Chambéry is a French commune located in the Savoie department in the Auvergne-Rhône-Alpes region. The city is nicknamed the “City of the Dukes” because acquired by the House of Savoy in 1232, it became the political capital of the Counts of Savoy in 1295 when the castle was purchased and the official establishment of the Resident Council, then of the Duchy of Savoy from 1416 until its transfer to Turin in 1562. Chambéry remains the historic capital of the States of Savoy. Considered today as the historic capital of Savoy.
Located in the Northern Prealps between the Bauges and Chartreuse massifs, at the confluence of the Leysse and Albanne then Hyères, the city is the current prefecture of Savoy. Chambéry is called the Alpine crossroads of Europe because of its proximity to major European metropolises such as Lyon to the west, Geneva (Switzerland) to the north, Turin and Milan (Italy) to the ‘east and Grenoble (then Marseille) to the south.
The city is marked by late industrialization, the city ‘s economy has long depended on the presence of administrations and the army. Its historic center was partially destroyed during the bombings of May 1944. Since its merger with two rural municipalities and the creation of new districts and industrial zones in the 1950s and 1960s, Chambéry has experienced strong demographic growth. The presence of the Savoie-Mont-Blanc University, established in 1979, also brought Chambéry a large university population.
History
The history of Chambéry is directly linked to its geographical location because the city is located at a natural crossroads on the major European economic axes. The history of Chambéry is closely linked to the House of Savoy and was the Savoyard capital from 1295 to 1563. France annexed the regions that formerly constituted the Duchy of Savoy west of the Alps in 1792; however, the former Duchy and Chambéry were returned to the rulers of the House of Savoy in Turin in 1815 following the defeat of Napoleon Bonaparte. Chambéry and lands of the former Duchy, as well as The County of Nice, were ceded to France by Piedmont in 1860, under the reign of Napoleon III.
The city’s history is closely linked to that of its neighbor beyond the Alps: for six centuries, Chambéry and Savoy, Turin and Piedmont were united under the authority of the House of Savoy. It blows here a little air of Italy, a certain sweetness of life that surprises and seduces at first glance. Chambéry allows you to dive into a Middle Ages where castle, mansions, colored facades, trompe-l’oeil, mineral squares and local gastronomic specialties (chocolate, vermouth, pasta, polenta…) recall the memory of our neighbors beyond Alpes.
Tourism
The city of Chambéry, because of its location in the Alps, at the crossroads of several natural regions and its past as the capital of the Dukes of Savoy from which it has inherited a rich heritage, obtained the ” tourist town ” label , confirmed in 2012 . The development of tourist activity in the city dates back to 1896, with the creation of a tourist office, one year after that of Annecy and Grenoble. The enhancement of urban heritage made it possible to obtain the official label ” City of art and history” in 1985.
Chambery pedestrian streets punctuated with gourmet addresses, its dynamic and varied shops, its rich details of sculptures and other ironwork and of course its castle – the home of the Dukes of Savoy. Chambéry is an invitation to stroll, to stroll.
In 2014, the town’s reception capacity, estimated by the Savoie Mont Blanc organization, was 6,155 tourist beds in 740 establishments. Accommodation is as follows: 33 furnished; 19 hotels; two holiday centers or youth hostels and 4 guest rooms.
Finally, the city has a “five star” hotel, the Petit Hôtel Confidentiel, the only five-star hotel in the Savoie department that is not located in a winter sports resort. This hotel was also elected best five-star hotel in France by Trivago (Trivago Awards) in 2016, in 2017 and in 2018.
Attractions
The city of Chambéry is classified city of art and history. The city and country of art and history label has been awarded since 1985 by the French Ministry of Culture to cities or countries engaging in a policy of animation and promotion of heritage and architecture. This promotion is the work of the public establishment Chambéry promotion and the tourist office. Since September 2010, the hotel cord (16th century), Saint-Real Street became the interpretation of Architecture and Heritage Center, a municipal building intended to raise awareness of Chambéry heritage. This is the starting point for tours under the guidance of Chambéry guide-lecturers. It takes shape in this City of Art and History like a scent of mystery that you will enjoy discovering.
Elephant Square
The Chambériens have forged such a strong bond with these four pachyderms that we can say that they are the soul, the emotional emblem of the city. The Elephant Fountain was erected in homage to General-Count Benoit de Boigne (1751-1830). After having acquired fame and fortune in India while fighting for the sovereign Marathe de Gwalior, he was the great benefactor of Chambéry, his birthplace. This monument, nicknamed the “4 without asses” because we can only see the front half of the elephants, recalls the Indian military campaigns of the General whose bronze statue dominates the monument. This work is a curious superposition of 3 monuments in one: a fountain, a column and a statue.
The traboules of the old center
Chambériens usually call them “the alleys”. They are like corridors that allow movement between large buildings. Their network covers the entire old town of Chambéry, particularly around Place Saint Léger. The buildings in the heart of the city have the particularity of being deep and narrow in frontage, a legacy of the “toisé”, this 14th century tax calculated according to the main width of the facades. As the narrower they were, the lower the tax, the mansions were built in length, hence the current structure of the historic center! In addition, Chambéry having the particularity of being built on swamps, the buildings “lean” on each other to support each other and leave no space to move between them. For convenience, the traboules have therefore come to connect the streets to each other.
