Castle of the Dukes of Savoy

The Château de Chambéry is a fortress, a princely palace and a symbol of the power of the Savoyard sovereigns. It includes a remarkable collection of buildings constructed from the 13th century to the present day.
Today it is the seat of the department's prefecture.

The Count of Savoy Amédée V bought the castle in the 13th century from the former lords of Chambéry: the city became the capital. The castle then fulfills four essential functions: residential, defensive, religious and administrative. In the 16th century, the Dukes of Savoy established their capital in Turin, but Chambéry retained a strong administrative role. Access to the SainteChapelle is possible during guided tours. The theme of its stained glass windows recalls that it housed the Holy Shroud in the 16th century. Since 1993, the Yolande Tower has housed the large carillon. This instrument is one of the largest in the world, with 70 bells.

The castle with medieval and baroque components is still a magnificent building today. The prefecture of the Savoie department is located in the building in an elevated position above the old town. The famous Shroud of Turin was kept in the castle chapel until 1578. A copy of it still hangs in the choir today. Beautiful stained glass can be admired in the Gothic Sainte-Chapelle. From the Round Tower you can enjoy a wonderful panoramic view.
While the castle can only be visited as part of guided tours (in French), the exhibition on its history is freely accessible