The Château de Clermont is one of the few testimonies of Italian influence in the architectural heritage of Haute-Savoie. This visit allows you to discover the small countryside villages around Annecy.
A bit of history
The Château de Clermont is one of the few examples of Renaissance architecture from the former Duchy of Savoy.
As early as the mid-13th century, records attest to the existence of the Château de Clermont, the residence of the Counts of Geneva, destroyed in 1630. Its buried remains, protected by the forest, are still being studied today by archaeologists and historians. At the foot of the castle, Monseigneur Gallois Regard, a local child who became rich and powerful after a career with the popes in Rome, built his pleasure residence between 1576 and 1580. It is this building, classified as a historical monument, that you can discover today.
Visit the Château de Clermont
Two permanent exhibitions allow you to discover the evolution of the building from the Middle Ages to the present day, and to trace the amazing life of its builder, Mgr Gallois Regard. The rooms are furnished and showcase Renaissance furniture.
A guided tour is dedicated to families with children: “The whimsical castle of Gallois.” Another tour is dedicated to the public with mental, visual, or auditory disabilities: “The Senses of the Castle.” Finally, an investigation is available from age 13 and by reservation: “Intrigue at the Castle: the disappearance of Pompée.”
If you wish, you can take a self-guided tour to take the time you need. A parking lot and a picnic area are offered to visitors.
Address: Chef Lieu, 74 270 Clermont. It requires a bit of driving from Annecy, but the countryside landscapes and the small picturesque towns pleasantly punctuate the journey.
The visit costs €3 for adults and is free for children under 8 years old.
The plus: The visit is free on the first Sunday of the month.
Discover the summer shows at the Château de Clermont
In the exceptional setting of the Château de Clermont, a new edition of the festival to dream, vibrate, and laugh alone, with friends, or with family! New for 2023: free shows entirely on the castle esplanade.
This summer, Clermont en Scène(s) is reinventing itself!
The Departmental Council is happy to welcome you to the Château de Clermont for its new format festival. This year, all shows are free and take place outdoors on the large esplanade of the castle!
Breathtaking acrobatic performances or intimate shows, swing music, hip hop songs, or electro-orchestral flights: we offer you a joyful, original, poetic, and festive program that will delight young and old, initiated and curious!
Don’t miss the opening and closing days to rediscover the castle, whose doors are open to you for free, as well as every Saturday evening before the shows. And at the end of August, to delight your ears, find in the courtyard the Jazz Club of Annecy festival, which celebrates its 30th anniversary.
Clermont en Scène(s): every Saturday from June 24 to July 29
Jazz Club of Annecy Festival: August 25, 26, and 27. (paid)
More information on the very beautiful castles you can see during your vacation:
