by Janis / 0 comments - Orginally published:11th August 2026
Discover elephants, hidden passages and a château
Our magnificent French EV road trip continues south from the Art Deco town of Saint-Quentin in Hauts-de-France, then on to the delightfully picturesque town of Dole in the Bourgogne-Franche-Comté region of France.
Next stop is the charming town of Chambéry, located in the Auvergne-Rhône-Alpes region, just around 30 miles south of the historic town of Annecy.
Over the last couple of years, we’ve been embracing the world of EV touring. You can check out how we fared during our previous adventures, including a short mini-break to Normandy and our 2-week 2024 EV French road trip.
We loved the experience so much that we plotted another French EV road trip for 2025, as it is so easy to road-trip in France with an EV. The two-week EV adventure began the moment we boarded Le Shuttle in Folkestone and entered Calais.
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Did you catch our further inspiration for this French road trip?
Where is Chambéry?
How to get to Chambéry
- By Car
Departing from the UK to France, there are various options. You can either jump on Le Shuttle and arrive in Calais in 35 minutes or enjoy a leisurely cruise on the open waves with Brittany Ferries, DFDS or P&O.
- By Air
If you’re flying into France, search for flights to Paris Charles de Gaulle (CDG) or Paris Orly (ORY) for the best range of international routes, then continue to Chambéry by public transport in around 3 ½ hours.
A brief history of Chambéry
The former capital of the Duchy of SavoyChambéry is one of those French cities whose history feels a little different from the rest of the country. Sitting close to the Alps in south-east France, it was, for centuries, the political heart of Savoy, becoming the capital of the Counts and later the Duchy of Savoy during the Middle Ages.
Remembering Chambery’s past
History through the lanes
Its most obvious mark of this past is the imposing Château des Ducs de Savoie, which grew from a medieval fortress into the residence of the Savoy rulers. The dynasty eventually shifted its attention across the Alps towards Turin in 1563, but Chambéry retained its elegant streets, arcades and distinctly Savoyard character.
Perhaps surprisingly, Chambéry only became permanently French in 1860, when Savoy was annexed to France under the reign of Napoleon III. So, although today it's firmly part of the Auvergne-Rhône-Alpes region, you'll still find plenty of reminders that its story was once tied just as closely to northern Italy as it was to France.
Charles Dullin Theatre
Wander through the old town and that history is everywhere, narrow passageways, colourful façades, hidden courtyards and, of course, the delightfully theatrical Fontaine des Éléphants, erected in 1838 and now one of Chambéry's best-loved landmarks.
Stay informed
You will find us across many forms of social media. You will find our latest posts, some throwbacks, links to historic events with our 'On this day' posts, across Facebook, X, Bluesky & Threads. Each week, themed visual content on Instagram, and our narrated travels on YouTube. Collections of the images in our posts are also collated into boards on Pinterest.
Discovering the historic lanes of Chambéry
Let your curiosity run wildChambéry is just crying out for you to explore its historic centre without too much of a plan. The old town is a wonderfully atmospheric tangle of narrow streets, little squares, and pastel-coloured buildings, with the foothills of the Alps never feeling very far away, creating an incredible backdrop. Much of what you see in the streets reflects Chambéry’s long association with the House of Savoy.
Strolling along Place Saint-Léger
Colourful streets of Chambéry
One of the real pleasures amongst Chambéry’s streets is discovering the little covered passages known locally as allées. They slip beneath buildings and connect streets and courtyards, sometimes appearing almost like private entrances until you realise there’s a route continuing through, they are just waiting to be explored. It’s amazing.
Hidden lanes of Chambéry
Dark passageways in Chambéry
As you meander along the grand and impressive Place Saint-Léger, at the heart of the old town, you’ll find colourful façades, cafés and pedestrianised lanes, while looking upwards reveals wrought-iron balconies, decorative stonework and architectural details that are very easy to miss if you’re in a hurry.
Ceiling emblems along the dark allées
As you wander further, the streets naturally lead towards the Château des Ducs de Savoie, whose towers rise above the historic quarter and are a sign of just how important Chambéry once was politically. Nearby are grander townhouses and elegant façades, but the charm of Chambéry really lies in the contrast between these imposing buildings and the cramped medieval lanes tucked behind them.
Dapper street art
It’s a city that rewards inquisitiveness rather than following sightseeing agenda. Wend your way down an allée, follow a cobbled lane simply because it looks intriguing, stop for a coffee or ice-cream in one of the little squares. You’ll probably find that the streets themselves become one of the highlights of visiting Chambéry.
Visit the Château des Ducs de Savoie
And Chambéry’s grand architecture beyondThe striking Château des Ducs de Savoie sits right in the heart of Chambéry and has been the city's defining landmark for almost 800 years. Originally built as a medieval fortress in the 13th century, it grew into the grand residence of the powerful House of Savoy, whose lands once stretched across both sides of the Alps.
Château des Ducs de Savoie
As you wander around the complex, you'll notice that it's less a single castle and more a collection of buildings added over the centuries, each expressing a different chapter in Savoy's fascinating history.
One of the highlights of the Château des Ducs de Savoie is the beautiful Sainte-Chapelle, which once safeguarded the famous Shroud of Turin before it was moved to Turin in the late 16th century. Above it rises an impressive Yolande bell tower housing a large carillon, with 70 bells that still ring out over the city on special occasions.
