Pont Morens is a short stone bridge over the Thiou in the old town of Annecy, and it was the first bridge in the town built of stone. For around three centuries it carried a row of leaning houses that people nicknamed the 'château branlant', the wobbly castle, until they were pulled down in the 19th century to open up the view of the river.
Pont Morens at a glance
- Where: across the Thiou in the old town, a few minutes' walk from the Palais de l'Île.
- Built: in the early 14th century.
- What it is today: a pedestrian crossing in the old town and one of the best spots for looking along the canal.
- Time needed: 5–10 minutes, longer if you stop to watch the water and the sluice gates.
From main road to viewpoint
For centuries Pont Morens was the main axis of the town. It carried the road across the Thiou, the short river that drains Lake Annecy, and with it the traffic heading towards Geneva. Earlier bridges here were made of wood and were often swept away by floods; the name Morens is usually explained as coming from 'demeurant', the bridge that stays, to set it apart from its fragile predecessors.
From the 16th century the bridge was built over with houses and a chapel dedicated to Saint George. The houses leaned so far over the water that they earned the name 'château branlant'. In the second half of the 19th century, as part of a plan to widen the bridge and smarten up the town, the buildings were demolished, and the Thiou could be seen again from bank to bank.
What to look for
- The view along the Thiou: stand in the middle and look up and down the canal.
- The riverside houses: on both banks old houses still rise straight out of the water, which gives an idea of how the bridge houses must once have looked.
- The sluice gates: Annecy regulates the Thiou with a system of movable gates; one of the city's heritage sites for them is listed on rue du Pont Morens.
- The water itself: the Thiou is the lake's natural outflow, so the clear water you see below comes straight from Lake Annecy.
Why the water is controlled
Because the Thiou drains the lake, its flow has always risen and fallen with the lake level, and the old town used to flood often. Today 62 gates along the river and its canals regulate the flow and the lake level. In the 19th century a barrier in front of the Palais de l'Île raised the lake by about 20 centimetres to provide more water power for industry downstream. The gate system was motorised in 1965, when the gates in front of the Palais de l'Île were replaced by a new installation further upstream.
Tips for your visit
- Come early in the morning for calm water and soft light on the facades, before the old town fills up.
- Combine the bridge with a slow walk along the quays of the Thiou: every bridge gives a slightly different view.
- Keep to the side when taking photos: the bridge is a busy crossing point in the old town.
Nearby
- Palais de l'Île: the triangular former prison in the middle of the Thiou, a few minutes' walk away.
- Église Saint-François-de-Sales: the Baroque church by the Thiou, linked to the saint who was bishop here.
- Cathédrale Saint-Pierre: the 16th-century church where the exiled bishops of Geneva held services, a short walk away.
- Château d'Annecy: the castle of the Counts of Geneva on the hill above the old town, now a museum.
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. Pont Morens is one of the stops, along with the Palais de l'Île, the Pont des Amours and Annecy Cathedral. 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.