Private jet charter and flights to Chambéry
The historic city of Chambéry sits in the pretty foothills of the Alps and is a gateway to a host of mountain resorts. As the former capital of an ancient royal kingdom, it has a rich history and many pretty heritage buildings. Many people tend to overlook the city and its surroundings as they ascend straight up into the mountains; but spend a few days here and you’ll discover a magical network of cobbled streets, pretty Italianesque architecture and hole-in-the-wall crêperies. Get a fast quote to charter a private jet to Chambéry.
Chambéry’s compact Old Town has been beautifully restored and features a maze of narrow cobbled lanes such as Rue du Sénat de Savoie and Rue Juiverie. It’s full of character and bursting with a real mix of architectural styles, from the Renaissance to the 19th Century, so we recommend spending a little more time here than you might think you need. There’s a certain charm to getting lost in the alleyways, stepping into tranquil courtyards and dipping into boutiques. The famous Fontaine des Elephants sits at the heart of the Old Town and is a real city landmark – a striking sight with its four carved elephants emerging from the centre.
A couple of historic buildings to look out for on your wanderings include Château Saint-Chapelle and the 15th-century Cathédrale Saint-François-de-Sales de Chambéry. At first glance, the interior of the city’s cathedral seems adorned with grand Gothic archways and an intricately carved ceiling; but in fact, it features trompe-l'œil or ‘deceive the eye’ paintings, which were added in the 19th Century and are the largest of their kind in Europe.
Chambéry was once the capital of the House of Savoy, a royal family founded in the 10th Century which grew to rule the majority of the Italian Peninsula. The Château des Ducs de Savoie, which dominates the city skyline, was once home to the kingdom’s counts and dukes. It was founded in the 11th Century and has been added to and reshaped over the last thousand years. You can wander through the gardens and courtyard or take a guided tour of some of the towers and the Sainte-Chapelle, where the Shroud of Turin was once kept. At 5.30pm on every first and third Saturday of the month, you can hear the music of the Grand Carillon – 70 bronze bells located in the Yolande Tower.
Chambéry is home to several great museums. There’s the Natural History Museum, which first opened in 1846 and houses tens of thousands of natural specimens; the Musée Savoisien (reopening in 2020 following an extensive renovation), which is housed in a former monastery and showcases all aspects of life in the Savoy region; and the Musée des Charmettes in a hamlet just outside the city, which is the former home of Swiss-born philosopher Jean Jacques Rousseau.
Chambéry’s natural setting offers a peaceful interlude from the city’s many cultural highlights. There are three parks nearby – Vanoise National Park to the east, the Massif des Bauges Regional Park to the north and Chartreuse Regional Park to the south. The latter two are just a short distance from the city centre and offer great hikes in the warmer months and snow sports in winter. For a panoramic view over the city and its stunning surroundings (on a clear day you can spot Mont Blanc in the distance), head up to one of Massif des Bauges Regional Park’s elevated spots, Croix du Nivolet, which is located at the summit of Dent du Nivolet. Chartreuse Regional Park features miles of walking trails, beautiful forests and Alpine meadows; while France’s largest natural lake, Lac du Bourget, sits about six miles to the north of town, is surrounded by mountains and overlooked by the town of Aix-les-Bains.
Chambéry Savoie Mont Blanc Airport is located at Lac du Bourget, a few miles north of the city, and is the closest airport to many of France’s most famous mountain resorts. Simply contact one of our team and we can arrange everything you need to charter a private jet to Chambéry.
