Top things to do in Chambéry

Chambéry's medieval Old Town reveals its beauty gradually. Rush through its lanes and you risk missing hidden courtyards, murals and well-preserved 14th- to 18th-century hôtels (town houses), many of which are...

Swift service and charmingly retro decor set the tone at Les Halles, where regional and classic French dishes are executed simply and with finesse. Risotto of Parmesan and Savoyard ham, steak tartare, and a...

Medieval walls, Gothic tracery, trompe l'oeil detailing…Chambéry's château has acquired a wealth of styles since its founding in the 11th century. Once home to the counts and dukes of Savoy, the stately...

All is not as it seems inside Chambéry's 15th-century Franciscan cathedral, decorated with 6000 sq metres of trompe l’œil painting. The largest such feature in any building in Europe, the decorations – created by...

Chef Gilles Herard – who's worked in the kitchens of gastronomic princes like Alain Ducasse and Paul Bocuse – works the stoves in this brick-vaulted wine bar-bistro. Tapas-style options include charcuterie plates...

More than two-dozen local producers assemble in Chambéry's covered market, selling regional specialities like charcuterie and cheese, alongside butchers, fishmongers, florists, Vietnamese takeaway food and more.

With its four carved elephants, this 17.6m-high fountain looks like the model for an old Indian postage stamp. It was sculpted in 1838 in honour of Général de Boigne (1751–1830), who made his fortune in the East...

Geneva-born philosopher, composer and writer Jean-Jacques Rousseau, a key figure of the Enlightenment and the French Revolution, lived the happiest years of his life in this serene country house between 1736 and...

Occupying a former corn exchange, Chambéry's grand fine-arts museum exhibits mostly 14th- to 18th-century Italian works. There's a particular emphasis on Florentine and Sienese paintings from the Renaissance,...

Crouching cheekily beneath the western façade of the cathedral is the most French 'Irish pub' you'll ever find. A genuine welcome sets the tone, and the atmosphere gets merrier thanks to a dozen beers on tap and...

Specialising in the cheeses of Savoie for three generations, this family-run fromagerie, located just across the square from the Marché des Halles, is the place for Reblochon, Tome des Bauges, Comté, Beaufort,...

Due for a grand reopening in 2020, this museum housed in a Franciscan monastery was closed to undergo a massive renovation when we passed through. When it reopens its doors, visitors can expect a showcase of the...

This trim crêperie is evangelical about the health benefits of its protein-rich traditional galettes (savoury buckwheat crêpes), which arrive attractively laden with goat's cheese, salmon and leek, and – our...

Candy-sweet in both decor and menu, this pint-sized salon de thé has a pretty 'n' pink array of cupcakes to savour alongside a 76%-cocoa hot chocolate or a fruity, floral tea (try the fragrant 'Balade en...

This former hôtel particulier (historic private mansion) has interactive displays on local culture on its upper floor. It's also the starting point for tours of the Château des Ducs de Savoie and Old Town.

The menu at this tastefully updated bistro roams from Asian-inspired stir fries to pasta carbonara and a rack of Savoyard classics including tartiflette (potatoes, cheese and bacon baked in a casserole) and...