Chambéry Castle

The château of the dukes of Savoy

The Chambéry audio-guided tour takes you to where it all began: the château of the dukes of Savoy. Built at a strategic crossroads, controlling since Antiquity the routes towards Italy and the passes of the Alps, it is the cradle of the city and of the Savoy dynasty.

The cradle of the House of Savoy

A first fortified castle was built here in the eleventh century, at this crossroads that all armies had to cross before invading Italy. The House of Savoy made it its residence and the centre of its power, and the city developed around it. Enlarged and transformed over the centuries, the château remained the heart of the duchy until the capital was transferred to Turin. It today houses the prefecture of Savoy.

What there is to see

The château unfolds its towers, its courtyards and its buildings of different periods, dominating the city. It houses the Sainte-Chapelle and the tower of the great carillon, one of the most important in Europe. Seat of the prefecture, it cannot be freely visited, but guided tours allow you to discover its main spaces. It is an essential monument of Savoyard history.

Practical information

The château of the dukes of Savoy stands in the heart of Chambéry. Seat of the prefecture, it cannot be freely visited; guided tours, with a charge, allow you to discover its main spaces, according to its own schedule whose hours may vary. The courtyards and surroundings can be contemplated from the public space.

Who built the château of Chambéry?

A first fortified castle was raised in the eleventh century; the House of Savoy made it its residence and the centre of its power.

What can you see at the château of the dukes of Savoy?

The Sainte-Chapelle, the tower of the great carillon and the courtyards of the château, to be discovered on guided tours, the site housing the prefecture.