Free
The Thiou River in Annecy
Annecy
The Thiou, the outflow of Lake Annecy: 3.5 km through the old town, 62 Sadi Carnot floodgates, Pont des Amours, Palais de l'Île, heritage walk.
Paid · Book online
Palais de l'Île
A medieval monument on a rocky islet in the Thiou, a symbol of Annecy since the 12th century and listed as a Historic Monument since 1900: CIAP, architecture and heritage of the wider Annecy area.
Location verified by loisirs74.fr
Guilhem Vellut from Annecy, France · CC BY 2.0 · Wikimedia Commons
At a glance
Type
Historic Monument since 1900, CIAP, architecture museum
Access
Paid
Price
Full €4-5 · Reduced €2-2.50 · Combined ticket with Château €8-9 · Under-12s free
Duration
45 min to 1 h 30
Best season
Year-round · June-Sept continuous opening 10:30am-6pm
Parking
Hôtel-de-Ville car park (420 spaces, paid) 3 min on foot
Animals
Not admitted (except assistance dogs)
Stroller / Reduced mobility
Not recommended (stair-only upper floors)
Town
Annecy
💶
Price
Plein tarif (sept-juin)
4,00 €Palais de l'Île seul
Plein tarif (juillet-août)
5,00 €Palais de l'Île seul, haute saison
Tarif réduit (sept-juin)
2,00 ۃtudiants, demandeurs d'emploi, familles nombreuses
Tarif réduit (juillet-août)
2,50 €Haute saison
Enfant 12-17 ans (sept-juin)
2,00 €Gratuit -12 ans
Enfant 12-17 ans (juillet-août)
2,50 €Haute saison
Billet jumelé Musée-Château + Palais de l'Île (sept-juin)
8,00 €Visite des 2 sites du réseau Musées d'Annecy
Billet jumelé (juillet-août)
9,00 €Haute saison
Billet jumelé tarif réduit
5,00 €Toute l'année
Groupe (≥5 pers.)
3,00 €4 € en juillet-août pour ≥10 pers.
Pass Expos annuel (résidents Annecy)
22,00 €Château + Palais de l'Île + Turbine sciences, sur justificatif
What is Palais de l'Île
The Palais de l'Île is one of the most photographed monuments in France: a medieval building set on a natural rocky islet in the middle of the Thiou canal, in the heart of Annecy's old town. Built from the late 12th-early 13th century, it is mentioned as early as 1325 as the prison of the Counts of Geneva, before becoming a mint (1356-late 14th c.), a seigneurial residence and finally a courthouse at the end of the 16th century.
The Palais served as a prison until 1864 and still holds cells, a torture room and oubliettes. It was listed as a Historic Monument on 16 February 1900, one of the very first in Haute-Savoie. Since 2002 it has housed the CIAP, the City of Annecy's Heritage and Architecture Interpretation Centre, in this 'Ville d'art et d'histoire'.
The visit offers a permanent trail on the urban and architectural history of Annecy from the Middle Ages to today, with regular temporary exhibitions. The Palais belongs to the Musées d'Annecy network. A joint ticket with the Château at 8 EUR (9 EUR July-August) makes the perfect heritage combo.
Activities
What you can do here
Practical
Practical information
Address
3 passage de l'Île, 74000 Annecy View on map
Coordinates
45.898580° N · 6.126830° E (Thiou islet)
Altitude
≈ 446 m (level of the Thiou)
Opening hours
Until 31 May 2026: 10am-12:30pm and 2pm-5:30pm, closed Tuesday. 1 June – 30 September 2026: 10:30am-6pm continuous, closed Tuesday. 1 October – 31 December 2026: 10am-12:30pm and 2pm-5:30pm, closed Tuesday. Closed 1 Jan, Easter Monday, 1 and 8 May, Ascension Day, 1 and 11 Nov, 24-25 Dec. Verified on the official website 21 May 2026 — subject to seasonal changes.
Booking
No online booking. Tickets sold on-site at the entrance to the Palais. Guided tours and groups by reservation on 04 85 46 76 70. Verified 21 May 2026.
Parking
No on-site parking (pedestrian zone). Underground Hôtel-de-Ville car park (420 spaces, paid) 3 min on foot. Secure Vélonecy bike parking at the Hôtel-de-Ville.
Pets
Not admitted (except assistance dogs, on presentation of the card).
Accessibility
Limited wheelchair accessibility: a medieval monument with narrow stairs, upper floors accessible only by stairs. Ground floor partially accessible. Access only via the pedestrian footbridges. Verified 21 May 2026.
Visit duration
45 min to 1 h 30 depending on the route and presence of temporary exhibitions
Contact
+33 (0)4 85 46 76 80 (Palais de l'Île direct line) · +33 (0)4 85 46 76 70 (Annecy Museums central line). Verified 21 May 2026.
