Chambéry
Chambéry
Chambèri (Arpitan) | |
---|---|
Prefecture and commune | |
From top to bottom, left to right: Panorama of Chambéry with Belledonne mountain range at the background, place St-Léger in the old town, the castle of the Dukes of Savoy, panoramic sight on the roofs of the Chambéry historical center, the Place du Centenaire and Chambéry courthouse. | |
Coordinates: 45°34′12″N 5°54′42″E / 45.57°N 5.9118°E | |
Country | France |
Region | Auvergne-Rhône-Alpes |
Department | Savoie |
Arrondissement | Chambéry |
Canton | Chambéry-1, 2 and 3 |
Intercommunality | Grand Chambéry |
Government | |
• Mayor (2020–2026) | Thierry Repentin[1] (DVG) |
Area 1 | 20.99 km2 (8.10 sq mi) |
• Urban | 327.5 km2 (126.4 sq mi) |
• Metro | 1,147 km2 (443 sq mi) |
Population (2021)[2] | 59,856 |
• Rank | 98th in France |
• Density | 2,900/km2 (7,400/sq mi) |
• Urban (2018[3]) | 191,924 |
• Urban density | 590/km2 (1,500/sq mi) |
• Metro (2018[3]) | 253,430 |
• Metro density | 220/km2 (570/sq mi) |
Time zone | UTC+01:00 (CET) |
• Summer (DST) | UTC+02:00 (CEST) |
INSEE/Postal code | 73065 /73000 |
Elevation | 245–560 m (804–1,837 ft) (avg. 270 m or 890 ft) |
Website | www |
1 French Land Register data, which excludes lakes, ponds, glaciers > 1 km2 (0.386 sq mi or 247 acres) and river estuaries. |
Chambéry (UK: /ˈʃɒ̃bəri/,[4] US: /ˌʃɒ̃beɪˈriː/,[5] French: [ʃɑ̃beʁi]; Arpitan: Chambèri) is the prefecture and largest city of the Savoie department in the Auvergne-Rhône-Alpes region of southeastern France. The population of the commune of Chambéry was 59,172 as of 2020, while the population of the Chambéry metropolitan area was 255,790.[3] The city is located at the foot of the French Alps between Bauges and Chartreuse mountains, making Chambéry an important railway and highway crossroads.
It has been the historical capital of the Savoy region since the 13th century, when Amadeus V, Count of Savoy, made the city his seat of power. The annexation of Savoy merged the city to France in 1860. Together with other alpine towns Chambéry engages in the Alpine Town of the Year Association for the implementation of the Alpine Convention to achieve sustainable development in the Alpine Arc. Chambéry was awarded Alpine Town of the Year 2006.
Geography
Chambéry was founded at a crossroads of ancient routes through the Dauphiné (Dôfenâ) region of France, Switzerland, and Italy, in a wide valley between the Bauges and the Chartreuse Mountains on the Leysse River. The metropolitan area has more than 125,000 residents, extending from the vineyard slopes of the fr:Combe de Savoie almost to the shores of the Lac du Bourget, the largest natural lake in France. The city is a major railway hub at the midpoint of the Franco-Italian Turin–Lyon high-speed railway (TGV).
Chambéry is situated in southeast France, 523 kilometres (325 miles) from Paris, 326 kilometres (203 miles) from
The towns surrounding Chambéry are Barberaz, Bassens, Cognin, Jacob-Bellecombette, La Motte-Servolex, La Ravoire, Saint-Alban-Leysse and Sonnaz.
History
The history of Chambéry is closely linked to the
France annexed the regions that formerly constituted the Duchy of Savoy west of the Alps in 1792; however, the former Duchy and Chambéry were returned to the rulers of the House of Savoy in Turin in 1815 following the defeat of
-
Chambéry in 1645.
-
Around 1780.
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In 1864.
Toponymy
The town known as Lemencum first changed its name in the Middle Ages during the period that the Duc de Savoie erected his castle. It was called Camefriacum in 1016, Camberiaco in 1029, Cambariacum in 1036, and Cambariaco in 1044. In the next century, Cambariaco changed to Chamberium (1233), finally becoming Chamberi in 1603. The actual name supposedly comes from the Gaulois term camboritos (a ford situated in a curve). The Latin name cambarius, meaning beer brewer, may also explain the name. Another hypothesis is that the Gallo-Roman name Camberiacum suggests the idea of currency changing (cambium) or trade (camerinum : market), or perhaps, a room (camera) where the toll taxes are collected.
Climate
Chambéry is right on the boundary between the humid subtropical (Cfa) and oceanic climates (Cfb) under the Köppen system. In spite of this it is highly influenced by its interior position within France, resulting in quite hot summers and winters with frequent temperatures below freezing, especially at night. Convective rainfall is frequent for much of the year, rendering high precipitation/day quotas.
