Château d'Annecy

What makes it special

The older towers were built for defence, and the later Perrière and Nemours lodgings were built to live in, in a more open Renaissance style. You can see that change in the windows and rooms as you move from one part of the castle to the next.

The big tower facing the lake and the Perrière lodging now hold the Regional Observatory of the Alpine Lakes. Its displays cover the prehistoric villages built along the lake shore, with objects raised from the lake bed.

On the ground floor, look for the well sheltered under an arcade: it drops 40 metres.

The castle was home to the Counts of Geneva and then the Dukes of Genevois-Nemours. Fires emptied it in the 17th century, and after years as barracks the town bought it in 1953 and made it a museum.

Visiting

Best started outside: the small courtyard gives you the view over the old town's rooftops before you go in. From there the visit climbs old spiral staircases and passes through large reception halls with huge fireplaces.

The museum is spread through these rooms. Expect carved furniture, religious paintings, medieval sculpture and landscape painting, and a section on animated film, a craft Annecy is known for. Temporary exhibitions of regional and contemporary art fill the remaining rooms.

Climb the Queen's Tower for the widest view, which takes in the whole of Annecy. The garden looks out over the lake, so give it a few minutes before you leave.

Tips

If you plan to see the Palais de l'Île as well, buy the combined ticket for the two, which costs a little less than two separate entries. Groups must book ahead.

The rooms and halls are indoors and only the garden is outdoors, so the castle still works on a wet day.