The trompe-l’oeil and ironwork
As you stroll through the city, look up! At the bend of an alley, in the middle of a square, decorative elements pass for reality: paired stones, window frames, corner stones… Coming from Italy, this art of trompe-l’oeil developed in the nineteenth century, and continues. Some are particularly remarkable: the facade of the Maison des Associations, a side wall of the Charles Dullin Theater, the courtyard of the Clock Island, the facades of the Maison Dénarié, the ceiling of the Sainte Chapelle and of course the vault. of the Cathedral of Saint François de Sales. It would have the largest trompe l’oeil in Europe in a religious building (6000 m²). More discreet, false windows are hidden among the real ones, even in the most frequented places. Simultaneously with the improvement of iron extraction techniques, ironwork replaced the protections of wood or stone which secured buildings, because they were lighter and more resistant. From remarkable ironwork of art adorn the mansions of the historic center. Perhaps you will have fun spotting portals, balconies, transoms…
The Castle of the Dukes of Savoy
Dominating the old city from all its height, the Château de Chambéry can be admired from the street and discovered through guided tours. Fortress, princely palace and emblem of the power of the Counts and Dukes of Savoy, it brings together a remarkable set of buildings built from the 13th century to the present day. Since 1860, year of the annexation of Savoy to France, the prefecture and the departmental council of Savoy have continued this administrative function. In the medieval wing, the rooms of the former Chamber of Accounts present the history of the castle and of the House of Savoy (this part is accessible to the public outside of guided tours). From the inner courtyard are revealed the Sainte Chapelle and the Tour Trésorerie. The Sainte Chapelle de Chambéry housed the Shroud between 1502 and 1578. It has since been exhibited in Turin. To see: the remarkable 16th century stained-glass windows and the strikingly realistic trompe-l’oeil. In the Yolande Tower is installed the Grand Carillon de Chambéry, one of the largest in the world with its 70 bells.
Saint François de Sales Cathedral
Former Franciscan church, erected as a cathedral at the end of the 18th century, its interior elegance comes from its trompe-l’oeil. They are among the largest in Europe and cover almost all of its walls (an area of over 6000 m2). Its episcopal treasury is composed of a set of liturgical objects dating from the 12th to the 19th century and notably includes a 12th century ivory diptych of Byzantine origin. Its great romantic pipe organ, one of the most important in Auvergne-Rhône-Alpes, was built in 1847 by Augustin Zeiger. It has been classified as a Historic Monument since 1988 and was restored in 2001.
Beaux-arts museum
Imagine that the building that houses the museum was a grain hall (called a granette) in medieval times, then a museum-library in the 19th century. The museum offers a prestigious collection of Italian paintings from the 14th to the 18th century, and a collection of paintings from the Chambéry school of the 19th and early 20th centuries. The ground floor of the museum houses the art library as well as a café-bookshop: “Quai des Arts”. This space is ideal for savoring the atmosphere of the museum…
The railway rotunda
A masterpiece of Eiffel-type metal architecture from the beginning of the 20th century, this railway rotunda is still in use and is a unique testimony to the adventure of transport across the Alps. Built from 1906 to 1910 and completely renovated, it houses a maintenance workshop for the Rhône-Alpes TER regional trains, locomotives and self-propelled vehicles. Part of the building has been dedicated to an interpretation center which presents several electric locomotives and historic wagons. The Rotunda is still used daily by the SNCF, for safety reasons only this area is accessible to the public and can be discovered through guided tours.
The House of Charmettes
A place imbued with the memory of Jean-Jacques Rousseau
Located in the heart of a preserved valley, the country house where Rousseau stayed with Madame de Warens from 1736 to 1742 is an important place of literary pilgrimage. You can discover the dining room and the music room, the chapel, Rousseau’s bedroom with its alcove bed and that of Mme de Warens. The place has deeply marked the personality of the great writer. It was at Les Charmettes that Rousseau said he discovered botany and his love of nature. In 1993, the garden, orchard and vineyards adjoining the house were redesigned in the spirit of the 18th century. Thus, more than 80 species of medicinal, condiment, ornamental or vegetable plants known or forgotten have been planted.
The Cross of Nivolet
Visible from any point in Chambéry, this monumental cross was erected for the first time in 1861. It was intended to replace another cross placed in the Parc du Verney, in the center of Chambéry, on the site where the condemned were executed. to death, and removed during the redevelopment of the park. Going to the Croix du Nivolet from the hamlet of Sire in La Féclaz offers a pleasant family walk – duration: 1h30 (round trip), altitude difference: 110 m, all ages – with as a reward a very nice viewpoint at the ‘arrival. You will have before your eyes a breathtaking panorama of the Belledonne, the vineyards of Combe de Savoie, Chambéry, Aix les Bains and Lac du Bourget and even Vanoise and Mont Blanc.
