Maison Lambert (Lambert House), Annecy

To understand the significance of the Lambert House we must go back in time. In the 17th century Switzerland and parts of France were in turmoil. The reformation movement within Christianity has moved into the war phase. The Calvinist faction now controls Geneva. Life is uneasy for the Catholic bishop of Geneva, Francois de Sales.

Finally Francois de Sales is expelled from Geneva. Where to go? He moved to Annecy and took up residence in Lambert House, owned by Pierre de Lambert.

Pierre had just finished with the building of Saint Peters Cathedral. Both buildings are located on the Jean-Jacques Rousseau Street. Francois de Sales moved into Lambert House in 1602 and he resided there for eight years.

Lambert used some of the facade elements from the Cathedral for the facade of his own house. The house has three stories. The facade is plain, with full size windows on the second and third floors. The main entrance has double carved wooden doors flanked by pilasters. Above the doors is a triangular pediment.

The building design is simple but with a minimalist elegance. Bishop de Sales never got the chance to move to the Bishop Palace which was built on the same street near the end of the 18th century.