Chambery
The old capital of Savoy, marked by a fountain of four elephants that locals call the four without backsides.
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Chambery was the capital of the counts and dukes of Savoy from 1295 until the court moved to Turin in 1563, and the castle still stands above the old town with a Sainte-Chapelle that held the Shroud of Turin before it left for Italy. The Fontaine des Elephants was put up in 1838 to honour Benoit de Boigne, a local who made a fortune in India; four elephant foreparts project from the base with no rear ends behind them, which produced the nickname les quatre sans cul. Jean-Jacques Rousseau lived at Les Charmettes outside town with Madame de Warens, and the house is preserved.
What you actually see
- The elephant fountain - four half-elephants and the nickname that followed.
- The Savoy castle - the ducal castle with its Sainte-Chapelle.
- The old town allees - covered passages between the medieval streets.
- Les Charmettes - Rousseau's country house on the hillside.
When to go
April to October; the castle is visited on guided tours at set times. The town is a practical base for the Savoy lakes and mountains. Winter is grey but the mountains are close.
Honest expectations
The castle interior is largely administrative offices and access is by tour only. The Shroud is in Turin and has been since 1578. The town is pleasant rather than spectacular.
Nearby
Lake Bourget lies north; Grenoble is south.
What to pack for Chambery
Chosen from what this place is for. Tap a kit for the full checklist.
Opening times, ticket prices and seasonal closures change - check the official source before you go: official site.