A bike trip
What if after renting a bike from the Vélostation you reach the shores of Lac du Bourget for an afternoon? The walk is so pleasant ! From Chambéry, the greenway will guide you for 17 km to Aix-les-Bains via Mottets beach (Viviers-du-Lac), and Lido beach (Tresserve). The ride can even be embellished with a small boat cruise on the lake. From Chambéry, lovers of beautiful landscapes can take the other side of the greenway (part of Véloroute 63) to Lake Saint-André for a beautiful 40-minute family excursion. Between vineyards and mountains, you will navigate a maze of small roads, each as charming as the next…
Historical heritage
Ancient monuments
The crypt Lémenc: the oldest ancient relic in Chambéry is the church of St. Peter Lémenc largely the 15th century, but which houses a crypt oldest. Its date and destination are very poorly known. A rotunda made up of six remarkable columns might have served as a monumental reliquary or baptistery. Archaeologists do not agree on its dating (9th and 11th century).
The nearby cemetery contains the remains of several chambériennes celebrities, such as M de Warrens the intimate friend of the philosopher Jean-Jacques Rousseau, or Benoît de Boigne.
Monuments of the Middle Ages and Renaissance
The castle of the Dukes of Savoy: It is the former residence of the counts and dukes of Savoy. Today it houses the prefecture and the departmental council. This is a collection of buildings from the Middle Ages to the 20th century. It consists of three towers built including the 14th and 15th centuries, medieval outbuildings and a large main building of the 18th and 19th centuries built on the site of the former apartments of the counts. Within its enclosure is the Sainte-Chapelle (1408-1430), which housed the Shroud from 1453 to 1578, before he was transferred to Turin, to follow the change of capital of the States of Savoy. Inside you can admire the remarkable stained glass 16th century, restored in 2002. The façade, built in the 17th century, is a masterpiece of Baroque architect Amedeo di Castellamonte Turin. In the bell tower (or Yolande tower), is installed the Grand carillon which rings with its 70 bells . Work of the Paccard foundry in Sevrier, it is the fourth largest carillon in the world and the first in Europe. A concert is held the first and third Saturdays of each month at 17 h 30.
The Cathedral Saint-François-de-Sales: Former Franciscan chapel built in the 15th century, it became cathedral in 1779 during the creation of the diocese of Chambéry and metropolis in 1817, when its transformation into archbishopric. It houses the largest collection of paintings in trompe l’oeil in Europe (1835) and an ivory diptych of the 12th century Byzantine inspiration.
The old town: it is made up of a large number of old hotels of the Savoyard nobility. At the end of the 15th century, the noble families began the demolition of the old shacks of wood and mud, and have built good houses stones that later took the name “hotel” where the householder receives its guests. The dwellings of the 15th and 16th centuries are numerous, although their facades have mostly been redesigned from the 18th century (Rue Basse du Château, Jewry Street, Golden Cross Street, etc.). Very steeped in medieval heritage, the first hotels were organized around a courtyard most often closed in which there was a turret out of work or half out of work, containing a spiral staircase. An arch in the form of a brace or a basket handle frequently surmounts the front door. The Italian Renaissance left its mark there: galleries or loggias connect the different buildings, there are many interior paths, arcades sometimes border the courtyard….
Baroque style monuments
At the advent of the Baroque period (17th and 18th centuries) many noble families such as the Costa de Beauregard or Castagnery Châteauneuf will undertake in the medieval fabric of the city, building mansions. The reference to Turin, and to Italian art in general, is well established. The intramural situation and the consequent surface area of these buildings make them akin to Italian palaces. Throughout the Italian peninsula, the great families have built, since the Renaissance, palaces in the heart of the cities, where the place is rare, from where a square plan on interior courtyard with the gardens reduced or even nonexistent. A monumental door opens onto a passage leading to the inner courtyard. This passage crosses the building right through, which allows the palace to benefit from a double access. The Costa-de-Beauregard or Morand hotels have this particularity, like the Carignan Palace in Turin, from Florentine models.
In the 18th century courtyard of the new hotels goes: hotels Chollet du Bourget, from Rocheor Montfalcon offer a single main building. The decor is intensified on the facades or on the stairs, with a predilection for French-style elements (Louis XV gates, Louis XVI garlands and ribbons). The senatorial tradition of Chambery, inherited from the middle of the 16th century prompted the noble families living in town winter and summer in the countryside. The castles or fortified houses in the surrounding area are modernized and brought up to date, and often transformed into profitable estates.
The castle Caramagne: This private estate is one of the finest surviving examples today. To the north of the city, near the new district of Chambéry-le-Haut and in an environment where the countryside tends to disappear a little more every day, the Caramagne estate gives an Italian feel to the surroundings of Chambéry. An imposing entrance, surrounded by semi-circular commons, opens onto a large avenue of plane trees. This leads to this house with a trompe-l’oeil decoration. Marble columns support the loggia in the style of Italian palaces. The tempera paintingspresent a perspective of false columns.
At the ends of the loggia, two groups imitating the sculpture represent the abduction of Deianira by the centaur Nessus, on the left, and the abduction of Europe by Jupiter. The origin of this old house is much older than the decoration suggests. The lawyer Bernadino Becchi, born in the small village of Caramagne (Piedmont), was the builder of the 16th century. Ownership then passed to the Bertrand family of Perugia, then Frédéric Bellegarde in 1783. The decoration of the living room (late 18th century) such as facades (early 19th century) would have been made at the time of this owner, by Piedmontese artists but whose names are unknown.
