Carré Curial

Carré Curial is an architectural complex in Chambéry comprising four buildings arranged in a square around a central courtyard. Covered arcades border the courtyard on all sides, and the roofline features characteristic mansard designs with slate tiles.

Napoleon I commissioned this military barracks in 1804, and construction was completed by 1810. The site operated as military housing for more than a century before conversion to cultural and commercial use in the 1980s.

The space functions as a social meeting point where locals and visitors gather in restaurants, shops, and event spaces around the courtyard. The arcaded walkways frame everyday activities and create a sense of shared community life within the four-building ensemble.

The complex is easily accessible by foot from nearby public transportation and central areas of Chambéry. The arcaded walkways are open to the public, allowing visitors to stroll through the courtyard and visit shops and dining venues without formal entry requirements.

The barracks once housed thousands of soldiers and was one of the largest military quarters of its era, a scale that remains visible in the generously proportioned courtyard and arcade spaces today. The massive investment in its construction, exceeding one million francs at the time, reflects how important this garrison was to Napoleonic military strategy.