City of Art and History in the heart of Savoie. The old city of Chambéry, dominated by the château of the Ducs de Savoie, is one of the oldest and most remarkable quarters in France. A city of culture – the Charles Dullin theatre, five museums including the gallery of Science and Technology, one of the largest chimes in Europe, the Espace Malraux National Theatre, the Jean-Jacques Rousseau reference library and le Manège Convention Centre. This heritage benefits from a lighting plan which was rewarded with the first national prize for flagship cities by the Academy of Street Arts (Académie des Arts de la Rue). Being a "Nature city", Chambéry is close to the largest ski area in Europe, the Lake Bourget, which is the largest natural lake in France, as well as Lake Aiguebelette, the jewel in the crown of the Avant-pays Savoyard. Chambéry is the "gateway-city" to the regional national parks of the Chartreuse, the Bauges and the Vanoise National Park.