In 1812, a former soldier, Joseph Gillet, took possession of the house, but rented it in 1820 to the Marquise de La Pierre, an Englishwoman married to a Chambérien, and to one of her compatriots, Madame Birch. The poet Alphonse de Lamartine met her daughter in 1819. A year later, they unite. The large salon – adorned with stucco decorations – remains famous for the marriage contract signed on May 25, 1820.
In the Baroque style is also built the Church of Our Lady of Chambery, the 17th century, which is the former chapel of the Jesuits Chambery. The plans are due to Étienne Martellange, architect in particular of the Saint-Paul-Saint-Louis church in Paris.
19th century
Among the buildings and improvements made during the 19th century, found include: Rue de Boigne, lined with porticos in Turin mode, was drilled between 1824 and 1830 thanks to the generosity of General Boigne, urban planner back into his hometown. This artery, “cut through a saber-cut”, brought in the romantic Chambéry of the time a salutary ventilation of the urban space, in spite of the disappearance of historical buildings undoubtedly of the greatest interest, like the old hotels of Buttet, the Chavanne and Lescheraine. This new path very quickly became the social center of the city where the families of notables settled, but also luxury shops and tearooms. Stendhalwrote in 1837 in his Memoirs of a Tourist: “Such a convenient place soon becomes the meeting place for all who are bored and want to have fun on a rainy day; There are cafes, luxury boutiques, literary cabinets, where you will spend an hour or two when it’s a dark breeze and you are bored at home… It was raining today. I spent all my day under the porticoes of the beautiful rue de Chambéry. I was thinking of sweet Italy… ”
The elephant fountain: this fountain is the most famous monument of Chambéry; it was erected in 1838 by the Grenoble sculptor Pierre-Victor Sappey who commemorates the exploits in India of the Marathasby Count de Boigne (1751-1830). After the death of Benoît de Boigne in 1831, the city of Chambéry decided to erect a monument to perpetuate the memory and the benefits of the illustrious character. The city council chose the Grenoblois Pierre-Victor Sappey project, for its originality and low cost.
This monument was inaugurated on December 10, 1838. The ensemble, 17.65 meters high, is a clever superposition of three monuments: a fountain, a column and a statue. The fountain presents in its plan the cross of Savoy. Four elephants united by the rump, hence the popular nickname “Four without an ass”, made of cast iron, throw water through the trunk into an octagonal-shaped basin. They each carry a combat tower surmounted by a bas-relief or an inscription. Above are a wide variety of trophies: “Persian, Mughal, Hindu weapons; various objects recalling the customs, the arts and the civilization of the peoples that General de Boigne fought or governed, make up the trophies “. The large column is symbolized by a trunk of a palm tree, it carries at its top the statue of the general. He is represented with the costume of lieutenant general of HM the King of Sardinia.
The Charles-Dullin theater: this theater bears the name of the Savoyard actor Charles Dullin since 1949. It was built from 1820 thanks to a donation from the Count de Boigne. It was inaugurated in 1824. Burned down in 1864 (which led to the loss of part of the municipal archives, stored in the attic), it was rebuilt from 1864 to 1866 on the model of the previous theater. The room is a real Italian room, a bit in the spirit of the Milan Scala. The proscenium curtain painted by Louis Vacca represents the descent into the Underworld of Orpheus; the only survivor of the fire in 1864, he is listed in the inventory of historical monuments. A restoration, partly funded by donors following a public subscription, brought back a lot of luster in 2017 to this work of art, one of the last four of its type in Europe.
Chambery also has many statues, mostly installed at the end of 19th century during the “statues of war”, where, reinforcing public subscriptions and press campaign, politicians and notable Republicans or erected conservative monuments with strong symbolic significance:
the statue of Sasson (which means Fat woman in Savoyard) is a monument by sculptor Alexandre Falguière installed in 1892 to commemorate the first attachment of Savoy to France which took place at the time of the Revolution in 1792. It was confiscated and unbolted by the Germans during World War II, it was found beheaded in a train station in Germany and it found its place in the city after repairs in 1983;
the statue of the brothers Joseph and Xavier de Maistre, respectively philosopher and writer, by the sculptor Ernest Henri Dubois, installed in 1899 near the castle and which had an eventful history. Until the Second World War, the statue included a woman, an allegory of Savoy, at the foot of the two brothers offering an oak crown to the elder and a bouquet to the younger;
the statue of Jean-Jacques Rousseau (1910 – Mars Vallett), in the public garden of the closed Savoiroux, which represents him on a country walk, standing on a rock, facing the city;
the monument to the Savoyards who died for the country (Monument to the dead of 1870) (1912, place Monge), a bronze work by Ernest Henri Dubois. It represents two women, one of which symbolizes Savoy and the other France, and commemorates the sacrifice of soldiers from the two mobile battalions of Savoy.
