Château des Ducs de Savoie
Chambéry's medieval castle looms over the old town like a stone crown, its four towers and flamboyant Gothic Sainte-Chapelle telling six centuries of Savoyard royal history in one breathtaking complex. The Sainte-Chapelle houses the original reliquary that once held the Turin Shroud — a fact that still sends shivers down the spine of history lovers.
A Palace Built for Dukes
The castle was the seat of the Dukes of Savoy from the 13th century onward, and wandering its grand courtyard you can almost hear the clatter of medieval court life. The façade blends Romanesque solidity with Gothic flourishes added as the dukes grew richer and more ambitious.
The Sainte-Chapelle is the undisputed highlight: its enormous stained-glass windows — the largest ensemble of 16th-century painted glass in France — flood the interior with kaleidoscopic colour on a sunny morning. Arrive early to catch the light at its most theatrical.
Visiting Practically
Guided tours run daily in French and periodically in English; the tourist office on Place du Palais de Justice can book them for you. The tour takes roughly 90 minutes and covers the dungeon, the Sainte-Chapelle and the rampart walk.
The rampart walk rewards you with rooftop views over the terracotta tiles of the old town and, on clear days, the snow-capped peaks of the Belledonne range. It costs nothing extra and is the best free viewpoint in the city centre.
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