Palais de L'Isle - Main Sights

Main Sights

Palais de l'Isle is a castle in the centre of the Thiou canal, built in 1132. It was the primary residence of the Lord of Annecy as early as the 12th century, and later became the Count of Geneva's administrative headquarters, then alternately a courthouse, a mint, and finally a jail from the Middle Ages until 1865 and then again during World War II. The Palais de l'Ile was classified as a Historical Monument in 1900, and today houses a local history museum.

Other sights in Annecy include:

• The Château d'Annecy (Annecy Castle) was the home of the Counts of Geneva and the Dukes of Genevois-Nemours, an offshoot of the House of Savoie (12th–16th century). Today, the restored castle houses the Art and History Conservatory of Annecy and the Regional Office of the Alpine Lakes.,
• The Cathedral of Saint-Pierre, built in the early 16th century as a Franciscan friary, was the cathedral of Francis de Sales and is home to a number of baroque pieces from the 16th century.,
• The rue Sainte-Claire and its romantic arches date from the 17th and 18th centuries.
• The rue royale, with its numerous shops, gardens and the fountain of Saint Jean is the heart of the commercial and political activities of the town.
• The money workshop of the Genevois now houses the Musée de l'Histoire d'Annecy.
• The Church of Saint-Maurice, originally constructed as a church of the Dominican order, has a flamboyant gothic style of the 15th century, and houses some very memorial interesting paintings from the 15th and 16th centuries.,
• The European Gardens, made just after the annexing of Savoie in 1863, where one can admire the very rich and diverse vegetation.
• The Pont des Amours (Lovers' Bridge), a beautiful example of the iron architecture typical of the 20th century.
• The Impérial Palace, inaugurated in 1913, with its public gardens, its beach and its casino.
• The Basilique de la Visitation, built in the 20th century, home of the tomb of François de Sales and Jeanne de Chantal, offers a magnificent view of the town and the agglomeration.