August 24, 2019

Château des Ducs de Savoie & Old Town of Chambéry

Earlier this summer, I went on a guided tour of the Château des Ducs de Savoie (Castle of the Dukes of Savoie) in Chambéry. The construction of the castle was started in the 13th century to serve as the seat of the Counts (and later, Dukes) of Savoie but there has been many additions and demolitions over the years since. It now serves as the seat of the Préfecture of Savoie, so, apart from a small room near the entrance, the guided tour is the only way to visit the castle. The version of the tour I went on (called Château, Ruelles et Confidences) also included a visit of the old town of Chambéry.) nearby, which allowed access to some areas not normally open to the public. Some versions of the tour skip that part and visit the Tour Demi-Ronde (Half-Round Tower) in the castle instead.

May 19, 2019

La Roche-sur-Foron

La Roche-sur-Foron is a town in Haute-Savoie, located between Annecy and Annemasse. It used to be the capital of the County of Geneva in earlier medieval times, until it was moved to Annecy. I went there on a day trip at the beginning of Spring: I walked around the medieval town and in the nature around it.

January 29, 2019

Petite France in Strasbourg: Barrage Vauban, Ponts Couverts, Old Town

The Petite France is a historic quarter of Strasbourg. It is located at the western end of the Grande Île, which contains the historical centre of the city. Just upstream of Petite France, the River Ill flows through the Barrage Vauban, a defensive structure built at the end of the 17th century. Downstream of this, the river splits into the Canal du Faux-Rempart and four channels which flow through the Petite France quarter. These four channels are spanned by the Ponts Couverts, an earlier defensive structure of three bridges and four towers that, despite its name, has not been covered since the 18th century.

August 3, 2018

Jardin des Remparts

The Jardin des Remparts is a small and well hidden park located in the Old Town of Annecy, not far from the castle. It is dedicated to Father Jean-Marie Delavay, a priest from Haute-Savoie who served as a christian missionary in Yunnan, China during the 19th century. He introduced many new plant species to Europe.

June 11, 2018

Walk in Lausanne

Last summer, I went on a day trip to Lausanne, in Switzerland. I walked around and visited a few parks, the old town and the cathedral. At the end of the day, I walked along Lake Geneva towards the EPFL.

May 22, 2018

Cathédrale Saint-Pierre d'Annecy

The Cathédrale Saint-Pierre d’Annecy is a catholic church located in the old town of Annecy. It was built in the 16th century.

May 14, 2018

Vieux Lyon / Fourvière Hill

The Fourvière Hill is the oldest inhabited part of the city of Lyon. At its foot, along the Saône river, is the Vieux Lyon (Old Town), a neighbourhood that dates from the middle ages. At the top of the hill, the Basilique Notre-Dame de Fourvière and the Tour Métallique dominate the city. Ruins of a roman theatre are also located near those landmarks. To get there, a funicular is available but it also possible to take the stairs.

May 11, 2018

Cathédrale Saint-Jean-Baptiste de Lyon

Cathédrale Saint-Jean-Baptiste de Lyon is a Roman Catholic church located in the old town of Lyon. It was completed in the 15th century.

April 7, 2018

Église Saint-François de Sales (Annecy)

The Église Saint-François de Sales is a catholic church built in the 17th century and located in the old town of Annecy, near the Thiou canal. It is consecrated to Saint Francis de Sales, who grew up in Annecy. The church used to host his shrine but the tomb is now located in the Basilique de la Visitation.

September 7, 2015

Frankfurt: Old Town, Main River

After my meeting, I had a bit of time left in Frankfurt before taking the train back to Amsterdam. I walked to the Römerberg in the Old Town then looped back to the banking district along the Main River.