotel business and told me that she had worked in Australia for nine months. That really knocked me. Only perhaps she is the first young woman who I have met who had taken such an initiative. A highly competent young woman and I know she will go a long way.
I'm enchanted by the region and hope to come back. I know the ropes now. But it was back to Paris and the following morning that very close friend from Berlin would be knocking on my door.
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