Discover the château museum, one of Annecy's oldest monuments

Before it became the dynamic museum town it is today, Annecy was a major medieval city, with a history dating back to the Romans in 50 BC. Annecy went through a long period of slaughter and destruction until the 7th century, a few hundred years before the first tower of Annecy Castle was built.

The first stones of Annecy castle were laid on a rock along the river Thiou. This first building is called the Queen's Tower, and is around 30 metres high with walls 4 metres wide. It is one of the few remaining examples of late medieval military architecture.

For centuries, the Count of Geneva's family lived in and out of the château. Each generation built additional rooms, towers, dwellings, etc. Although the Genevois-Nemours family did not occupy Annecy castle for very long, they did own it until 1659, when the family died out.

Before being transformed into a museum, the château was used as barracks by the House of Savoy, a powerful European dynasty. Although maintenance work was carried out sparingly, a number of changes were made to keep the castle in good condition.

Annecy castle is made up of several buildings, each more impressive than the last, including the Queen's Tower, the Vieux Logis and the Tour et Logis Perrière. It is an example of medieval and Renaissance architecture, with towers, battlements and mullioned windows typical of the period.

The château has been owned by the town since March 1953. After surviving numerous fires and wars, the town of Annecy bought the castle for one thousand old francs, or €1.52... A symbolic sum considering the restoration work needed to fit out the museum. The château was renovated over a period of some forty years. Today, Annecy proudly welcomes visitors from all over the world to discover the diversity of the world and the culture of Savoie.

Permanent collections

The museum's collections are extremely varied. You'll discover archaeology, natural history and ethnology. Art lovers will be delighted to discover collections of fine art, contemporary art and animated films. Since 1860, the museum has decided to specialise in a scientific and encyclopaedic vocation. The idea is to bring together samples of the various forms of life and elements in the world. The Château d'Annecy museum is sure to delight children. Savoyard culture in all its splendour, from painting to sculpture and the decorative arts, is also on show.

One of the special features of the Annecy museum is its vast collection of animated films. With 6,000 items, you can discover the history and creative processes of animation. The collection includes drawings, paintings, sculptures, puppets and photographs. It's a fine collection of objects, including a variety of cinematographic devices from across the ages. This collection is Annecy's official animated film museum.

The museum aims to be a cultural player in the town. Outdoor exhibitions, lectures and workshops are organised throughout the year.

Discover the programme for your holidays on theAnnecy Castle Museum website.

Where to eat near the Château d'Annecy museum?

🍴 Le Lilas Rose

A small Savoyard bistro overlooking the waters of the Thiou, Le Lilas Rose offers gourmets authentic, warm dishes.