The Château d'Annecy is the castle on the rocky spur above Annecy's old town, the former home of the Counts of Geneva and later of the Dukes of Genevois-Nemours. Today it is the town's museum, the Musée-Château, and its courtyard and terrace give one of the best views over the roofs of the old town and the Thiou canal.
The Château d'Annecy at a glance
- Where: on the last rocky spur of the Semnoz mountain, directly above the old town, a short steep climb from the canals.
- Built: between the 12th and 16th centuries, with several rebuilds after fires.
- What it is today: the Musée-Château d'Annecy, owned by the town since 1953 and listed as a historic monument since 1959.
- Time needed: 15 minutes for the courtyard and the view; 1–2 hours if you visit the museum.
From counts' residence to barracks to museum
The first known mention dates from 1219, when the Counts of Geneva, forced to leave Geneva to its prince-bishop, made Annecy their main residence. The castle burned down in 1340 and was rebuilt by Count Amadeus III. In 1342 his son Robert of Geneva was born here; in 1378 he was elected pope in Avignon as Clement VII, during the Great Western Schism. In 1401 the castle passed to the Counts of Savoy, and from 1514 it was the seat of the Genevois-Nemours branch of the house of Savoy, who added new wings in the 16th century.
After the last Duke of Genevois-Nemours died in 1659, the castle lost its role as a princely residence. It was damaged while used as a barracks during the Spanish occupation of 1742, and from 1793 it housed troops for the French Republic and then the Empire. Military use continued into the 20th century, until the town bought the castle in 1953, restored it and turned it into a museum.
What to look for
- The Tour de la Reine: the Queen's Tower, the oldest part of the castle, with walls more than 4 metres thick.
- The Logis Perrière and its tower: built in the 15th century for Janus of Savoy at the back of the courtyard.
- The Logis Nemours: the Renaissance wing commissioned by Charlotte d'Orléans, wife of Philippe of Savoy-Nemours.
- The Logis Neuf: the 'New Lodging', added after 1566 by Jacques of Savoy-Nemours, who rarely lived here and preferred the French court.
- The terrace: look down over the tiled roofs of the old town, the Thiou and the Palais de l'Île.
Inside the museum
The Musée-Château's collections cover regional heritage, landscape painting, contemporary art, underwater archaeology from the lake, medieval sculpture and animation film, a nod to Annecy's international animation festival. Exhibitions change through the year, so check the programme before you go.
Tips for your visit
- Climb up in the late afternoon for warm light on the old town roofs and the mountains around the lake.
- Wear comfortable shoes: the lanes and steps up to the castle are steep and cobbled.
- Visit the castle first and then walk down into the old town, so the rest of your walk is downhill.
Nearby
- Palais de l'Île: the triangular old prison in the middle of the Thiou, the view everyone photographs, a few minutes downhill.
- Cathédrale Saint-Pierre: the 16th-century church that served the exiled bishops of Geneva, a short walk away.
- Old town canals: the quays along the Thiou and the canal Saint-Dominique, right below the castle.
See Annecy with World City Trail
Our Annecy scavenger hunt turns the old town into a game you play on your phone. The route links 10 stops and takes around 2 hours, with about 18 minutes of walking. The castle is not one of the stops, but the route includes the Palais de l'Île, the old town, Annecy Cathedral and the Pont des Amours, all within sight of it. You can play in English, German, French, Italian, Spanish and Dutch.
If you prefer a different format, there is also a self-guided walking tour and an outdoor escape game in Annecy.
Play the Annecy scavenger hunt →
Take the self-guided walking tour of Annecy →
Play the outdoor escape game in Annecy →
Facts checked in October 2026.