CHAMBÉRY
Les Charmettes
Construction: 18th century.
Characteristics: located in the heart of a preserved valley in the hills above Chambéry, this house is where Jean Jacques Rousseau stayed from 1736 to 1742. The residence is reopening its doors after some renovation work, with two new original visitor trails, offering a new sensory experience thanks to the latest technology.
Current use: museum.
Listed as: Historic monument since 1905. Maison des Illustres (House of Illustrious People).
Railway roundhouse
Construction: 1906 to 1910
Characteristics: this railway roundhouse, unique in France, is covered by an Eiffel-type articulated metal frame. Composed of two parts, the building is 34-metres high, 110 metres in diameter and weighs 900 tonnes. Maintained and restored by the SNCF, it is still used for locomotive maintenance and also houses several historic models.
Listed as: historic monument in 1984.
http://patrimoine.chambery-tourisme.com/
Castle of the Dukes of Savoy
Foundation: first built in the 11th century, then modified several times during the 13th century and completed in the 15th century.
Style: Medieval, with Gothic additions.
History: the castle suffered several fires in the 18th century and, from 1800 onwards, the first prefects undertook restoration work. When Savoy was annexed to France in 1860, it was granted free of charge to the department: a major restoration requested by Emperor Napoleon III was carried out, including a new wing and a monumental staircase for the semi-circular tower.
Characteristics: it is a huge building designed as an irregular quadrangle, with a square keep flanked by a watchtower, a tall semi-circular tower and a tall chapel.
Current use: used by the Prefecture of Savoie, the Savoie Departmental Council and the Savoie Academy.
Listed as: Historic Monument since 1881
Fountain of the Elephants
Construction: 1838.
History and characteristics: better known as the "4 sans cul" (4 without bottoms), the Elephant Fountain is the city's iconic monument. Erected in 1838 to pay tribute to General de Boigne, a great benefactor of Chambéry, it was completely restored in 2015. Standing 17.65 metres tall, it is a fountain, column and statue all in one. And of the four elephants, only their trunks are visible!
Listed as: Historic monument since 1982.
Saint-François de Sales Cathedral
Construction: 15th to 16th centuries.
Style: Flamboyant Gothic.
History: originally a modest Franciscan chapel, whose construction began around 1420, it was enlarged and completed in 1585. From the 15th century onwards, the Shroud of Turin was sometimes transferred to this Cordeliers church, attracting many pilgrims. When the bishopric of Chambéry was created in 1779, the Church of Saint Francis became a cathedral dedicated to Saint Francis de Sales in 1802. The restoration of the molasse stone façade was completed in 2009. Renewing its ties with its past, in 2014 the cathedral was given a copy of the Shroud of Turin by the Diocese of Turin, which can be seen in the Chapel of the Resurrection. Characteristics: built on 30,000 larch piles, behind a sober façade, it houses a vast collection of trompe l'oeil paintings covering the walls and vaulted ceiling. Its organ, dating from 1847, is classified as a historical monument and, with its 50 registers, is one of the most important in the Auvergne Rhône Alpes region.
A little history: the people of Chambéry call it "the Metropolis".
Listed as: historic monument since 1906.
Eureka Gallery Galerie Eurêka is the Scientific Culture Centre of the City of Chambéry. Its permanent and temporary exhibitions offer spaces for discovery, fun experiences and exchanges. Between exhibitions, activities, conferences and other highlights, there is something for all tastes and all ages!
www.chambery.fr
VOIRON
Saint-Bruno Church in Voiron
Construction: 1864 to 1883.
Style: Neo-Gothic.
History: the municipality requested the construction of Saint-Bruno Church in 1820 to address the overcrowding of Saint-Pierre Church, which had become too small. The project was entrusted to diocesan architect Alfred Berruyer, who designed numerous churches in Isère at that time. Costs were kept down by using moulded cement for the exterior decorations, which was a novelty at the time. The work was completed thanks to a large donation from the Carthusian monks, who financed the stained-glass windows, and to the generosity of the public. The church opened its doors in 1872.
Characteristics: this imposing church measures a total of 19 metres wide, 67 metres long and 22 metres high in the nave. The bell towers rise to 67 metres, corresponding to the total length of the building.
Listed as: historic monument since 2022
Chartreuse cellars
The Chartreuse cellars, located in Voiron, are one of the production and distribution sites for the liqueur of the same name made by the Carthusian monks. Coupled with a museum that traces the major periods in the history of the Carthusian Order from 1084 to the present day, the cellar site, which welcomes many visitors, also includes workshops, one of which is dedicated to the preparation of Chartreuse-based cocktails.
Bonnat Chocolate Factory
Founded in 1884, Bonnat is one of the oldest chocolate makers in France, established before the 20th century. Félix Bonnat, a former liqueur maker, opened his chocolate roasting workshop in Voiron in a former coaching inn. The idea came to him after discovering solid chocolate at the 1880 World's Fair. He then set off to meet producers in South America and Asia. For Tsar Nicholas II's visit to Paris, Félix Bonnat created the Muscovite plum cake, which won a gold medal at the World Fair that same year. Bonnat also enjoyed success with Pavés de Voiron, which were sold from 1901 onwards in 180 shops in France and even in the colonies. In 1911, he created the krugette, which became a classic French chocolate product under the name orangette. In 1934, Bonnat acquired the right to use another product from the Voiron region, Chartreuse. In 2017, the company had 30 employees and a turnover of nearly €4 million. The chocolate factory is one of the few in France to roast and conche its own beans, revive extinct varieties and promote fair trade. Chocolatier Bonnat also inspired Tim Burton when he created the world of the film Charlie and the Chocolate Factory. In 2008, Bonnat opened a shop in Tokyo and in 2017, its first Parisian boutique.
Mainssieux Museum
Established: 1989
History: the museum originated from the legacy of painter and artist Lucien Mainssieux (1885-1958) to his hometown. It was inaugurated in 1989. A new permanent exhibition was launched in June 2022, when the museum reopened. On the ground floor, cut-out silhouettes bring Mainssieux's memories and his era to life. On the first floor, two rooms are dedicated to Mainssieux the collector and to Un Voironnais à Paris. On the second floor, room 3 invites visitors to discover Une vie entre peinture et musique (A life between painting and music) and room 4 presents the relationship between Mainssieux and the Mediterranean. The collection consists mainly of works by Mainssieux and paintings from his collection of 19th and early 20th-century French painters, including works by Courbet, Corot and Renoir.
Label: Musée de France.
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