Sainte-Chapelle
Tower in Place du Château
Today the château remains a working administrative building, guided tours allow visitors to step inside and discover centuries of history that helped shape both Savoy and the Alpine region.
Hôtel-de-Ville de Chambéry
Only a short stroll away is the Hôtel-de-Ville de Chambéry, one of the city centre’s more imposing civic buildings. Completed in 1867 in a grand Neoclassical style, it dates from just a few years after Savoie became part of France in 1860, and its elegant stone façade feels very much like a statement of Chambéry’s growing importance during the 19th century.
The Hôtel-de-Ville de Chambéry is located in a charming square, and it’s the perfect place to sit back, relax and enjoy a coffee while watching the world pass by.
The Musée des beaux-arts de Chambéry
Nearby is Musée des beaux-arts de Chambéry, a lovely stop in the centre of Chambéry, housed in a former 19th-century grain hall that was transformed into a museum in 1889. Its collection has a particularly strong Italian flavour, with paintings from the Renaissance through to the Baroque and Neoclassical periods, alongside works by artists from Savoie, a lovely reflection of Chambéry’s historic connections with Italy.
France Tourist Information
If you’re tempted to tour France and discover all the delightful things it has to offer, take a peek at the official French Tourism website. The local tourist offices dotted around the towns and cities provide some extremely useful information and handy pointers for around each region.
Admiring the Fontaine des Éléphants
Strolling Chambéry’s picturesque streetsI imagine everyone who lives in Chambéry has heard of the Fontaine des Éléphants; it’s quite distinctive and an iconic landmark which all visitors want to see, and certainly one you don’t forget in a hurry.
La Fontaine des Éléphants – side view
La Fontaine des Éléphants
The fountain was built in 1838; it honours Benoît de Boigne, a Chambéry-born soldier and adventurer who made his fortune in India before returning home and becoming a generous benefactor to the city. The four Asian elephants around the base, along with the palm-tree-like column, are a nod to his remarkable Indian career.
The locals have given it the wonderfully cheeky nickname “Les Quatre Sans Culs” (“the four without bottoms”) because only the front halves of the elephants emerge from the monument. Above them, the column rises nearly 18 metres, topped by a statue of de Boigne looking out over the city. It’s quirky, slightly eccentric, and has become one of those sights that feels very close to Chambéry’s heart.
Rue de Boigne
The colonnade of Rue de Boigne
Just a short hop from the Fontaine des Éléphants is the beautifully colonnaded road of Rue de Boigne, it’s one of Chambéry’s most elegant streets. It runs through the historic heart of the city with its distinctive arcades and pastel façades. Built in the early 19th century with the support of the wealthy General de Boigne; it has a pleasant Italian feel, perfect for a slow wander beneath the covered walkways, with cafés and little boutiques to explore.
Rue Bonivard
Another couple of streets to explore in Chambéry are the charming Rue Bonivard and Rue de la Trésorerie; these are two intriguing little streets that make wandering around Chambéry’s old town such a pleasure. Lined with colourful historic buildings, narrow passageways and tucked-away courtyards, they have that wonderfully intimate, slightly Italian feel that reflects Chambéry’s long history as the former capital of Savoy.
Rue de la Trésorerie
They’re the sort of streets where it’s worth slowing down rather than simply heading for the main sights, look up at the old façades, explore the little traboules and covered passages, and you’ll get a real sense of medieval Chambéry hidden behind the busier streets. You’ll also spot some fantastic street art.
Places to visit in France
If you adore road trippin’ through France like we do, exploring north, south, east, and west, then take a peek at the captivating destinations in our French location posts. You’ll find so many gorgeous villages, towns and cities, some you may have heard of; however, I’m sure you’ll find new inspiration.
Visiting Chambéry Cathedral
The wonder lies withinChambéry Cathedral, or Cathédrale Saint-François-de-Sales, sits right in the historic heart of Chambéry and appears quite understated from the outside. Much of what you see today dates from the 15th century, when it was built as a church for the Franciscans.
Cathédrale Saint-François-de-Sales, Chambéry
It became Chambéry’s Cathedral only in the late 18th century; its relatively simple Gothic façade hides what awaits once you step through the doors.
Inside is where it becomes really memorable. The walls and vaulted ceilings are covered in extraordinarily detailed trompe-l'œil paintings, designed to fool the eye into seeing elaborate stonework, arches and architectural decoration where much of it is actually painted.
Inside Chambéry Cathedral
Chambéry Cathedral’s organ
The trompe-l'œil paintings were created largely during the 19th century; they cover thousands of square metres and give the cathedral a surprisingly rich and theatrical feel. It’s well worth popping inside while wandering Chambéry’s old streets, especially as the contrast between that modest exterior and the amazingly decorated interior is part of its charm.
Crit'Air vignette required for driving in France
If you’re heading to France from the UK with your own vehicle, you’ll need a Crit’Air ‘clean air’ car sticker.
Just like our low-emission zones in the UK, France now legally requires the display of a Crit’Air vignette. The good news is, these stickers are readily available and affordable online through the official French government website.
The Crit’Air sticker lasts the lifetime of the vehicle, so it’s a one-off purchase. The RAC website offers an in-depth guide to everything you need to know and your requirements.
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