Chambéry, Prefecture city in Savoie, France
Chambéry sits in the valley between the Bauges and Chartreuse ranges, where Alpine passes and rail lines run from Lyon toward winter resorts and Italy. The town spreads from medieval lanes around the castle to residential neighborhoods and commercial zones that stretch along the main roads toward Aix-les-Bains and Grenoble.
From the 13th century, the Counts of Savoy governed their lands from here until they moved their capital to Turin in 1563. Following a referendum in 1860, the region joined France along with the rest of Savoy.
The name comes from the Latin Camberiācum, referring to a Gallo-Roman landowner whose farm once occupied this site. The old town displays narrow lanes with arcaded walkways, where market stalls sell cheese and charcuterie from the surrounding mountains and cafés with terraces shape the street scene.
The Chambéry-Challes-les-Eaux station links the town to high-speed trains toward Paris and Turin, making arrival straightforward. The old town is easy to explore on foot, while buses run to the outskirts and surrounding villages.
The Fontaine des Éléphants from 1838 displays four elephant sculptures recalling General Benoît de Boigne's military career in India. Inside the Cathedral of Saint-François-de-Sales, around 6458 square feet (600 square meters) of trompe-l'œil painting cover the walls and ceilings, making it the largest collection of this kind in Europe.
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