20th century
The SNCF rotunda: the rotunda of the filing of the station SNCF, inspired by the architecture of Gustave Eiffel and built between 1907 and 1910, was included in the inventory of historical monuments in 1984 and labeled ” Heritage 20th century »Since 2005. It is the largest metal rotunda in France. Completely restored, it is still in operation, and can store 72 locomotives on 36 radiating tracks. An architecture and heritage interpretation center is being developed, allowing more and more visitors to regularly discover this iron masterpiece. Visits are organized regularly throughout the year.
les Halles de Chambéry: this is an example of concrete architecture, designed by the architects Pierre and Raymond Bourdeix. The peculiarity of the structure is to present inside the covered market a slab supported by large span beams with reinforced concrete struts (Hennebique system), without any intermediate fulcrum. The covered market and the open-air market are held there twice a week. Les Halles was the subject of an architectural competition for the construction of a modern shopping center. The chosen project will enhance the existing structure, and its construction was completed in November 2011;
the old departmental archives: this building was designed by the architect Roger Pétriaux and built in 1936. It is labeled “Heritage 20th century”. This building was intended to house all of the departmental archives, hence its name. It has been transformed into offices for certain departmental council services.
Religious buildings
Catholic worship
Saint-François-de-Sales Cathedral, Place Métropole.
Notre-Dame Church, rue Saint-Antoine.
Saint-Pierre church, rue Burdin de Lémenc.
Notre-Dame-de-l’Assomption Church, place Paul Vachez in Chambéry-le-Vieux.
Church of the Sacred Heart, Faubourg Montmélian.
Saint-Pierre church, Saint-Pierre square in Maché.
Saint-Jean-Bosco Church, rue de l’Eglise.
Church of St. Clair and St. Francis of Assisi, rue du Pré de l’Âne.
Sainte-Chapelle at the Château de Chambéry.
Carmel of Chambéry.
Chapels
Chapel of the Red Cross, rue du Genevois in Chambéry-le-Haut.
Funeral chapel of the de Boigne family, rue Burdin in the old cemetery of Lémenc.
Chapelle du Carmel, boulevard de Lémenc.
Saint-Benoît chapel of the retirement home, rue du Laurier.
Vaugelas chapel of the school, rue Jaen-Pierre Veyrat.
Saint-Ombre chapel, place Paul Vachez.
Chapel of the Sainte-Geneviève school, rue Victor Hugo.
Chapel of the diocesan house, chemin du Glu.
Chapelle du Bon Pasteur, rue du Bon Pasteur.
Chapel of Calvary, chemin du Calvaire.
Chapel of Notre-Dame de Lourdes, chemin des Gentianes.
Muslim worship
Al Warithine Mosque, Landiers Avenue.
Tawba Mosque, rue du Genevois.
Protestant / evangelical worship
Temple reform, rue de la Banque.
Evangelical Baptist Church, Route de l’Épine.
Evangelical Pentecostal Church, rue Franc Cachoud.
Evangelical church, rue de la Croix Rouge.
Evangelical Church Siloé, boulevard de Lémenc.
Millinarist cult
Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, avenue Leclerc.
Kingdom Hall of Jehovah’s Witnesses, avenue Daniel Rops.
Cultural heritage
Chambéry includes a set of old and contemporary buildings:
The old town, with its many mansions and alleys from medieval times;
The Charles-Dullin theater, 1866, which has an Italian-style hall;
L’espace Malraux, 1987. This is a national stage which was produced by Mario Botta;
The Jean-Jacques Rousseau media library, 1992. It was created by the architect Aurelio Galfetti and houses the municipal library of Chambéry;
Le Manège, convention center, 1992, which was created by Jean-Jacques Morisseau;
La Cité des Arts, 2002, produced by Yann Keromnes, Aurelio Galfetti and François Cusson;
Le Phare, 2009, a hall that hosts concerts, sporting events and events.
The various museums in the city, exhibition and seminar spaces:
The Museum of Fine Arts, which has Italian Renaissance paintings;
The Savoy museum, devoted to regional history;
Les Charmettes, the house where Jean-Jacques Rousseau spent part of his youth;
The natural history museum, created in 1846, which exhibits the region’s natural heritage to the public;
The Hôtel de Cordon, architecture and heritage interpretation center, 71 rue Saint-Réal, the starting point for tours of the city carried out by Chambéry guide-lecturers;
The Larith gallery, for contemporary art exhibitions;
The Antichambre gallery, 15 rue de Boigne;
The Ruffieux-Bril gallery, rue Basse-du-Château.
A youth and culture center was created on December 8, 1945; from May 1946 it offered a few activities (dramatic art, modeling, masks, English, German, shorthand, drawing, chess, skiing…), more sport from 1955-1965. On February 3, 1967, the current building (bringing together the MJC and the home for young workers) was inaugurated, renovated in 2010. In July 2014 the association was placed in receivership, lifted in September 2015.
The city has several municipal libraries such as the Jean-Jacques-Rousseau media library and the Georges-Brassens library as well as five neighborhood association libraries located in Bellevue, Bissy, Biollay, Chantemerle and Mérande.
Finally, several learned societies of Savoy are present in the commune of Chambéry. These associations allow enlightened amateurs and specialists to come together around various themes, including regional history or the study of regional cultural heritage. Are present, in particular, in the town the Savoisian Society of History and Archeology (SSHA), founded in Chambéry in 1855, the association of Friends of Joseph and Xavier de Maistre as well as the Society of Friends of Old Chambéry. The 7 th art has its place in the ducal city. Chambéry has several cinemas including l’Astrée,the Forum, Curial, and the Pathé Les halles multiplex.
