car hire Chambery

Chambéry, a commune in the French department of Savoie, lies in a valley near Lac du Bourget about 55 kilometres north of Grenoble. Count Thomas of Savoie's erecting of the Chateau de Chambéry in 1232 proved a major boon to the town, and not long after it became the capital of the Savoie region. Chambéry prospered in the ensuing years, enjoying a golden era lasting until the mid-1500s, when Duke Emmanuel Philibert up and moved the Savoie capital to Turin. While this move took some of the wind out of Chambéry's sails, it remained an important culture and commercial centre. The philosopher Rousseau spent many enjoyable years here, leading him to this endorsement: "If there is in the world a little town where one tastes the sweetness of life in pleasant and certain commerce, it is Chambéry." Today Chambéry is a vibrant town located serendipitously for side trips to nearby areas popular with travellers.

Wine-tasting, sightseeing at various landmarks (such as Chateau de Chambéry or the Elephants Fountain, which features four elephant "busts"), and bicycling are among the popular pastimes in Chambéry. If your visit includes a Saturday, don't miss the public market, where shoppers and merchants crowd the town buying and selling the freshest meats, produce, and cheese from the Alps.

Car-hire pick-up is simple and painless at Chambéry Airport (also known as Chambéry-Savoie Airport or Aix les Bains Airport). The ever-classic spa town of Aix-les-Bains is just a short drive from Chambéry. This town sits idyllically between the Jura and Alps mountain ranges and quite near Lac du Bourget. Aix-les-Bains features hot sulphur springs that attract thousands of visitors a year. The luxurious town also offers some elegant architecture dating back to its Belle Epoque golden years, when European high society pegged Aix-les-Bains as the spa destination for the elite. Snowboarders and skiers will find top-notch runs in the Rhône-Alpes region, particularly at the resorts of Tignes, Val d'Isere, and Méribel Les Allues.