Practicalities
France > Alps > Chambery > Practicalities
The gare SNCF is on rue Sommeiller, 500m north of the old town, with the gare routière (tel 04.79.69.11.88) just outside in place de la Gare. Five minutes' walk away at no. 24 boulevard de la Colonne, where all the city buses stop, is the tourist office (Mon–Sat 9am–12.30pm & 1.30–6pm, Sun 9.30am–noon; July & Aug open until 7pm Mon–Sat and 12.30pm Sun; tel 04.79.33.42.47, www.chambery-tourisme.com). If you're planning on exploring the Vanoise, the Maison du Parc at 135 rue Docteur-Juilland (tel 04.79.62.30.54) can help with maps and information.There's plenty of inexpensive accommodation scattered about the centre of Chambéry. If you're on a budget, try the very basic Des Voyageurs, 3 rue Doppet (tel 04.79.33.57.00; under €30), towards the gares. A more comfortable option is Le Savoyard, 35 place Monge (tel 04.79.33.36.55, [email protected]; €40–55), conveniently located southeast of the cathedral, while for a touch more luxury, head for the high-rise Mercure, facing the train station at 183 place de la Gare (tel 04.79.62.10.11, fax 04.79.62.10.23; €100–125). But for rural peace and a lovely view, head for Hôtel aux Pervenches, 600 chemin des Charmettes (tel 04.79.33.34.26, www.pervenches.net; €30–40), with a good restaurant serving menus from €14.50, in the village of LES CHARMETTES, Rousseau's summertime home, 2km south of the centre. The nearest campsite is Le Nivolet (tel 04.79.85.47.79) at BASSENS, reached on bus #C, direction "Albertville", from the tourist office. Good food at decent prices is not hard to come by. Mid-range Savoyard restaurants abound – many specializing in lake and river fish – the best of these being La Chaumière, 14–16 rue Denfert-Rochereau (tel 04.79.33.16.26; closed Sun unless you reserve), and Le Savoyard in the hotel of the same name. If you fancy a splurge, however, truly exceptional cuisine can be found at Le St-Real, in a converted seventeenth-century church at 86 rue St-Real (tel 04.79.70.09.33; closed Sun), one of the best restaurants in the département, but pricey at €30–73.20. Le Tonneau at 2 rue St-Antoine (tel 04.79.33.78.26) is a good alternative, with a similar cuisine, but at half the price.
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