Jardins de l'Europe (Gardens of Europe), Annecy (must see)

The Gardens of Europe is a sizable park dedicated to the lost art of walking. The gardens and the Town Hall are located on a formerly swampy islet on the shores of Lake Annecy outside the city walls. The park was originally the property of the Asinari family of Lombard banking fame.

In 1563 a canal was excavated from the River Thiou to the Vasse canal, creating two islands. One was used for "health huts" to isolate plague victims. In 1602 the park was set aside as a place for walking by Henry I, Duke of Savoy-Nemours. The land was given to the nuns of the Order of the Visitation, the "Visitandines."

The Visitandines used the land build a chapel and plant vegetables. A wall, over 15 feet high encloses the land. A covered walkway and a drawbridge connects to the town. Come the French Revolution the land was sold to a Geneva businessman who used it in the manufacture of printed fabrics.

The town bought the land back in 1835 and by 1843 changes began to happen. The two islands were transformed into a peninsula and the Isle of Swans. The peninsula and the islet are located at the end of the gardens. A school was built and the new Town Hall.

In 1863 the Duchy of Savoy was annexed by France. The municipal Council made plans to create an English garden by Henri Porreaux. The Gardens of Europe were born. Today the gardens have 250 ginkgo bilobas, a tulip tree, laricio pines and giant sequoias.

The gardens have lots of benches for tired walkers. The marina area has 270 berths located between the Vasse Canal and the Quai de la Tournette. The Bridge of Love crosses the Vasse Canal, connecting the Pasture to the Gardens of Europe.

In the Paquier is a bronze statue of the famous chemist Claude Louis Bethollet. There is also a plaque dedicated to the Emperor Napoleon III. There have been very few plaques dedicated to the unhappy emperor. This one is in memory of a steam packet he promised for the lake.

Why You Should Visit:
The gardens are a serene bucolic setting away from the touristy hubbub in town and the views of the lake and mountains are superb.