Château de Pelly

Château de Pelly is a medieval castle in Desingy, a small town in Haute-Savoie (Upper Savoy), tucked between Annecy and Geneva in the Auvergne-Rhône-Alpes region of France.

How do you get to Château de Pelly?

Desingy sits in the arrondissement of Saint-Julien-en-Genevois, right in the border zone between Lake Annecy and Lake Geneva. That makes it a convenient base for anyone splitting a trip between the two areas — the mountains around Annecy on one side, urban Geneva on the other, both within easy reach for a day trip. The castle itself is off the main tourist routes, so it suits travelers with their own car who want to explore a quieter corner of Savoy.

What's the history behind the castle?

The building dates back to the 13th century and is tied to the Pelly family, vassals of the Counts of Geneva. This was the family's ancestral seat, and the castle served as the center of a seigneury covering the villages of Pelly, Vencières, and Vallières d'en Haut and d'en Bas. Records show a knight named Pierre de Pelly living here between 1252 and 1280. The Pelly family held on to the estate for centuries, right up until the line died out at the end of the 19th century.

What will you see when you visit?

Château de Pelly stands out for its five round towers wrapped around the main building — a well-preserved example of feudal-era architecture in the region. The layout of the towers and the compact, defensive shape of the structure give a good sense of what a lesser Savoyard noble residence looked like in the Middle Ages. The castle remains privately owned, so it's worth knowing upfront that this isn't a museum with open-door visiting hours — its appeal for travelers lies mainly in staying overnight or admiring the architecture from outside.

Can you stay overnight?

Yes. The estate runs a guesthouse (gîte/chambre d'hôtes) in one of the outbuildings, with two bedrooms, a bathroom, and a living room with a kitchen area available to guests. It's only open from May 1 to September 30, so that window is worth building into any travel plans — outside those dates, the property doesn't take guests. It's a solid option for anyone who wants to actually sleep within historic walls rather than just view the castle from the road.

Frequently Asked Questions

Is Château de Pelly open to the public? It's a private property, not a museum with regular visiting hours. You can view it from outside, and the outbuilding is open to guests booking an overnight stay.

Where is Desingy relative to Annecy and Geneva? Desingy lies in Haute-Savoie, between Lake Annecy and Geneva, making it easy to combine a visit with trips to either destination.

Where does the castle's name come from? It comes from the Pelly family, settled here since at least the 13th century, who ruled the surrounding seigneury until their line died out in the late 19th century.

How many rooms are available for guests? The outbuilding offers two bedrooms with a bathroom and a kitchen-equipped living room, available during the May-to-September season.