Chambery

Chambery se gaseste intr-o vale larga ce separa Chartreuse Massif de Muntii Bauges, la 44 kilometri sud de Annecy. O importanta pozitie strategica din punct de vedere istoric, se gaseste in calea intrarii spre vaile alpine ce conduc spre punctele de traversare spre Italia. La aproape 13 kilometri nord se afla statiunea balneo Aix les Baines, cu faimoasele sale bai termale si dupa inca alti cativa kilometri Lac du Bourget, cel mai mare lac natural al Frantei.

Orasul s-a dezvoltat in jurul castelului construit de contele Thomas de Savoia in 1232 si a devenit capitala provinciei Savoia, bucurandu-se de o epoca de aur in secolele XIV si XV. Chiar daca titulatura de capitala a revenit ulterior orasului italian Torino, in 1562, a ramas un important centru comercial si cultural. Filozoful Jean Jacques Rousseau a petrecut aici o perioada a vietii sale in timpul anilor 1730. Anexat Frantei doar in 1860, Chambery este o localitate de provincie aglomerata, cu o bogata zestre culturala, arhitectura italiana si un

simt bogat al propriei identitati regionale - evident in nenumaratele etichete "Savoie Libre" ce se gasesc pe toata suprafata orasului si in departamentele Savoie sau Haute Savoie.

La jumatatea bulevardului larg si frunzos Colonne se gaseste cel mai faimos monument din Chambery, splendida Fontaine ds Elephants, ridicata in cinstea contelui de Boigne, un fiu al orasului ce a strans o avere impresionanta lucrand ca mercenar in India in secolul al XVIII-lea. Averea sa a fost folosita pentru a fonda majoritatea dezvoltarilor urbane. Musee Savoisien din imediata piata Lannoy de Bissy, povesteste despre istoria Savoiei incepand cu Epoca de Bronz. Primul etaj gazduieste picturi, incluzand o lucrare din secolul al XV-lea ce infatiseaza Bunavestire si statui pictate de lemn adunate din bisericile regiunii. Pe al doilea etaj se afla o colectie de carti, carute de lemn si mobila rafinata provenita dintr-o casa din Bessans.

Langa muzeu, in place Metropole, se afla catedrala din Chambery. Interiorul sau este picat in stil "trompe d'oil", caracteristic secolului al XIX-lea, imitand formele rasucite si spiralele stilului gotic tarziu. De aici, un pasaj face trecerea spre rue de la Croix d'Or si numeroasele sale restaurante, de unde, dupa aproximativ 100 de metri, daca cotiti la dreapta ajungeti in incinta rectangulara a place St Leger, gazda din 1735 a lui Rousseau si a doamnei de Waren. Piata are o fantana si mai multe cafenele, unde muzicienii performeaza live in serile de vara. In coltul de nord-est al pietei, rue de Boigne conduce inapoi spre Fontaine des Elephants, insa daca o luati spre stanga, va indreptati spre Chateau des Ducs de Savoie.

O structura impozanta si masiva, a fost odinioara gazda ducilor de Savoia si joaca acum rolul de prefectura. Interiorul se poate vedea doar in excursii insotite de un ghid turistic, ce se pot contracta din oficiul turistic Chambery de vizavi. De la poarta de nord a castelului, o scurta plimbare va scoate pe promenade Veyrat, unde veti descoperi colectiile Musee des Beaux Arts, dedicat in mare masura lucrarilor unor artisti italieni mai putin cunoscuti, dintre secolele XVI si XVIII, insa cuprinde si un tablou de-al lui Uccello si cateva desene semnate de Titian.

La doi kilometri sud de oras, pe chemin des Charmettes, se afla cealalta resedinta din Chambery a lui Rousseau, cabana rurala Les Charmettes, acum gazda Musee Jean Jacques Rousseau. Mobilata in stilul epocii marelui filozof, include biroul de lucru si sezlongul, iar in exterior puteti vedea gradina si livada.

Chambery is a beautiful town in the France. Chambéry is the birthplace and

historic capital of Savoie. Throughout history, it has been both Italian and

French. It lies in a valley in the Alps surrounded by the Bauges and

Chartreuse mountain ranges and provides almost 360-degree views of the

French Alps. To the north, it is bordered by Lac du Bourget, the largest natural

lake in France. Chambery has long been a "crossroads to the Alps" dating all

the way back to the 11th century. For many years, it was ruled by the Duchy of

Savoie before being annexed to the King of France. Jean-Jacques Rousseau

wrote the Declaration of the Rights of Man (the French version of the Bill of

Rights) while living in Chambery.

