Vieille Ville, Medieval district in Annecy, France.
The Old Town of Annecy is a medieval district where narrow, winding streets pass stone buildings with colorful shutters, old arcades, and canals spanned by stone bridges. The buildings cluster tightly together, forming a maze-like network that developed along the Thiou River.
The district grew around the Counts of Geneva Castle in the 13th century and became an important trading and craft center along the Thiou riverbanks. This early settlement turned it into the city's economic hub and shaped the way it looks today.
The arcades and narrow streets hold art galleries, craft shops, and restaurants where regional specialties and traditional Savoyard food are still prepared and served. Residents and business owners keep these local traditions alive, using the old spaces in ways that reflect their regional identity.
Explore the district on foot, as the streets are too narrow for cars and most areas are pedestrian zones. The flat terrain makes walking easy, and you can see all the main spots and corners in just a few hours.
The Palais de l'Isle, a 12th-century building with a ship-like shape, sits on a small island in the middle of the Thiou canal. This unusual design existed because the building once served as a prison and later as an administrative seat, and its long, narrow form made it accessible from all sides.
Location: Annecy
Address: Vieille Ville, 74000 Annecy, France
GPS coordinates: 45.89960,6.12852
Latest update: December 6, 2025 19:10
Annecy is found between the lake water and the mountains. The old town can be explored on foot, along the Thiou and its canals lined with colorful buildings. You can see the Isle Palace, an old jail from the 12th century on a small island, and the Annecy Castle, sitting above the roofs from its medieval walls. The Pont des Amours gives a clear view of the lake, while the Gardens of Europe invite walks. Around the city, the lake is good for swimming and water sports. There is a bike trail, about 42 km long, that circles the lake. It passes by beaches and small ports. Further up, Parmelan and the Glières Plateau offer forest and mountain meadow trips, with views of the Alps. The area also has some castles like Montrottier with its octagonal tower, and Clermont with Renaissance galleries. In summer, markets fill the squares, and the terraces near the water become busy. In winter, the first snows fall on the Aravis mountains. Every season changes the look of the place and gives a new reason to visit again.
Pont des Amours
235 m
Palais de l'Isle
174 m
Château d'Annecy
300 m
Jardins de l'Europe d'Annecy
210 m
St. Peter's Cathedral
238 m
Église Notre-Dame-de-Liesse d'Annecy
243 m
Saint-François-de-Sales church
85 m
Église Saint-Maurice
77 m
Annecy Town Hall
62 m
Office de Tourisme d'Annecy
263 m
Museum-Castle of Annecy
289 m
Statue of Claude Louis Berthollet in Annecy
289 m
Musée-Château d'Annecy
382 m
Hôtel de Sales d'Annecy
223 m
Ancien Hôtel de Ville d'Annecy
232 m
Magasin, 1 rue Jean-Jacques Rousseau, Annecy
179 m
Gnomon du Frère Arsène
313 m
Annecy war memorial
390 m
Fontaine de la rue de l'Île
233 m
Pipe organ by Nicolas-Antoine Lété
235 m
Quai Madame de Warens
330 m
Maison Lambert
262 m
Magasin, 19 rue du Pâquier
217 m
Perrière bridge
134 m
Escalier du Château
300 m
Hôtel Favre
342 m
Fontaine Quiberet
396 m
Rue du Pâquier
210 mReviews
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