Notre-Dame de Liesse church

You’ve now reached the church of Notre-Dame de Liesse. It was founded in the 14th century by the Counts of Geneva, who wanted a place worthy of their name for their future burials. You may not be familiar with the Counts of Geneva. The title was only held by 17 lords and died out with the last one at the end of the 14th century. Their lands then passed to the House of Savoy. In 1360, Amédée III of Geneva was still an important man. He had a large church built on the site of an old oratory in the heart of Annecy, where they had a castle. In 1530, the church was the scene of an important wedding. If you must know, it was that of Philippe de Savoie-Nemours and Charlotte d’Orléans. For the occasion, it got a big spire which was considered really impressive in those days. It even hosted the famous relic of the Holy Shroud! During the French Revolution, all the bell towers in Annecy were demolished but Notre-Dame which only lost its spire. However, the church was robbed of its choir, which stood in front of the building. The revolutionaries destroyed it in order to create a Liberty square. This is the square Notre-Dame where you’re standing today, adorned with the beautiful obelisk fountain, decorated with lions and turtles. In 1815, when the county of Mont-Blanc passed into the hands of the House of Savoy, the churches were rebuilt. The one you see here was built in the 1850s in the so-called Sardinian style, as the Dukes of Savoy meanwhile, had become Kings of Piedmont-Sardinia. Annecy would have to wait another 10 years to become French, when Victor Emmanuel II and the Count of Cavour agreed to transfer Savoy to France as part of the political strategies needed to unify Italy. To the left of the church, the elegant sand-coloured building is the former town hall of Annecy. The house was first used as a hospital, then as a revolutionary court, before being dedicated to the town in 1770. Approach the double staircase to admire the remarkable ironwork. Once again, you’ll find Annecy’s famous silver trout.