Chambery is a charming, peaceful place to visit with beautiful architecture,

good food and wine, and friendly people. There are many vineyards in the

area that visitors can enjoy, and on Saturdays, the city public market is abuzz

with the freshest cheeses, meats, and local produce from the Alps. The area

offers many recreational activities to choose from in all seasons, from skiing

and snowshoeing, to sailing and rock climbing. The famous Tour de France

bicycle race comes through the area in the summer. Chambery also boasts the

Savoie Technolac research park and the Universite de Savoie, and a mountain

research center.

Get in

Chambéry has direct TGV from Paris and other trains (TER, Train Express

Regional) to all major destinations of the region. It takes 3.5 hours to get to

Chambery on the direct TGV. Chambery is easily accessible to Lyon, Grenoble,

Chamonix, Geneva (Switzerland), and Turin (Italy.)

It is linked by motorways to

Lyon  via A43 in the west

Grenoble  via A41 in the south

Aix-les-Bains , Annecy and Geneva via A41 in the north

Torino , Italy via ... and the tunnel of Fréjus in the east

There is also a small airport, Aéroport de Chambéry-Savoie (IATA: CMF, ICAO:

LFLB)[1], 10km north of the city, next to Lac du Bourget, that is served by a

number of cheap airlines, especially during the winter months.

Get around

Chambery is compact in size and is easily explored on foot in a short amount

of time. The medieval section of the town is quite well preserved. There are

also local and regional buses. If you wish to explore the mountains or go on a

wine tour, car rentals are available in town.

If you want a bit of exercise, you can also rent a bicycle and explore a bit

further. Bicycles can be rented from the Vélostation in front of the train

station: Agence Ecomobilité http://agence.ecomobilite.free.fr/ Only 3 euros

for a half day and 5 euros for a full day. Open Monday-Friday 6:30 am to 7 pm

and from 9 am to 7 pm on weekends and holidays.

Cycle paths: a cycle route goes from the centre of town north to the Lac du

Bourget (mostly a cycle lane which is separate from the road) and another

goes south into the vineyards (mixture of separate cycle lane and quiet

country roads).

See

The medieval quarter of Chambery holds many well-preserved streets

and alleys. The most famous is the XIII-century Rue Basse du Château,

which was tragically destroyed by a fire on January 1, 2001.

The Chateau de Chambery, once the residence of the Ducs de Savoie

and whose chapel once housed the Shroud of Turin, is now the department

of Savoie government offices.

Place du Palais de Justice

Hotel de Ville

Place St-Leger

Cathedral de Chambery

The Elephants Fountain (on lots of postcards, the fountain with these

four elephant "busts" is affectionately called the "four buttless" by locals)

Croix du Nivolet

Mont Granier

Lac du Bourget - Renting a paddle-boat for an hour or two is a cheap

way to spend a sunny afternoon.

Museums

Do

Shopping, eating, drinking, visiting vineyards, hiking, boating, skiing,

snowshoeing, rock climbing, horseback riding

A light, yet sturdy knife from local company "Opinel"

Cheap shoes and clothing from the store Axo. Hard to find (ask the locals for

directions) and terribly disorganized, but the prices are very good. A pair of

ballerina flats usually goes for around 8 euros.

Eat[

Fondue savoyarde, tartiflette, crêpes, goats cheese

Drink

Vins de Savoie, Chartreuse, O'Cardinal's Pub

Hotels[

BEST HOTEL CHAMBERY

Located: 9, rue Denfert Rochereau, 73000 Chambery

It is situated in the centre of Chambery near the Savoy University. It includes

40 soundproof bedrooms on three floors, which all include bathroom,

telephone, satellite TV and car space in front of the hotel to deposit luggage.

English, Spanish, French and Italian is spoken. The hotel also includes an

indoor swimming pool, tennis, skating rink and an equestrian centre.

Hotel Facilities: Internet - wireless internet is available in all rooms and is free

of charge, Guest Parking - Private parking is possible at a location nearby and

cost roughly EUR 6.00 ($9.60) per day.

Children and extra beds: Maximum capacity of extra beds in a room is 1

Price: EUR 90 ($144) per day

Check-In: 12.00 hours

Check-Out: 11.00 hours

ALL ROOMS ARE NON-SMOKING!!

Restaurants

CHÂTEAU DE CANDIE (90~160 Euros + Restaurant, 23~55 Euros) Address:

38, rue Bobby Sands, 73000, Chambéry-le-Vieux (5 km from Chambéry) Tel.:

(33)(4)79966300 Fax: (33)(4)79966310 Five minutes from the centre of

Chambéry, this massive XIVth Century Château had its beautiful rooms

elegantly renovated. The cuisine is inspired by its Savoy roots: sautéed

mushrooms and crawfish, omble chevalier meunière, beef fillet seasoned with

Szechuan pepper. Great cheeses and wines. All food served in the "Orangerie".

