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Origin and history

The castle of Annecy, built from the 12th century on a rocky spur overlooking the city, was the residence of the Counts of Geneva before passing to the Dukes of Savoy. After a fire in 1340 by Amédée III, it was enlarged and embellished by Amédée VIII in the 15th century, becoming a symbol of Savoyard power. Its successive changes, notably by the Savoy-Nemours in the 16th century, reflect its strategic role between Geneva and Italy.

The fortress, with a polygonal enclosure and massive towers such as the Queen's Tower (XIII–XIVth centuries) or the Perrière Tower (XVth century), monitored commercial roads and lake bridges. It housed prestigious halls, such as the Grand Hall of Feasts (1333) or Logis Nemours (1545), reflecting the fascist of the Dukes. After centuries of military transformation (case, prison), the castle, classified as a Historical Monument in 1959, was restored by the city of Annecy in 1953.

Owned by the Counts of Geneva until the 15th century, the castle passed to the Savoys after 1401, serving as residence for the governors of the locality of Genevois-Nemours. He welcomed historical figures such as Pope Clement VII (born Robert of Geneva in 1342) or Henry IV in 1600. Occupied by the revolutionary and then imperial armies, it became a national good in 1793 before being transformed into a museum in the 20th century, preserving medieval and reborn decorations.

The site, marked by fires (1340, 1412, 1952) and conflicts (wars of Burgundy, Spanish occupation in 1742) illustrates the architectural and political evolution of Savoy. Today, it houses the Annecy Castle Museum and the Alpine Lakes Regional Observatory, while offering panoramic views of the old town and lake.

Annecy's chestnut, reporting directly to the Count of Geneva, covered about 255 km2 and played a key administrative role. The Chatelans, appointed to manage the estate and collect revenues, were gradually integrated into the Savoyard administration after 1401. The castle, seat of this mandate, embodied the comtal and then ducal power over the region.

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