麻豆APP

Top 10 Things To Do In Chambery

Chambery is a city in the department of Savoie located in the Auvergne-Rhone-Alpes region in eastern France. Chambery was the Savoyard capital from 1295 to 1563. In 1563 Duke Emmanuel Philibert moved his capital to Turin escaping the approaching French. The power of the Savoie declined as soon as the French conquered the town in 1871 however, in 1815 Chambery was returned to the rules of the house of Savoy following the defeat of Napoleon Bonaparte.

The region of Chambery has a rich Italian and French heritage that is well depicted in the architecture, art and cuisine. Here are 10 fun things to do in Chambery;

1. Old Town

Old Town Chambery – Shutterstock

The old town of Quimper is characterized by a maze of alleys, dim passageways that are no broader than arm鈥檚 length along the Rue Croix d鈥橭r which is covered with Savoy colors where the powerful aristocrat family once lived. It was originally inhabited by the rich and this is well depicted by the presence of the palace of the Dukes of Savoy who ruled over a large part of central Europe.

Do not forget to put on your favorite pair of comfortable shoes as you plan your stroll around this charming old city that is filled with beautiful fa莽ade of private mansions. The old town is not large per se but the confusing streets that have now been pedestrianized and lead to secret courtyards and parallel alleys make it feel larger.

2. Castle Of The Dukes Of Savoie

Castle of the Dukes Chambery – Flickr

The Castle of dukes of Savoie is an 11^th Century late Gothic building. The castle was the residential home for the Savoie family, an aristocratic family, for centuries. This was the place of power where the Dukes of Savoy ruled over before Savoy was seized by France. The castle was transformed many times over the years but it regained its status as a powerhouse as today it has an administrative function.

Public access to the architectural masterpiece is limited due to its administrative function, but during summer tours are organized to guide you around the castle鈥檚 towers, the Holy Chapel that contain the shroud in the 16^th century and the ceremonial chamber. Get a chance to see how the most powerful family in Savoy lived.

3. Fontaine Des Elephants

Fontaine des 茅l茅phants – Wikimedia Commons

The Fontaine des 脡l茅phants is one of the most famous landmarks in Chambery. The fountain dates back to 1838. It appears on many postcards as its Chambery main identifier. The fountain is listed as a French historical monument.

The fountain design includes four elephants on each side. The head and the front legs of the elephant are the only visible part of this mighty creature. Because of this, the locals nicknamed it 鈥�les quatre sans culs鈥� which translates to the four without butts. The fountain is dedicated to Beno卯t de Boigne whose statue is on the very top of a 17m column on the fountain.

Beno卯t de Boigne was a general who earned his reputation in India. On his return to Chambery, he spent his fortune on charitable works and welfare that greatly impacted the poor. The elephants are used to represent India.

4. Chambery Cathedral

Cath茅drale St-Fran莽ois-de-Sales Chambery – Wikipedia

Chambery Cathedral is a Roman Catholic church in the Gothic Byzantine style that is dedicated to Saint Francois de Sales. The Church was founded in 1799 as the Bishopric of Chambery.聽 It is in 2002 that the church adopted its present name of the archdiocese of Chambery.

The church is located in a very swampy area and as a result, it is supported by 30,000 poles. The church is an ensemble with almost 6,000 meter square of Trompe L’oeil painting, the largest in Europe, by artist Sevesi and Vicario.

5. Musee Des Charmettes

Les Charmettes – Wikipedia

The mus茅e des Charmettes was the residential home of Jean-Jacques Rousseau from 1736 to 1742. He stayed here with his mentor and mistress Madame de Warrens. The house was declared a historical monument in 1905.

Jean-Jacques Rousseau was a philosopher, writer and composer in the 18^th century. He was considered the father of Romanticism and his book Confessions is among the top 100 most romantic books. He was interred as a national hero in the Pantheon in 麻豆APP in 1794.

This country house on the edge of Chambery is still decorated as it was in the 1730s and you can see some of Rousseau possessions on display. There is an 18th-century style garden that is filled with vegetables, fruits and medicinal plants and herbs.

6. Hotel De Cordon

H么tel de Cordon de Chamb茅ry – Wikimedi Commons

The hotel de Cordon is a 15th-century聽H葟tel Particulier, large family house located on rue Saint-Real in the old town. Today it is a local cultural facility that hosts an exhibition on its first floor that aims to educate visitors on the evolution and history of the city and its inhabitants.

The building displays the heritage of the city with a small exhibition of models and painting that detail the changing appearance of the city since medieval times. Also talks about the rich history of the city are told here.

7. Place Saint-L茅ger

Place Saint-L茅ger de Chamb茅ry – Wikimedia Commons

The name is slightly misleading as Place Saint-L茅ger is not a place rather a 250m long historic pedestrian street. The street is called ‘Place’ for historical reasons, the now completely disappeared Saint-L猫ger church stood here. The street was completely paved since the 1970s. It is decorated with the arms of the old duchy Savoy.

Walking along the street you will have a great view of the multicolored colored pastel buildings. The buildings are perfectly aligned but not uniform with different architectural styles from different periods. Along the street, there are vaulted passages that branch off leading you to various all茅es and larger areas with restaurants and cafes.

8. Rue Basse du Chateau

Rue Basse du Ch芒teau – Wikimedia Commons

It is a 12th-century street that is considered the oldest street in Chambery. It conserves one of the last aerial footbridges of the town. In the old town, there were many streets like it but they were destroyed because they pose great fire hazards and block light along the streets.

The street is extremely narrow and interest with other streets in the region. The hanches, stone stall in front of many shops along the street, is where merchants did there trading instead of the dark interiors of their shops.

9. Eglise Saint Pierre de Lemenc

脡glise Saint-Pierre – Wikimedia Commons

The church is constructed on the hill of Lemenc and it is considered to be the oldest church in Chambery. The church is believed to date as far back as 1,500 years having been built on the ruins of a Roman temple dedicated to Mercury.

The oldest church in Chamb茅ry goes back as far as 1,500 years and was built over the remains of a 6th-century Roman temple dedicated to the god Mercury. The church still has its Romanesque style from the 11^th century and the Gothic style from the 16th-century聽restoration.

The crypt in the church that could be from the 9^th century and the sepulcher were listed as historical monuments on 16^th February 1900. The whole of the church was declared a historical monument on 16^th May 1966.

10. Musee des Beaux-Arts de Chambery

Mus茅e des Beaux Arts Chamb茅ry – Wikimedia Commons

The Musee des Beaux-Arts de Chambery is a Fine Arts museum that is housed in a former granary at the entrance of the town. The former granary was redesigned by architect Fran莽ois Pelaz in the 19^th century to its current museum architectural glory. Initially, the paintings were housed in the rooms of the Town Hall however, this changed when Hector Garriod Baron offered his 140 works from his collection if the painting were to be housed in a museum.

The art collection in the museum is one of the largest in France focused on Italian works. The museum mainly focused on classical Italian paintings from the 14^th century to the 18^th centuries from schools such as Venice, Naples, Florence and Siena. There is also a good collection of classic French works.