L'ESSENTIEL (27~53 Euros) Address: 183, place de la Gare, 73000,

Chambéry. Tel.: (33)(4)79969727 Fax: (33)(4)79961778 Closed on Saturday

Lunches & all Sundays. A contemparary decor and inventive regional cuisine,

served with local Savoy wines.

L'HYPOTÉNUSE (14~35 Euros) Address: Carré Curial, 73000, Chambéry. Tel.:

(33)(4)79858015 Fax: (33)(4)79858018 Closed on Saturday lunches & all

Sundays as well as July 15th~August 15th. In a space full of silence and fresh

air, this restaurant offers a seasomal cuisine created with locally grown

products at a reasonable price.

AUX PIÉTONS Address: Place Monge, 73000, Chambéry. Tel.: (33)

(4)79855245 Closed on Sundays & Tuesday nights. Gearty local specialities:

cheese fondue, tartiflette and brasérade.

LE TONNEAU (17~35 Euros) Address: 2, rie Saint-Antoine, 73000, Chambéry.

Tel.: (33)(4)79337826 Fax: (33)(4)79854969 Closed on Sunday evenings & all

Sundays. An elegent restaurant with a shaded terrace for summer dining.

Great service and food.

LE SAINT REAL RESTAURANT Address: Place Pierre Dumas, 73000

Chambery Telephone Number: 04 79 70 09 33

Website: http://www.restaurant-saint-real.com/en/ Situated in the heart of

the Old Town of Chambery, near the famous Fontaine des Elephants. Le Saint

Real Restaurant caters for any occasion including; business meals, romantic

dinners, birthday meals and family dinners, take your time to discover high

quality food within an elegant and exquisite setting.

Menu Suggestions: - The fresh duck stove foie gras with the Victoria pineapple

white rum and ice - Hazel nuts fried of roe deer Corsican juice to currents -

Rack of lamb roasted in a nuts crust - Selection of fresh and refined cheese -

Selection of delicious desserts

Get out

Aix-les-Bains, Annecy, La Feclaz

Driving

Chambery can be reached by the motorways A43 from Lyon or Italy, A41 from Geneva or Grenoble, A6 from Paris and A7 from Marseille. 

Some distances from Chambery :

Paris is 560 km away Marseille is 350 km away

Turin is 240 km away

Chamonix is 149 km away

Lyon is 98 km away

Geneva est à 90 km away

Grenoble is 57 km away

By train

Daily connections to Paris by TGV (3h). The timetables can be found on the  SNCF website .With the future TGV line Lyon-Turin Chambery will be less then 3 h from Milan and 2h30 from Paris.

Many regional trains link Chambery to Annecy, Lyon, Grenoble, Bourg-Saint-Maurice, Modane... More details on the TER Rhône-Alpes website.

By plane

Chambery Savoie Airport is about 10km north of the city centre. It works from decembre to april with connections for and from The Netherlands and United Kingdom run by the Companies Flybe, Jet2, Bristish Airways, Blue Island and Transavia.

The nearest other airports are :

Lyon Saint Exupery Airport , 86 km away. Geneva Cointrin Airport , 89 km away.

Grenoble Isere Airport , 92 km away.

Vineyards at the City gates

© Savoie Mont Blanc / Raïh

 

The Combe de Savoie vineyards are a stone throw from Chambery. Here are produced renowned wines like Chignin Bergeron or Mondeuse Arbin...

Setted in Apremont village less than 10km from Chambery, the House of wine and vineyards is the ideal place to discover or improve your knowledge about the different kinds of grape and wines.

Chambéry and Combe de Savoie are also part of "Coeur de Savoie" (which means "Savoy's Heart"). Coeur de Savoie is one of the 20 french territories certified "Vignobles et découverte", a brand awarded to regions promoting Wine tourism.

Bauges

© OT Chambéry / Armenjon

Overlooking Chambéry and Lake Bourget, the Bauges became a Regional Nature Reserve in 1995. You will discover a haven of protected nature, where time stands still and an escape from the crowds.

On foot, on horseback, on a donkey, on a mountain bike, paragliding, skiing or snowshoeing, it’s a place of discovery for visitors of every ability. The Bauges Range also has two skiing resorts: Aillons-Margériaz andSavoie Grand Revard. Discover all the magic of a mountain lake, 18 km from Chambéry, the Lake of Thuile, the only natural lake in the Bauges Massif (altitude 874 m).

The Bauges Massif was awarded the Geopark label in 2011.

Chartreuse Mountains

© OT Chambéry / Jacquier

A Regional Nature Reserve since 1995, the Chartreuse is an exceptional place only a short distance from Chambéry. For centuries it has sheltered the head monastery of the Carthusian Order that produces the famous green liqueur of the same name.

An ideal mountain range to discover sports, walks and hikes and experience all the pleasures of the snow (snowshoeing, Alpine skiing, cross-country skiing, sleds...). Not to be missed: the “Cirque de Saint-Même”, a spectacular corrie, a magical place, a little paradise in the Chartreuse.