Climate data for Chambéry Airport (1991–2020 averages) | |||||||||||||
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
Month | Jan | Feb | Mar | Apr | May | Jun | Jul | Aug | Sep | Oct | Nov | Dec | Year |
Record high °C (°F) | 17.9 (64.2) |
20.7 (69.3) |
25.1 (77.2) |
29.5 (85.1) |
32.7 (90.9) |
36.7 (98.1) |
38.8 (101.8) |
38.8 (101.8) |
32.0 (89.6) |
29.0 (84.2) |
23.3 (73.9) |
22.7 (72.9) |
38.8 (101.8) |
Mean daily maximum °C (°F) | 6.4 (43.5) |
8.5 (47.3) |
13.4 (56.1) |
17.3 (63.1) |
21.3 (70.3) |
25.3 (77.5) |
27.8 (82.0) |
27.1 (80.8) |
22.3 (72.1) |
17.0 (62.6) |
10.6 (51.1) |
6.9 (44.4) |
17.0 (62.6) |
Daily mean °C (°F) | 2.9 (37.2) |
4.1 (39.4) |
8.0 (46.4) |
11.4 (52.5) |
15.6 (60.1) |
19.4 (66.9) |
21.4 (70.5) |
20.9 (69.6) |
16.8 (62.2) |
12.3 (54.1) |
6.9 (44.4) |
3.4 (38.1) |
11.9 (53.4) |
Mean daily minimum °C (°F) | −0.7 (30.7) |
−0.4 (31.3) |
2.5 (36.5) |
5.6 (42.1) |
10.0 (50.0) |
13.5 (56.3) |
15.0 (59.0) |
14.6 (58.3) |
11.3 (52.3) |
7.7 (45.9) |
3.1 (37.6) |
0.0 (32.0) |
6.8 (44.2) |
Record low °C (°F) | −19.0 (−2.2) |
−14.4 (6.1) |
−10.3 (13.5) |
−4.6 (23.7) |
−1.4 (29.5) |
2.8 (37.0) |
5.4 (41.7) |
5.0 (41.0) |
1.0 (33.8) |
−4.3 (24.3) |
−10.8 (12.6) |
−13.5 (7.7) |
−19.0 (−2.2) |
Average precipitation mm (inches) | 102.6 (4.04) |
79.1 (3.11) |
93.1 (3.67) |
87.9 (3.46) |
101.0 (3.98) |
94.5 (3.72) |
91.7 (3.61) |
97.6 (3.84) |
104.3 (4.11) |
113.3 (4.46) |
114.6 (4.51) |
124.2 (4.89) |
1,203.9 (47.40) |
Average precipitation days | 9.7 | 8.1 | 9.7 | 9.6 | 11.1 | 9.9 | 8.2 | 8.5 | 8.8 | 10.3 | 10.1 | 10.6 | 114.6 |
Average snowy days | 5.4 | 4.6 | 2.2 | 1.2 | 0.0 | 0.0 | 0.0 | 0.0 | 0.0 | 0.0 | 1.7 | 3.2 | 18.3 |
Mean monthly sunshine hours | 76.6 | 101.8 | 157.8 | 176.2 | 202.3 | 236.3 | 261.6 | 237.1 | 180.7 | 123.8 | 74.5 | 66.3 | 1,894.9 |
Source: Météo France[6] |
Main sights
Château de Chambéry
The first counts of Savoy settled into an existing fortress in 1285 and expanded it in the early-14th century to serve as a residence, seat of power and administration, and as stronghold for the House of Savoy. However, it quickly became obsolete as a serious fortification genuinely capable of resisting a siege. Due to constant French hostilities on the château, Duke Emmanuel Philibert decided to move his capital to Turin.
The château remained purely an administrative centre until
In 1786,
Under Napoleon Bonaparte, the Aile du Midi ("South Wing") was rebuilt and redecorated to house the imperial prefecture of the department of Mont-Blanc. Elaborate modification to the structure were made again after Savoy was annexed by France in 1860.
Today, the political administration of the department of Savoie is located in the castle, and it is open for tours and concerts.
Fontaine des Éléphants
The Fontaine des Éléphants ("Elephants Fountain") is the most famous landmark in Chambéry. It was built in 1838 to honour
Others
The Cistercian
Chambéry is also the administrative headquarters of the Orchestre des Pays de Savoie.
Education
The
Chambéry has a campus of the Arts et Métiers ParisTech (ENSAM) engineering graduate school, which created a research institute in 1994 there. It offers doctoral and master programs in the field of mechanical and industrial engineering.
Chambéry is also home to the INSEEC Business School, a French business school which offers Master in Management – Grande école program educational system.
Transport
The city is an important railway and highway crossroads.
Synchro Bus is the local bus system.
From 1892 to 1932, the
Military
Chambéry is home to the 13th Battalion of the Chasseurs Alpins.
Demographics
In 2020, 59,172 people lived in the city, while its metropolitan area had a population of 255,790.[3]
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Source: EHESS[8] and INSEE[9] |
Vermouth
Chambéry is an AOC region for Chambéry vermouth, where the Dolin and Routin brands are made.[10]
Sport
Chambéry is home to Chambéry Savoie Mont-Blanc Handball, Chambéry SF and to Stade Olympique Chambérien Rugby.
