Saint Jean well

Where the Royal Street turns into the Pâquier Street, you can observe a very old well curb. This well dates from the 15th century. You can see the inscription 1689, but that’s only the date of its renovation! Come on, I’ll translate the Latin inscription for you, just for fun and because you never get to know what all the inscriptions around you mean. It reads: ” The ardent love of the city has provided fresh waters for the Titiens since the 15th century.” You also might have noticed that the town is built almost entirely of arcades. This is a feature of the Duchy of Savoy and you’ll find it in Chambéry as well as in Turin and Bologna. In Annecy, this new street design dates back to the end of the 16th century. At that time, the medieval street was crowded with the half-timbered houses of the inhabitants. A new organisation was decided. Flammable wood was replaced by stone. Arcades were built to allow pedestrians to move around and shops to open in the heart of the city. In the 18th century, the architect Charles Gallo proposed to align the facades and to demolish the arcades. Many were destroyed, but fortunately the historic centre was spared!