Palais de l'Isle

The Palais de l'Isle is the building that most people picture when they think of Annecy. It sits on a narrow, triangular islet in the Canal du Thiou, the short stream that carries the water of the lake through the old town, and its pointed western end, with stone walls rising straight from the water, has earned it the nickname of the ship of stone. In the evening, when the facades are lit and reflected in the canal, it is one of the most photographed corners of the Haute-Savoie.

The oldest parts date from the twelfth century, when the island was fortified by the lords of the region, and the building was extended and altered in the following centuries. Its uses read like a short history of the town. It served as a residence and stronghold, and for a time it housed a mint. Later it became the seat of justice and a prison, and the name Palais de Justice stuck for a long period. In the nineteenth century parts of it were used as a shelter for the elderly and a workshop for stone carvers, and the prison function ended in the 1860s. It was restored in the twentieth century, and it is now protected as a historic monument.

Today the building is open as a museum about the history of Annecy and of the building itself. The visit takes you through the former cells, courtrooms and stone passages, and you can read the story of the town through documents, models and displays. It is a short visit, usually under an hour, and it makes more sense if you walk around the outside first to understand how the island is laid out. Opening days change from season to season, so check the current schedule before arriving.

The setting adds a good deal. On either side of the island, the canal runs between arcaded streets with flower-covered balconies, which is why Annecy is sometimes called the Venice of the Alps. The Quai de l'Isle and the Rue Perrière, with its stone arcades and shops, lead straight to the Palais, and you are only a short walk from the Cathédrale Saint-Pierre. Up on the hill, the Château d'Annecy overlooks the whole scene, and down at the water's edge the Lac d'Annecy is a few minutes away on foot.

The Marché d'Annecy brings the old town to life on market days, with stalls of local cheeses, bread and vegetables around the streets near the canal. It is a good idea to visit the Palais in the morning or late afternoon, when the light on the stone is at its best and the bridges are less crowded. It suits history lovers, photographers and anyone who enjoys a short museum visit combined with a walk along the water.