CHAMBÉRY AND CYCLING
Strangely for a city nestled at the foot of the mountains, Chambéry, although it has often seen cyclists pass through, has rarely hosted a Tour de France finish. For the men, the only finish took place in 2017, when Rigoberto Uran won. But the prefecture of Savoie, which also hosted two Tour de France men's stage starts in 1996 and 2010, has other cycling events to its credit, such as the Critérium du Dauphiné, which it has hosted 32 times, the Classique des Alpes and the Tour des Pays de Savoie. In the women's race, the Tour stopped in Chambéry in 2025 for a French double, with Maeva Squiban winning ahead of Cendrine Kerbaol. The day before, in Ambert, the Breton had already won ahead of another Frenchwoman, Juliette Labous. But the greatest date in cycling history in Chambéry remains without question the 1989 World Championships, which saw Greg LeMond confirm his comeback to the forefront by winning ahead of Dimitri Konyshev and Sean Kelly, a few months after his second victory in the Tour de France. That same year, Jeannie Longo won the fourth of her five women's world titles in the road race. The men's stage of the Tour that started in Chambéry in 1996 is remembered because the Yellow Jersey, Stéphane Heulot, suffering from a painful knee, was forced to abandon the race on the road to Les Arcs. The climb to the resort then marked the end of the Indurain era, with a failure that relegated the five-time winner to a considerable distance behind the new leader, Evgueni Berzin.
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