Notable people
Chambéry was the birthplace of (chronological order):
- Thomas, Count of Savoy (1178-1233), who buys the city, with the exception of the castle, to Viscount Berlion de Chambéry, 15 March 1230.[11]
- Amadeus V, Count of Savoy (ca.1252 - 1323), who buys in 1295 the castle of Chambéry, which will become the main county residence of the House of Savoy.
- François de Candie (ca.1314–1360), 1st Viscount of Geneva, nobleman and military commander of the Royal Guard of Savoy, Lord of the Chateau of Rumilly, and Salagine.
- Amadeus VIII, Duke of Savoy (1383–1451), Pope Felix V from 1439 to 1449.[12]
- Marguerite of Austria and Philibert II, Duke of Savoy.
- César Vichard de Saint-Réal (1639–1692), novelist.[13]
- Amédée-François Frézier (1682–1773), engineer, mathematician, spy, and explorer
- Benoît de Boigne (1751–1830), military adventurer in India.[14]
- Joseph de Maistre (1753–1821), conservative political philosopher and critic of the French Revolution.[15]
- Xavier de Maistre (1763–1852), soldier and author.[16]
- Luigi Federico, conte Menabrea (1809–1896), Italian prime minister and general.[17]
- Simone Antonio Saint-Bon (1828–1892), admiral of the Italian Regia Marina (Royal Navy).[18]
- Pierre Lanfrey (1828–1877), historian and politician.[19]
- Pierre Pendaries (1893-??), World War I flying ace
- Jesuitand scholar
- Jean-Michel Roddaz (born 1948), historian
- brothers Renaud Capuçon (born 1976) and Gautier Capuçon (born 1981); violinist & cellist
- Grégory Lemarchal (1983-2007), French singer and winner from the reality TV programme Star Academy in 2004
- Pierre-Jules Ginet (born 1985), pastry chef at Fauchon
- A.C. Milan
- Michaël Rossi (born 1988), racing driver
- Marion Allemoz (born 1989), captain of the France women's national ice hockey team and first French player to play professional women's hockey in North America
International relations
Chambéry is
- Albstadt, Germany
- Blainville, Canada
- Ouahigouya, Burkina Faso
- Shawinigan, Canada
- Turin, Italy
- Zhangjiakou, China
See also
- Duchy of Savoy
- Archdiocese of Chambéry
- Roman Catholic Archdiocese of Chambéry–Saint-Jean-de-Maurienne–Tarentaise
- Kingdom of Sardinia
- Arpitan language
- Communes of the Savoie department
- Listing of the works of Alexandre Falguière
References
- ^ "Répertoire national des élus: les maires" (in French). data.gouv.fr, Plateforme ouverte des données publiques françaises. 6 June 2023.
- ^ "Populations légales 2021". The National Institute of Statistics and Economic Studies. 28 December 2023.
- ^ a b c d Comparateur de territoire, INSEE, retrieved 04 January 2023.
- ^ "Chambéry". Lexico UK English Dictionary. Oxford University Press.[dead link]
- ^ "Chambéry". Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary. Retrieved 31 July 2019.
- ^ "Données climatiques de la station de Chambéry" (PDF) (in French). Météo France. Retrieved 19 June 2022.
- ^ "2014 -2015 : Travaux de restauration complets" (in French). Archived from the original on 4 March 2016. Retrieved 22 June 2016.
- ^ Des villages de Cassini aux communes d'aujourd'hui: Commune data sheet Chambéry, EHESS (in French).
- ^ Population en historique depuis 1968, INSEE
- ^ "Vermouth boom". punchdrinks.com. 15 January 2018. Retrieved 5 February 2019.
- ^ Encyclopædia Britannica. Vol. 24 (11th ed.). 1911. pp. 254–256, see para 2.
Thomas I..
. - ^ Encyclopædia Britannica. Vol. 10 (11th ed.). 1911. pp. 238–239, see para 5.
Felix V., the name taken by Amadeus (1383–1451), duke of Savoy.....
. - ^ Encyclopædia Britannica. Vol. 24 (11th ed.). 1911. p. 43. .
- ^ Encyclopædia Britannica. Vol. 4 (11th ed.). 1911. p. 139. .
- ^ Saintsbury, George (1911). . Encyclopædia Britannica. Vol. 17 (11th ed.). pp. 445–446.
- ^ Encyclopædia Britannica. Vol. 17 (11th ed.). 1911. p. 446. .
- ^ Encyclopædia Britannica. Vol. 18 (11th ed.). 1911. p. 108. .
- ^ Encyclopædia Britannica. Vol. 23 (11th ed.). 1911. p. 1018. .
- ^ Encyclopædia Britannica. Vol. 16 (11th ed.). 1911. pp. 170–171. .
- ^ "Villes en coopération". chambery.fr (in French). Chambéry. Retrieved 20 November 2019.
External links
- Chambéry travel guide from Wikivoyage
- Encyclopædia Britannica. Vol. 5 (11th ed.). 1911. p. 622. .
- Official website