Sainte Claire square and gate

The Sainte-Claire Square and Gate, in Annecy

The Sainte-Claire Square and Gate mark the historic entrance of the old town of Annecy, at the end of the street of the same name. The Annecy audio-guided tour stops here to evoke this picturesque ensemble, a vestige of the former fortifications.

The former gate of the town

The Sainte-Claire Gate is one of the last preserved gates of the former fortifications of Annecy. This stone gate, topped with a clock tower, formerly marked one of the entrances of the enclosed town, at the end of Sainte-Claire Street. It testifies to the medieval past of the town, formerly surrounded by ramparts. In front of it extends Sainte-Claire Square, a pleasant space lined with old residences, which hosts notably the market and the terraces. With its picturesque setting, its colourful façades and its lively atmosphere, the ensemble of the square and the Sainte-Claire Gate forms one of the most charming entrances of the old town. It is a witness of the fortified past and a place of life of Annecy.

What to see

You admire the former stone gate topped with a clock tower, one of the last preserved of the fortifications, and the picturesque square lined with old residences and colourful façades, which hosts the market and the terraces. The Sainte-Claire Square and Gate form a charming entrance of the old town of Annecy. It is a must-see stop, to be explored on foot.

Practical information

The Sainte-Claire Square and Gate lie at the end of Sainte-Claire Street, in the old town of Annecy, reachable on foot. They are public spaces freely accessible; the market and the terraces follow their own days and hours. You discover them during a walk in the old town.

What was the Sainte-Claire Gate in Annecy?

One of the last preserved gates of the former fortifications of the town, a stone gate topped with a clock tower that marked the entrance of the enclosed town, at the end of Sainte-Claire Street.

Where are the Sainte-Claire Square and Gate?

At the end of Sainte-Claire Street, in the old town of Annecy, in France.