Thiou Canal | Sirocco Overland | Сирокко Оверленд

Photo of the Week: Palais de l’Isle, Annecy, 2009

After two weeks driving around the French and Italian Alps, we stopped in Annecy for a spot of sightseeing and relaxation. Annecy was perfect for both, being on the serene shores of Lake Annecy and full of historic architecture. One such historic icon is the Palais de l’Isle, a castle in the middle of the Thiou Canal. It was built in the 12th Century as the residence for the Lord of Annecy, but has since been used as a court house, a mint, and lastly a prison, most recently in WWII. Now it is a museum hosting historical displays. Huge wooden doors with ironwork and small crooked steps leading up to the turrets set you back in time, and history oozes out of the old stone walls.