Events and festivities
Non-exhaustive list, classified by month, of the main cultural events and festivities in the city of Chambéry:
January: New Year’s concert.
February: the Nights of the trailer, carnival.
March: March in songs, the fortnight of Spanish cinema, the Pharaonic festival (electronic music).
May: Nature and Environment Film Festival in Chambéry, Premier novel festival, Odyssea race, Museums Night.
June: Cir’cule festival, Lafi-Bala festival (biannual), the Marché des Continents (biannual).
July and August: Elephant Festival (First Friday in July, free bi-weekly Summer City concerts, the Estivales du Château, the Chambéry World Festival of World Cultures.
September: European Heritage Days, the Bel-Air Musical Meetings, Savoie d’jazz festival, Foire de Savoie.
October: Science Festival, International Comic Strip Festival, Lire en Fête, the humor festival, Eskapotes Festival, Savoie Retro Games Festival.
November: Chamber’hip hop Festival Session (biannual), International Festival of Mountain Crafts, Fortnight of Italian cinema, the autumnals of the Festival du Premier roman.
December: Christmas concert, Christmas market.
Chambéry is also the administrative headquarters of the Orchester des Pays de Savoie.
From 30 May to 1 st June 2014, the town of Chambéry hosted the National Congress of Esperanto, including co-organized by the local association Esperanto Vive in Chambéry.
The little Chambéry train is a fun and tourist activity that allows you to discover the city. Built in 1987 in Anzin, it was put into service the following year in Grenoble. In 1996, it was transferred to Chambéry to replace the previous little train, sold to the town of Mandelieu-la-Napoule.
Gastronomy
The Chambéry gastronomy is part of the typical Savoyard cuisine prepared using local products and mountain pastures, mainly from the Bauges.
In addition to the famous Savoyard fondue, we like to prepare potato-based bognettes for the main course, but also crozets, péla, tartiflette, diots, polenta and rioutes… For dessert, we can only ask for bugnes, milk jam and blueberry pie. But also the chocolate truffle which was invented by Louis Dufour, a pastry chef from Chambéry, in December 1895. The tables of Chambéry also display, of course, Savoyard cheeses such as Abundance, Beaufort, Bleu du Mont-Cenis, Emmental de Savoie, Gruyère de Savoie, Parsley from Aravis, Reblochon, Tamié, the tomme de Savoie and still many other cheese preparations.
The surrounding forests and mid-altitude mountains, such as Mont Granier en Chartreuse or Les Bauges, offer products that are very popular with locals. There are mushrooms, including porcini, boletus, chanterelles, morels, meadow roses and many others. In the Chambéry cluse, several vineyards are also present in the south of the town, producing local wines, used in many specialties such as Savoyard fondue through the use of white wine. Thus, near Chambéry, we find the Apremont vineyard, the Chignin vineyard, the Arbin vineyard and in general we consume most of the wines of Savoy.
In terms of alcohol, the city is also the source of wines and spirits such as Vermouth, which served with strawberry liqueur becomes Chambéryzette, made by Dolin in Chambéry.
Finally, the city has many brasseries or gourmet restaurants, including one distinguished by the Michelin Guide (the Château de Candie). Moreover, the cook at the entrances of the restaurant in the map of the Titanic, Augustus Coutin was Chambery. He tragically disappeared when the ship sank on April 15, 1912. A large number of restaurants, in addition to those located in the old center, are also present on Avenue de Lyon, at Place Monge, Place de l’Europe and Carré Curial.
The year 2014 in Chambéry was also dedicated to taste and gastronomy, with the program “Chambéry, a city to eat”.
Natural heritage
The mountains
In Chambéry, the mountain is everywhere, summits mark the panorama… Bauges, Chartreuse, Belledonnes are all close by and offer you unspoiled spaces with exceptional flora and fauna where you can escape and marvel.
The Massif des Bauges Regional Nature Park
This medium mountain range in the heart of Savoie Mont Blanc is labeled UNESCO Global Geopark, thanks to its 54 identified geosites. The park is home to remarkable flora and fauna and is distinguished by an exceptional underground and aquatic heritage: the cave of Prérouge – gateway to the deepest speleological network in Savoy – and the Canyon du Pont du Diable – one of the musts of canyoning in Auvergne-Rhône-Alpes – are among its greatest treasures. Between the panorama of Revard and the Pissieu waterfall, you will be charmed by the landscapes.
The Heart of the Bauges beats in all seasons
In summer, the Massif des Bauges Natural Park is a hiking paradise, whether on foot, on horseback or by mountain bike. Climbing, canyoning, via ferrata, forest adventure course, paragliding, archery, tobogganing, astronomy and fat biking… In winter, it is dressed in their white coat that the Bauges will be the scene of your holidays. Two family resorts, Aillons-Margériaz and Savoie Grand Revard – ideal for initiation and practice of skiing, Nordic as well as alpine – offer many activities for even more sensations: biathlon, snowshoeing, sled dogs, ski-joëring, sledding… The Massif des Bauges is also a paradise for gourmets and gourmets. The gastronomic stars are of course the tome des Bauges AOP and the buckshot.
