AIX-LES-BAINS

This is the last day before La Rentrée (that's return in French for the return of profs tomorrow, September 1) so Lee and I decided to make the most of our last full day of adventure(at least until the weekend!) We visited Aix-les-Bains, which is a lovely town, about 15 kilometers (7 miles) from Chambéry. This town is well-known for its spa as well as its lively streets and its beautiful lake shores. The health-giving waters of Aix have been famous for almost 2000 years. The Romans excelled in the art of hydropathy and the baths used to be a social club as well as a fitness club. During the Middle Ages, these baths were severely neglected yet, starting in 1860, the expansion of the spa town reached its peak during the Belle Époque. We walked down to the Lake Shore for lunch and I wanted to share a picture of where we had lunch and then some of the beautiful scenery after we ate.

Mme. Wallace

St. Pierre de Lemenc

Today we visited this church called St. Pierre de Lemenc. This was our first church service and it was so interesting! I think it's the antiquity of this country that is so striking. St. Pierre de Lemenc was built in the 15th century. What was so interesting was that the church contains a crypt which dates back to the 9th and 11th centuries. When we were leaving, a lovely French lady was explaining to me the history of St. Jacques. On the top of the church was a rooster, which she explained, was the symbol of the pilgrimage of St. Jacques. According to religious scripture, Saint Jacques (James) was the brother of John, one of the 12 Apostles. The scallop recipe, which we know as coquilles St. Jacques, received its name based upon this famous pilgrimage. According to legend, the scallop shell was the symbol of the crusaders of the Order of Saint James. St. James intervention saved the life of a drowning knight. The knight emerged from the sea covered with scallop shells. Scallops were named Coquilles St. Jacques in St. James honor, as was the dish. Coquilles St. Jacques means 'shells of St. James'. I love these stories!

Mme. Wallace

Lac du Bourget

Today we visited the Lac du Bourget. It is the largest natural lake in France and the deepest as well. Unlike Lac d'Annecy, it has never been known to freeze in the winter. The waters of this lake abound with fish and sometimes there are violent windstorms. The lake used to extend northward to the Grand Colombier Mountain and was supplied by the Rhône. Today it is separated from the river by the Chautagne marsh but is still linked to the Rhône by the Savières Canal. The views around the lake were breathtaking. There were many restaurants with views of the lake. Lee and I played mini-golf (miniature golf) with our French friend Paul-Loup. It was très difficile!

Mme. Wallace

Château des ducs de Savoie à Chambéry

Bonjour mes amis! Today we visited the chateau of the dukes of Savoie. This former residence of the counts and Dukes of Savoie and occasional home to the Kings of Sardinia was rebuilt in the 14th and 15th centuries and was partly destroyed by two fires in the 18th century, after which a royal palace - now the Préfecture - was built. We could envision the procession of dukes and their wives as they inhabited this royal castle.

Mme. Wallace

Chambéry - Fontaine des Eléphants

Bonjour mes amis! Lee and I returned from Aix Monday evening to Chambéry. This is a picture of me in front of the Fontaine des Eléphants which is a landmark for this town. This famous monument was erected in 1838 to celebrate Général Comte de Boigne (1751-1830), a great benefactor of the town, as a reminder of the time he spent in India. It is très curieuse!

Mme. Wallace

Aix-en-Provence - Ah, Provence!!!

This past weekend Lee and I spent the weekend with the Damiens, the family with whom Kendall spent a semester her junior year in college. They live in Aix-en-Provence, which is the capital of Provence. This city is steeped in the Roman history of Provence coupled with the fact that famous artists such as Paul Cézanne, Jean-Paul Sartre, and Emile Zola spent many years there. We took a walk down the Cours Mirabeau which is the center of town and the place des marchés lined with trees. We had a limonade and an orangina at Les Deux Garçons, frequented often by famous artists. It was a wonderful weekend, full of the wonderful weather, aromas (lavender!), food, and the "good life" experiences in the south of France.

Mme. Wallace

"the Venice of Savoie"

Lee and I spent the day Wednesday in Annecy, which is the "Venice of Savoie" with its canals and remarkable landscapes. Annecy lies on the shores of Lac d'Annecy, water and mountains blending to form beautiful views. The site was occupied as far back as prehistoric times and the town developed around its castle from the 12th century onwards under the name of Annecy-le-Neuf. Lee and I explored old town and had a wonderful lunch of filet de perche, fish caught in Lake Geneva. We also sampled a chardonnay de Savoie. Lee continued to sample the glace (ice cream) in Annecy by sampling caramel and strawberry - incroyable! The Annéciens seem to understand the art of living well.

Sunday in the Auvergne Region of France

Bonjour mes amis! Sunday, Aug. 15, Lee and I spent the day visiting our friend and Fulbright colleague who has just arrived in this area of France. The Auvergne anchors the center of France with the Massif Central which is a rugged plateau of ancient granite and hardened lava. This area is punctuated by volcanic peaks and deep river gorges. This land of the Auvergne is a region of natural beauty and dramatic landscapes, located midway between Paris and the Mediterranean. The beauty of this region was absolutely breathtaking!

Mme. Wallace

First Saturday at the Marché

Lee and I went to the Marché this morning and bought wonderful fresh fruit and vegetables. There are two market days in Chambéry, Tuesdays and Saturdays. Everyone was so friendly. Then we took a tour of Chambéry and saw the famous Fontaine des Éléphants which was erected in 1838. Chambéry became the capital of the counts of Savoie in 1232. At that time, it was only a large village defended by a fortress. The expansion of this charming town is due to the prosperity of the House of Savoie. You can really see the Italian influence in the architecture and colors. We had a sandwich de jambon and fromage for lunch and Lee tried the glace - his favorite! He had a scoop of white chocolate and butter pecan - delicieuse!