Chambéry

The city and arrondissement of Chambéry in Savoie, France, has been the historical capital of Savoy since the 13th century, when Amadeus V of Savoy made it his seat. It had a population of 55,786 in 1999.

Chateau de Chambéry

The Count of Savoy settled in this already fortified place in 1285 and extended it in the early 14th century to serve as residence, as seat of power and administration and as stronghold for the House of Savoy. As a serious fortification genuinely capable of resisting a siege, it was quickly obsolete, part of Duke Emmanuel Philibert's decision, face with constant French hostility, to remove his seat to Turin. The chateau remained purely an administrative center, until Christine of France, Duchess of Savoy, returned to hold court in 1640. In 1786 Victor Amadeus III added a Royal Wing. Under Napoleon, the Aile du Midi ("South Wing") was rebuilt and redecorated to house the imperial prefecture of Mont-Blanc, housed here. Elaborate rearrangements were made after Savoy was joined to France in 1860.

Related Topics:
Emmanuel Philibert - Victor Amadeus III

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