Access
How to get there
By car
From the A41, Annecy Centre exit, follow 'Vieille Ville'. Park at the Hôtel-de-Ville car park (underground, paid), then 3 minutes on foot via rue Sainte-Claire to the Passage de l'Île. Access to the monument is only via the pedestrian footbridges (Pont Perrière or Passage Sainte-Claire).
Open in MapsPublic transport
Sibra network (Grand Annecy), stop 'Hôtel de Ville' 150 m away. Rythmo lines 1/2/3 and lines 4/5 (overhaul of 29 April 2025). Annecy railway station 12 min on foot via the Pâquier and the old town.
Open in MapsBy bike
The Lac d'Annecy greenway leads into the old town. Secure Vélonecy bike parking (26 spaces + 2 cargo bike spaces) on the Hôtel-de-Ville esplanade, 3 min on foot.
Open in MapsNearest stops
- Hôtel de Ville · Cars Région Haute-Savoie · Y51 · 169 m
- HOTEL DE VILLE · SIBRA · 13, 15, 26, 27, S4 · 185 m
- CLINIQUE GENERALE · SIBRA · 26 · 242 m
- Cars Région Haute-Savoie · Official fares & timetables →
- SIBRA · Fare : 1,50 € (carte) · 2 € (appli/SMS) · 2,50 € (à bord, 2026) · Official fares & timetables →
Transport data verified on 2026-06-15 · source transport.data.gouv.fr (Licence Etalab 2.0)
When to visit
When to visit
The Palais de l'Île is one of the most photographed monuments in Annecy's old town, freely visible from the bridges over the Thiou at any hour. For the interior visit, high season (June-September) offers continuous opening 10:30am-6pm, ideal for combining with the Musée-Château via the combined ticket. The rest of the year, opening hours are 10am-12:30pm and 2pm-5:30pm with a midday break, closed Tuesdays and public holidays. Weekday mornings outside school holidays are the quietest times. Photography from the bridges is spectacular at sunrise, at sunset, and in winter when the Thiou is calm and reflects the monument. Free entry for everyone on the first Sunday of the month from October to May.
Events : Museum Night (mid-May), European Heritage Days (mid-September), Science Festival (October) — free entry during these events. Regular temporary exhibitions on architecture and heritage. Programme at musees.annecy.fr.
Nearby
Where to eat, drink, stay
Photos
Gallery
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FAQ
Frequently asked questions
How do I book for the Palais de l'Île?
The Palais de l'Île does not require booking for individual visits. Tickets are sold on-site at the entrance to the monument. Guided tours and groups by reservation on 04 85 46 76 70.
What is the entry fee for the Palais de l'Île?
Palais de l'Île: full price €4 (Sept-June) or €5 (July-August). Reduced €2-2.50. Child 12-17 €2-2.50. Combined ticket with the Château €8-9. Free for under-12s. Free for everyone on the first Sunday of the month from October to May. Verified 21 May 2026.
What are the opening hours of the Palais de l'Île?
Palais de l'Île: June-September 10:30am-6pm continuous, closed Tuesday. October-May 10am-12:30pm and 2pm-5:30pm, closed Tuesday and public holidays. Verified on the official website 21 May 2026 — subject to seasonal changes.
Was the Palais de l'Île really a prison?
Yes. The Palais de l'Île served as a prison for the Counts of Geneva from 1325, then as a courthouse and prison until 1864. The cells, dungeons and torture chamber are preserved and open to visitors, offering a striking journey from the Middle Ages to the 19th century.
Is the Palais de l'Île wheelchair accessible?
Very little. The Palais de l'Île is a medieval monument on a rocky islet, with upper floors accessible only by stairs. The ground floor is partially accessible. Access is only via the pedestrian footbridges. The exterior can be freely viewed from the bridges.
Is there a combined ticket for the Palais de l'Île?
Yes. The combined ticket for the Musée-Château + Palais de l'Île costs €8 (Sept-June) or €9 (July-August), reduced rate €5. A saving of €2 compared with two separate tickets, valid for one day for both sites of the Annecy museums network.
Is the Palais de l'Île free on Sundays?
Partially. The Palais de l'Île is free for everyone on the first Sunday of the month from OCTOBER to MAY (not June-September, high season). Always free for under-12s, teachers, press, and Pass'Région holders.
How do I get to the Palais de l'Île from the station?
The Palais de l'Île is a 12-minute walk from Annecy railway station via the Pâquier and the old town. By bus: Sibra line, stop 'Hôtel de Ville' (150 m). Underground Hôtel-de-Ville car park (paid) 3 min on foot.
Sources
Sources & verification
Multi-source verification at publication. Information may change — confirm with the official operator before travelling.
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