Chambery City Guide
Once a strategic military point on the Alpine passage to Italy, Chambery is now an equally important location for skiers heading for a break in the peaks. The city counts among its neighbours in the French Alps resorts such as Val d'Isere, Grenoble and Aix-les-Bains, which makes it an excellent base from which to explore the region. But, when a setting is as charming as that of Chambery, one might find it very difficult to leave.
What to do and see in and around Chambery
The Old Town
Chambery was once the capital of Savoy, before that honour was passed to Turin in the 16th century. Nonetheless, much of its old glory remains, with the central Place Saint Léger opening up into a spider web of thirteenth-century streets. Majestic mansions and elegant fountains protrude around the pedestrianised square.
Castle of the Dukes of Savoy
Located in the old town is the iconic Castle of the Dukes of Savoy. The oldest of this group of buildings date back to the middle ages, and yet the complex is still used to house the Préfecture and Savoy County Council. Historic documents and a Savoy family tree are on view for visitors.
Saint Francis of Sales Cathedral
Also in the old town is Saint Francis of Sales Cathedral, a delight to both the spiritual and the secular of mind. The cathedral, which was built as a parochial church, housed the Turin Shroud before its transferal to Italy. While that relic has long gone, visitors can still witness a 12th-century diptych in the Byzantine style and a 15th-century wooden Nativity scene.
Lac du Bourget
One of Europe's most beautiful lakes, Lac du Bourget, can be found just north of Chambery. The 18-kilometre stretch of water is surrounded by the Jura mountains and has retained its untouched beauty thanks to continuous investment. Visitors can watch birds in their natural habitat or sailors playing boules as they take in this breathtaking setting.
Chambery Museums
Chambery has a range of museums to keep those of a cultural and a curious bent satisfied. Well worth a look is the collection of Quattrocentro and Renaissance paintings from Italy at the Fine Arts Museum, while an examination of the life of writer Jean-Jacques Rousseau can be viewed at the Charmettes Museum. Alternatively, a closer look at Chambery and its history awaits at the Savoisien Museum, while the Natural History Museum will interest those with a love of nature with its biological and geological curiosities.
Vanoise National Park
National parks surround Chambery, with one of the finest being that of Vanoise. This park consists of five nature reserves, with its peripheral zone alone spanning 28 villages. Visitor centres are posted in Méribel-les-Allues and Termignon-la-Vanoise.
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