The Chartreuse Regional Natural Park
Cradle of the order of the Chartreux Fathers (1084), the Chartreuse shelters authentic villages in the heart of a majestic nature and accessible by all and in all seasons. Massif ideal for sports of all kinds, from hiking to free flight to the pleasures of snow. Land of traditions and know-how, also discover its local products, strolling from workshop to workshop, exhibitions in museums. Discover the Cirque de Saint-Even with its waterfalls, a true little paradise of the Charterhouse, the Sardinian way and the Route of know-how and cultural sites.
The Massif des Belledonne
The Belledonne – for the Savoyards, the Isérois say “Belledonne” – are unmissable from the valley of Chambéry! They expose to the sight of passers-by their peaks covered with immaculate snow most of the year. This mountain chain faces the Chartreuse and the Bauges and dominates the Combe de Savoie and the Grésivaudan, the valley that connects Chambéry and Grenoble. The gentle hills of the piedmont are followed by high summits with steep ridges. In the middle of high mountains, wild nature and mineral landscapes, wetlands and high-altitude lakes.
Vanoise National Park
Discover the oldest national park in France, a protected natural area, 1h30 from Chambéry. High-altitude lakes, glaciers, mountain pastures and 600km of trails form a hiker’s paradise. Admire more than 1200 plant species (edelweiss, gentian, ferruginous rhododendron…) and perhaps you will see marmots, ibex, chamois, nesting birds (such as the famous bearded vulture) and many other animals…
The valley
Chambéry and Challes-les-Eaux are nestled on the foothills of two mountain ranges, the Bauges and the Chartreuse, each classified as a Regional Natural Park. A green setting where it is possible to breathe some fresh air and forget about time, a stone’s throw from a city where culture, heritage and history are revealed at every corner.
Crossed by 3 rivers, Chambéry is a city built on water ! The ground being very marshy, the old center was entirely built on larch stakes. The cathedral would rest on 30,000 of these piles. Small spa town nestled between the city of Chambéry and the vineyards of Combe de Savoie, here is Challes les Eaux! The discovery of the “Reine du sulfur” source in the 19th century changed the destiny of this rural town which then bore the name of Triviers. Captured at a depth of more than 100m, the most sulphurous waters in Europe spring up at Challes les Eaux.
At the start of the 20th century, wealthy customers came to Challes to take the waters. One could thus cross André Gide, Louis Jouvet or Michèle Morgan in the alleys of the Parc des Thermes… In addition to renowned medical cures for the treatment of the respiratory tract, the Thermes de Challes offers a whole space dedicated to well-being. You will be pampered by an attentive team of professionals: massages, massages, treatments, pressotherapy…
The mountain which overhangs the city, crowned with a cross, it bears the name of Nivolet. Take your gaze to the other side of the valley… Mont Granier is exhibiting its impressive cliffs! Between the two, vines, mountain pastures and forests where waterfalls are hidden follow one another almost to the heart of Chambéry.
With more than fifty walking and hiking trails, nearly a hundred km of tracks and cycle paths, paragliding sites, via-ferrata and climbing routes… the surroundings of Chambéry and Challes les Eaux is the ideal playground for lovers of outdoor activities.
Ski facility
Only 30 minutes from Chambéry and Challes les Eaux, the ski areas of Aillons-Margériaz and Savoie Grand Revard. These two family resorts are ideal for discovering and practicing alpine skiing as well as Nordic skiing.
Les Aillons-Margériaz ski area
A natural and preserved resort, discover the resort of Aillons-Margériaz, a true paradise for family skiing. Ideally located 40 minutes from Chambéry, Annecy and Aix les Bains, snuggle up in the heart of its marvelous landscapes, let yourself be lulled by the warmth of its villagers and learn about skiing in all its forms. Alpine skiing, ski touring, sledging, dog sledding, tandem skiing, snooc, snowscoot, Fat Bike and many other activities as fun as they are unusual… with fun areas dedicated to learning, more committed tracks for sports and entertainment for all ages. It is in the heart of the spectacular landscapes of the Massif des Bauges Regional Natural Park, labeled Geopark as a UNESCO World Heritage Site, that the village of Aillon-le-Jeune.
Savoie Grand Revard ski area
Nestled in the heart of the Massif des Bauges Regional Natural Park, just 25 minutes from Chambéry and 35 minutes from Annecy, Savoie Grand Revard invites you on an unforgettable journey. Let yourself be seduced by this high plateau that looks like the Far North and immerse yourself in its breathtaking landscapes thanks to the practice of many activities: downhill skiing, cross-country skiing, biathlon, snowshoeing, dog sledding, ski joëring, troika, yooner, snowscoot, snowmobile… It is on the balcony of Lac du Bourget, between vast forests and large snow-covered areas, that the inhabitants of the 4 villages of the resort will accompany you in your discovery. Ranked among the best Nordic ski areas in France with 150 km of slopes, the resort also offers 50 km of downhill ski slopes and more than 60 km of routes allowing you to explore this unspoiled territory of the Massif des Bauges Regional Natural Park, labeled Geopark as a UNESCO World Heritage Site.
The lakes
Le Grand Chambéry is the ideal destination to stroll every day in a new atmosphere. The Bourget and Aiguebelette lakes, and other smaller but equally charming ones are easily accessible from the city.
