This emblematic monument of the Venice of the Alps is a must for cultural tourism. But it’s not all boring old stones, as this museum also presents a variety of temporary exhibitions and an Alpine Lakes Observatory.
A little history
A former 12th century fortified castle, the building has undergone several transformations: first as a stronghold, it was the home of the Dukes of Savoy, then it was used as barracks during the Revolution and the two World Wars. Completely abandoned, it was bought by the City of Annecy in 1952 for the modest sum of €1.52, which gradually restored it and transformed it into a museum. At the time of its construction, no traces of underground passages were found. However, most of the castles had galleries that allowed them to escape in the event of a prolonged siege. There are, however, large galleries under the building.
A cultural place with many facets
The castle offers visitors permanent collections on the themes of fine arts, archaeology and natural history, as well as temporary exhibitions on contemporary art and animated films. A visit to the various parts of the building gives an insight into its construction over time, with, from 2020, access to the walkway which will enthral the youngest visitors.
In the courtyard of the castle there is a well more than 40 metres deep that goes down below the level of the lake. It was dug in the 14th century. The castle square covers a former cemetery. During the construction of the square, excavations revealed the cemetery of the former church of Saint-Maurice. Glass panes installed on the ground show the remains of this place. In the logis Perrière, which houses the Alpine lakes observatory, you can see a fictitious work representing the fossil of a pair of mermaids.
A new experimental cultural mediation device has been installed in front of André Giroux’s painting “Le torrent, Vallée de la Dranse“. It allows you to rest your elbows on a bone conduction audio terminal. Sounds are thus diffused: wood, torrent, brush. This approach involves the spectator so that he or she stays longer in front of the work. It took the CNRS five years of research to produce this device.
Practical information
Located, of course, on Place du Château in Annecy.
Opening hours
From 2 January to 31 May and from 1 October to 31 December
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- Open every day, except Tuesday, from 10 am to 12 pm and from 2 pm to 5 pmFrom1st June to 30th September
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- Open every day from 10.30 am to 6 pm
Closed on Easter Sunday and Monday and on 1 May, 8 May, 1 November, 11 November, 25 December and 1 JanuaryImportant: tickets are no longer issued 45 minutes before the doors close
Prices
- Full price: €5.50
- Group rate (more than 5 people): €4.20 per person
- Reduced rate (students, under 25s, etc.): €3
- Combined ticket for the Château Museum and the Palais de l’Isle: €7.20
- Free admission on Heritage Days
Information and reservations
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- Information at the Museum-Castle
- Tel : 04 50 33 87 30
- Mail : musees@annecy.fr
- Reservations at the Museum-Castle
- Tel : 04 50 33 87 34
Annecy-ville.fr’s little extra
The visit includes free access to the Alpine Lakes Observatory, a museum within a museum which presents the lake fauna: fish and crayfish in numerous aquariums. The castle shop will allow you to buy a small gift between books, catalogues and small restaurants.
From 2020, tickets will no longer be sold inside the monument, but on the square to the left of the castle. It will take you a good two hours for a complete visit.
High-quality temporary exhibitions
The Annecy Castle Museum has the particularity, in addition to the permanent exhibitions related to the history of the city, of offering temporary thematic exhibitions.
During the period of the coronavirus pandemic, the museum, when it was closed, presented some of its works on its Facebook, Instagram and Youtube pages. For example, a selection of works from the exhibition“Pietà, dans l’atelier des sculpteurs savoyards à la fin du Moyen Âge” is presented by the curator of the exhibition. The exchanges between Grenoble-Alpes University, the Annecy museums and some Italian, Swiss and French museums have been remarkable. To enable the public to physically see the works presented, visitors were able to follow guided tours from 3 December 2021 to 14 March 2022.
An exhibition dedicated to Michel Ocelot, the creator of the animated film “Kirikou and the Witch” was to be discovered in 2021. This event called“Michel Ocelot, l’artificier de l’imaginaire” presents more than 40 original works. His animated films feature elegant compositions and magnificent sets that hearken back to the paper theatres of Epinal’s imagery. Michel Ocelot is also a regular presence at the Annecy International Animation Film Festival.
