Savoie

Savoie is a French department located in the Rhône-Alpes region in the French Alps. It is one of the two departments of the region of Savoy that was annexed by France on March 24, 1860, the other being Haute-Savoie. For history before 1860, details of the annexation and reasons for the current separatist movement in the departments, see Savoy.Savoie is bordered by the departments of Ain, Hautes-Alpes, Isère, and Haute-Savoie. It also neighbours Italy and was annexed in 1860 by France.

The capital is Chambery, located in the west side of the department and sits at the southern end of the largest natural lake in France: the Lac du Bourget which is worth exploring. The population is around 55,000 and is a major town in the department.

Aix-les-Bains is also interesting: it is a spa town which even hosted Queen Victoria. The architecture is pleasant; it is also enjoyable to have a look at the archaeology museum which used to house the Hotel de Ville in the 16th century and the temple of Diana.

The city of Albertville hosted the 1992 Olympics games and is located on the river Isere, close to the ski resorts but also close to the international airport of Chambery. The town was created in 1836 by the unification of l'hoptial-sous-Conflans and the town of Conflans by royal decree. Conflans is where Albertville's historic roots lie and is a town with an important strategic position upon the outcrop on an elevated rockface- this allowed the town to escape the river floodwaters below.

Savoie has a wonderful ski resort with some of the most prestigious French stations like Courchevel, Méribel, Val-d’Isère and Val Thorens. Les Arcs is a purpose built resort on three levels and Tignes is famous, but it does not have the old houses found in Val d'Isère but it is still possible to ski there on the year-round glacier during the summer.