Bourget Lake
Lac du Bourget is the largest natural lake of glacial origin in France and one of the high places of French poetry thanks to Lamartine. It is a unique natural space where the mountains fall steeply into changing water colors, from turquoise to dark gray depending on the weather and the season. Take to the skies to the many belvederes located all around the lake to contemplate its breathtaking panoramas. A vast nautical playground, Lac du Bourget offers a large number of soft or more active activities to enjoy the pleasures of the water and get away from it all: a romantic dinner cruise along the water along the coast wild, unforgettable gliding sensations on a sailboat, a visit to the Abbey of Hautecombe, the necropolis of the Dukes of Savoy, the discovery of Chanaz “the little Venice of the Alps” or quite simply the pleasure of a swim.
The Mottets site offers, for example, 15 hectares of leisure activities for families (beach, pontoon, picnic areas, skate-park, children’s games, etc.) and an organized promenade takes you to Aix les Bains by way of by the Lido beach. Lac du Bourget is easily accessible from Chambéry, whether by bike all year round by the Green Avenue north (12km) or by bus during the summer with the line of beaches serving all the beaches between Chambéry, Le Bourget du Lac and Aix les Bains.
Aiguebelette lake
In the heart of the Savoyard foreland, Lake Aiguebelette has a remarkable ecosystem and classified and protected natural areas: 70ha of reed beds, meadows, wet woodlands and aquatic grass beds guarantee the ecological diversity and the water quality of the lake and thermal engine boats are prohibited. Very popular with fishermen, Lake Aiguebelette is bordered by typical sheds and boathouses, a unique heritage in Europe. The remarkable softness of the lake, which can reach 28 ° during the summer season, makes it an oasis of relaxation for young and old. On its shores, no less than 7 equipped, maintained and supervised beaches in summer are open to swimmers and offer numerous leisure activities and water activities: rental of pedal boats, canoes, kayaks, aquastepper, stand-up paddles, boats…
Lake Saint André
Located in the town of Les Marches, Lake Saint André is nestled at the foot of the colossal cliff of Mont Granier, which offers the view of its 900m of sheer and candidate for the title of the highest cliffs in France. In the heart of the largest Savoyard wine-growing sector, this small lake, a true paradise for flora and fauna, will delight lovers of fishing and offer walkers a peaceful place to relax. Swimming is prohibited in the fishing area and the natural area, it is unsupervised and not developed in the recreation area. Lake Saint André is easily accessible by bike from Chambéry (15km) by taking the South Green Avenue to Saint Jeoire Prieuré, then following the Wine Route which crosses the particular relief of the Abymes, dotted with ponds and scree.
Lake of La Thuile
Lake La Thuile is a mostly private alpine lake located at the southern end of the Bauges massif at an altitude of 874 m. Modest in size, it occupies a small valley of glacial origin. It is one of the rare medium-altitude alpine lakes between the large plain lakes (Annecy, Aiguebelette, Bourget) and altitude lakes. As such, it is a formidable witness to the history of human occupation of medium mountain ranges thanks to the sediments it preserves. Due to its altitude and the mountain climate to which the entire Alpine massif is subjected, Lake La Thuile is regularly covered during winter with a layer of ice that can reach up to 20 cm thick. The only natural body of water in the Massif des Bauges, recognized and preserved for its landscape value, this site is located in a deliberately little urbanized environment. The site is a place for pleasant walks. A marked promenade allows you to go around it. The ridge line that borders the town offers a view of the valley. Below the hamlet of Nécuidet, there is a marsh structuring the landscape which has just been restored.
Green spaces
Chambéry is a flower-filled city rewarded with three flowers awarded by the National Council of cities and villages in bloom of France in the competition of cities and villages in bloom.
Among the main green spaces are:
the squares: square Vaugelas, square Paul-Vidal, square André-Tercinet, square Jacques-Lovie, square Pierre-Aglietta, square du Petit-Paris, square M. Migeon, square Robert-Marcon, Square Jules-Daisay, Square d’Albstadt, Square Jules-Gauthier, Square Hudry-Menos.
parks and gardens:
the Verney garden / park which is the city’s oldest green space;
the Clos Savoiroux where the victory monument is located (listed in the regional inventory of parks and gardens);
the Calamine park located at the foot of the Charmettes valley;
the botanical garden, the Museum Garden located below the castle of the Dukes of Savoy;
the garden of Mas-Barral which has a hundred trees of 50 species;
the Talweg, a 43- hectare park where you can practice gymnastics, football, boules, or simply take a walk. A multisports area is installed there;
the Buisson Rond park, also partly located in the municipality of Barberaz, crossed by the Albanne (listed in the regional inventory of parks and gardens). The Château de Buisson-Rond is located in park.
Others:
the park and the forest of the Monts extending over nearly 15 hectares on the heights of the city along the corniche;
the Charmettes garden, on the lower reaches of the Chartreuse massif (listed in the regional inventory of parks and gardens);
the Etincelle park and wood, near Les Charmettes, integrated into the Natural Area of Ecological, Faunistic and Floristic Interest (ZNIEFF) “Dry lawns of Charmettes”;
the Bois de Candie, the black combe and the Bardon coast, in Chambéry-le-Vieux;
the Caramagne forest on the Boisse hill;
the Hauts de Chamoux forest on the heights of Bissy, near the Motte-Servolex (below the chain of the Épine).