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 stronghold has housed the Savoie département administration since 1860. For this reason, it's not open to the public. You can only visit one exhibition room inside the first gate; to see the courtyard, Tour Trésorerie (Treasury Tower) and the chapel, built to house the Turin Shroud, take the town tour at the Hôtel de Cordon.
In the small exhibition, scale models, engravings and paintings present the history and architecture of the château. The chapel's 70-bell Grand Carillon (1993), one of the largest ensembles of bells in the world, peals in concert on the first and third Saturday of each month at 5.30pm (more frequently in summer).
