Archive · Evian-les-Bains

House Gribaldi, archives and heritage

Evian-les-Bains, FR 4.5 (54 Google reviews)

AT A GLANCE

Why go?

Tucked into the old quarter of Évian-les-Bains, the Maison Gribaldi is one of the last surviving witnesses of the town that existed before the Belle Époque spa boom transformed the lakefront. A Renaissance house built against the ramparts that once encircled Évian, it takes its name from Vespasien de Gribaldi, the 16th-century archbishop and local dignitary who was a friend of Saint François de Sales. Today the building has been given a second life as the town's heritage house, where Évian's historical and iconographic archives are preserved, digitised and displayed to the public.↗↗

For visitors it is a compact, atmospheric stop: mullioned stone windows, a timber gallery and a fine internal spiral staircase frame a working archive and a changing programme of temporary exhibitions about the city and its region. Restored and extended in 2013, the house is as much a window onto Évian's past—through photographs, documents and films—as it is an architectural gem in its own right.↗↗

A Renaissance remnant of the old town

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Archive · Evian-les-Bains

House Gribaldi, archives and heritage

Evian-les-Bains, FR 4.5 (54 Google reviews)

Photo: Google Maps

AT A GLANCE

Why go?

Tucked into the old quarter of Évian-les-Bains, the Maison Gribaldi is one of the last surviving witnesses of the town that existed before the Belle Époque spa boom transformed the lakefront. A Renaissance house built against the ramparts that once encircled Évian, it takes its name from Vespasien de Gribaldi, the 16th-century archbishop and local dignitary who was a friend of Saint François de Sales. Today the building has been given a second life as the town's heritage house, where Évian's historical and iconographic archives are preserved, digitised and displayed to the public.↗↗

For visitors it is a compact, atmospheric stop: mullioned stone windows, a timber gallery and a fine internal spiral staircase frame a working archive and a changing programme of temporary exhibitions about the city and its region. Restored and extended in 2013, the house is as much a window onto Évian's past—through photographs, documents and films—as it is an architectural gem in its own right.↗↗

A Renaissance remnant of the old town

Évian is famous for its water and its grand spa-era façades, but the Maison Gribaldi belongs to an older, humbler chapter of the city. Described as Évian's oldest residence, it is considered one of the last vestiges of the medieval and Renaissance town that huddled inside its walls. The house leans against the very ramparts that once defended the cité, and it probably formed part of—or an annex to—the nearby manor of its famous namesake.↗↗↗

The architecture still tells that story. Built in the Renaissance, the house keeps its mullioned windows (fenêtres à meneaux) crowned with decorative accolade lintels, a timber gallery along the façade, and, inside, a handsome stone spiral staircase. During the 2013 restoration and extension, the wooden gallery was rebuilt identically, preserving the building's character while opening it up to new public use.↗↗

The archbishop who gave it his name

The house is named for Vespasien de Gribaldi, an illustrious local figure whom the city chose to honour through this restoration. Born in Évian in the first half of the 16th century to a family from Chieri in Piedmont, he became Archbishop of Vienne in the Dauphiné in 1567, then relinquished his see in 1572 in the face of the rising Calvinist tide. Sent by Pope Clement VIII, he settled back in Évian—drawn, as the records put it, by 'the abundance and clarity of its waters and fine fountains.'↗

He is best remembered today for his friendship with François de Sales, whom he co-consecrated as bishop on 8 December 1602 in the church at Thorens. Vespasien died in Évian in 1623 and was buried within the church, leaving a name that still hangs over one of the town's oldest walls. A visit to the house neatly ties together Évian's religious history, its old ramparts and its waters—the very things that made the place famous.↗

Archives and exhibitions under one roof

The Maison Gribaldi's real purpose now is to act as the living memory of Évian. It is the conservation home of the town's historical archives and a venue for temporary exhibitions, with the document and image collections digitised so they can be consulted by anyone on computer workstations—an asset for researchers, schools and curious visitors alike.↗↗↗

Past shows have turned the town's own past into something you can wander through: one exhibition gathered more than 200 amateur photographs taken between 1895 and 1925, presenting Évian's Belle Époque in 3D relief and, as a bonus, screening rare films from the Lumière brothers. The programme rotates, so the display you find on any given visit will reflect a different slice of local heritage.↗

Planning your visit

The house sits in Évian's old quarter, close to the lakefront and the historic streets around the parish church, making it an easy stop on a walking tour of the town's heritage trail. It welcomes visitors around the temporary exhibitions; as a working archive rather than an always-open museum, opening depends on the current programme, so it is worth checking with Évian tourism before you go—especially since the site has periodically closed for changes in its activity.↗↗

Admission is modest—around 3–4 € for adults, free for under-16s, with a small extra charge for the daily guided tour that has been offered at 4pm. The building is notably accessible: wheelchair entry is via a door on the rue du Port side (ring the intercom), with a lift reaching the different levels, an adapted toilet, and easy-read French booklets for visitors who prefer plain-language material.↗

What makes it special

01

One of Évian's oldest surviving buildings, a Renaissance house built against the town's former ramparts.↗↗

02

Named for Vespasien de Gribaldi, 16th-century archbishop and friend of Saint François de Sales.↗

03

Home to Évian's digitised historical archives, a consultation space and rotating heritage exhibitions.↗↗

04

Architectural details worth a look: mullioned windows, an identical-rebuilt timber gallery and a stone spiral staircase.↗↗

A little planning goes a long way

Check the current exhibition programme and opening days with Évian Tourism before visiting—access is tied to the temporary shows rather than fixed daily hours.↗
Allow for a guided tour if one is running (historically offered daily at 4pm for a small surcharge) to get the most from the archive displays.↗
Pair the visit with a walk through the old quarter around the parish church, whose heritage trail connects Évian's ramparts, fountain and spa-era landmarks.↗↗

About this guide

Compiled with AI assistance from the sources below; this is not a first-hand visit. Place details collected October 5, 2026. Hours, access and ratings can change; confirm with the venue before visiting.

Finding your next place…

House Gribaldi, archives and heritage

Why go?

A Renaissance remnant of the old town

More of France: Annecy

Finding your next place…

House Gribaldi, archives and heritage

Why go?

A Renaissance remnant of the old town

More of France: Annecy

The archbishop who gave it his name

Archives and exhibitions under one roof

Planning your visit

What makes it special

A little planning goes a long way

About this guide