Château de Menthon-Saint-Bernard

Such a beautiful castle. We went on New Year's Eve and paid for both the tour inside and the outdoor activities. The tour was interesting and beautiful, with most of the castle being decorated for the holidays. The outside area was festive with stunning views. I recommend stopping on the D909 to see the iconic view of the castle! (This is about a 35minute walk from the castle if you are on foot like we were.)

This castle is in a very beautiful location. Méthon-Saint-Bernard is a charming little town on Lake Annecy, definitely worth visiting and easily accessible by public transport from Annecy. We went all the way up to the castle, but unfortunately, it was closed. It’s only open a few days a week, which is why I’m not giving a full 5-star review. Despite that, the area is amazing and peaceful, and I would love to come back to visit the castle as well! If you are visiting, don't miss the wonderful spot just beneath the castle where you can enjoy the panoramic view of the city and the lake!

Beautiful place, the guided tour was great but pity that it was only in French. The atmosphere is straight out of a fairytale. I see why it was an inspiration for the castle in Sleeping Beauty 🧚🏰 The history of Menthon family and Saint Bernard was really fascinating

Wonderful chateau tucked away in the hills overlooking lake Annecy. *this review pertains to the castle exterior and surrounding gardens* Allow yourself to be transported back in time and get a glimpse of how it feels to live in the Menthon household (1180 AD). The chateau is well kept and the gardens are intricately pruned with tiny little pathways surrounding a wonderful little fountain. The chateau is not particularly accessible for wheelchair users, as there is no wheelchair accessible toilet. Parking is plentiful. There is a cafe and gift shop. The gift shop contains abundant trinkets available for purchase as well as an array of tame pottery offerings. The chateau do not allow dogs, but the lady was very accommodating and not only gave us slightly cheaper tickets (€3 is the standard price for the outdoor realm) but allowed us to come in and out to tend the dog and swap who was looking after it.

The château is really beautiful, with amazing views over Lake Annecy. There’s a little café and a souvenir shop too. You can only go inside with a guided tour. Ours was in French, but we still enjoyed it—the guide added a few explanations in English here and there. Inside, you get to see the church, kitchens, bedrooms, library, workrooms, and more. The building itself is very impressive. We came on a super hot day, but thanks to the great insulation it stayed nice and cool inside, which was a relief! After the tour, we checked out the gardens. They’re pleasant, but quite small and nothing too special. I wouldn’t recommend visiting just for the gardens, but the château itself is definitely worth it.

Wonderful fairytale castle beneath jagged mountains, with commanding views of the lake, and a nice cafe and terrace. The interior was beautiful and fascinating. Our guide Caesar was informative and animated, providing fascinating details of the history and art in the castle. Not to be missed!

The private castle above Lac d'Annecy dates back to the 13th century and offers a beautiful view over the lake and surrounding mountains. The guided tour is very informative and entertaining!

We have been coming to the Annecy area for around 20 years and visited for the first time this week. It was a wet day and we missed making the most of the beautiful grounds, but the tour of the Chateau was fantastic. The guide spoke very good English and gave a fascinating history of each room we visited. You can only go around as part of a tour and you may need to wait for availability in a suitable language, but it was very well organised and we really enjoyed it. We would go again another year, but choose a better day to really make the most of the experience. We definitely should have visited before!