Vieille Ville (Old Town)
Vieille Ville (Old Town) is one of the narrated stops on the self-guided Annecy audio walking tour in Gingerguide. Plan about ~30 min here. Press play at the spot for its two to three minute story, or ask the AI guide anything about it.
- Type historic
- Suggested visit ~30 min
- Annecy Annecy guide
About Vieille Ville (Old Town)
Annecy's medieval quarter straddles the river Thiou below the castle hill: a pedestrian maze of arcaded streets, pastel canal-side houses and cobbled alleys, nicknamed the Venice of the Alps.
Annecy's Vieille Ville is the medieval old town, straddling the river Thiou and its canals below the castle hill. Its spine is Rue Sainte-Claire, an arcaded pedestrian street where covered galleries on columns shelter shops and cafés. Pastel houses in yellow, pink and green, many of medieval origin and Piedmontese in style, follow the water, and the Palais de l'Île sits on an island in the Thiou at the quarter's centre.
The Thiou, the outflow of Lake Annecy, threads through the quarter for more than 550 metres before running on toward the Fier. A traditional open-air market is held along Rue Sainte-Claire on Tuesday, Friday and Sunday mornings, selling local produce, cheese and charcuterie, though the exact days and hours can vary seasonally. Largely pedestrianised, the quarter grew from the medieval settlement around the Thiou crossing, whose control dates to the 12th century, and its canals earn it the popular nickname Venice of the Alps.
Did you know? Rue Sainte-Claire is lined with stone arcades, covered galleries on columns that let you browse the shops and cafés below in the shade or the rain, exactly as medieval builders intended.
How long should you spend at Vieille Ville (Old Town)?
Plan about ~30 min at Vieille Ville (Old Town). That is enough to take it in and hear its narrated story; stay longer if it grabs you. The tour is self-guided, so there is no rush.
Is Vieille Ville (Old Town) worth visiting?
Vieille Ville (Old Town) is one of the 12 sights the Gingerguide team researched and narrated in Annecy, so it earns a place on a self-guided walk. Its story explains why it matters, and you can ask the AI guide anything the story leaves open.
Nearby stops in Annecy
Day 1 of the Annecy in 2 days itinerary →
Updated:
Hear the story of Vieille Ville (Old Town)
Preview the Annecy tour free in the Gingerguide app.