The easiest access from Chambery are the Entremonts Valley or the town of Les Echelles and the main ski resort is Saint Pierre de Chartreuse.

Vanoise

© Savoie Mont Blanc Tourisme / Lecoq

Between glaciers and high altitude lakes, a constant marvel which is accessible from Chambéry. A paradise for expert hikers or for fit or not-so-fit ramblers, the Vanoise Park is the oldest national park in France.

Outside of the Park, Vanoise is also home to the largest ski resorts in Savoy Mont Blanc. Some of them are world-famous like Les 3 Vallées, Paradiski or Espace Killy...

Since Chambery is surrounded by mountains and its suburbs stretch to their

foothills, it is quite easy to enjoy nice walks or hiking just nearby.

The more well-known is probably the GR96, a hiking trail crossing the French

Prealps. Experienced hikers can get on this path right in the city centre since

its passing in front of the railway station.

Here are some other walks in and around Chambery (the weblinks point to

webpages or documents in french) :

In Chambery :

The Jean-Jacques Rousseau Walk in the Charmettes vale, starting at the Carré

Curial : 2h30.

The Combe Noire Path at Chambéry le Vieux, starting Rue du Bois de Candie :

1h.

The Monts Path at Les Hauts de Chambéry, starting from Antonin Piot Park,

rue des Ecureuils : 1h30.

On the Chaine de l'Epine foothills :

8 marked walks allow the hiker to discover the landscapes of La Motte

Servolex.

Starting from the Forezan Park at Cognin, it is possible to get to others paths

going to Vimines and Saint Sulpice.

The Jovinal Path at Vimines, starting from the main village : 1h45.

On the Chartreuse Mountains foothills :

The Cascades and La Grobelle Paths at Jacob-Bellecombette, starting from Rue

Emmanuel Grand : 3h30.

The Hauts de Barberaz Walk going up to the Croix de la Coche, starting from

the Mont Carmel Carpark (face au cimetière) : 3h.

On the Bauges Moutains foothills :

The Miat Path at Barby, starting from the Place de l'Eglise : 2h30.

7 marked walks at Saint Jean d'Arvey, going for exemple to Doria Waterfall or

the Nivolet Cross.

12 walks and hikes in Challes les Eaux.

Ghid turistic Aix les Bains

Situat la 13 kilometri nord de Chambery, Aix les Bains a fost una dintre cele

mai apreciate statiuni turistice ale Frantei inca din secolul al XVIII-lea. Se

mandreste cu o bogata arhitectura, ce aminteste de apogeul epocii sale de aur,

cand aristocratia din intreaga Europa sosea aici pentru a se relaxa si a se

bucura de calitatile terapeutice ale apei: Regina Victoria, autodenumindu-se

"contesa de Balmoral", a facut aici cateva vizite incognito, comemorate de o

statuie situata pe partea stanga a strazii Charles de Gaulle, in sens ascendent.

In perioada contemporana, Aix les Bains este un loc calm si binevoitor,

populat, in mare parte, de pensionari francezi, ce sosesc aici in masa pe toata

durata anului, beneficiind de programele terapeutice si gratuitatile oferite de

statul francez.

Daca nu cumva sunteti in cautarea unor bai de namol sau a unui pahar de apa

bogata in sulf, principala atractie turistica de astazi este frumosul Lac du

Bourget. Mont Revard domina vizual orasul, de la inaltimea sa de 1550 metri,

un platou vast populat de pajisti si paduri, oferind o gama larga de trasee

pentru drumeti si ciclisti, fiind si una dintre cele mai apreciate arii de schi

fond ale Frantei. Orasul se desfasoara in jurul place Maurice Mollard, unde veti

gasi monstruosul Art Deco Thermes Nationaux, accesibil doar cu o trimitere

de la medic. Chiar vizavi de bai este primaria, construita intr-un templu

roman, alaturi de o alta ramasita din perioada romana, Arc de Campanus, un

monument funerar rar, din secolul I i.Hr.

O scurta plimbare spre nord pornind de la primarie va duce la centrul

terapeutic ultramodern Les Thermes d'Aix les Bains, unul din cele mai bune

locuri pentru a experimenta calitatile terapeutice ale apei sulfuroase locale.

Tot la nord de place Maurice Mollard, pe bulevardul Cotes, se gaseste Musee

Faure, o casa eleganta ce cuprinde o colectie de arta din secolul al XIX-lea,

incluzand o camera cu lucrari ale lui Rodin, picturi apartinand celor mai

apreciati impresionisti si cateva pasteluri ale lui Edgar Degas. In sudul pietei

se gaseste un labirint de stradute pietonale, ce alcatuiesc orasul vechi.