Car Hire in Chambery with Auto Europe

Visit Chambery a city based in the southeast of France, a city inhabited by nearly 55.000 residents and growing steadily. In the 14th century the counts of Savoy made Chambery their capital and by 1792 it became the capital of Mont Blanc under the revolutionary French government. The city holds strong ties with Italy and France, two powerful regions who once shared this city. The city is a historical goldmine restored to its full beauty. Let this be the start of an adventurous road trip around France, and a car hire in Chambery will make your visit more interesting and leave you in control of this historical road trip adventure. Local tour operators offer a guide of where to visit, including prices and timetables, which is very helpful if you are on a strict time schedule. Alternately the tourist office also offer guided tours daily, making life a little easier for those wanting to visit certain areas only.

Chambery is a city to fall in love with and with its unique outset and beautiful surroundings, it has been voted one of the best cities in France to walk around and soak up the historical features and buildings, not forgetting the ambient atmosphere of this Alpine town. Once you have explored Chambery take the local highway and make your way to one of many destinations keeping the road trip momentum in full stride, maybe visit Lyon and take in the beauty this city has to offer. Let Auto Europe steer you in the right direction and you can book your car rental in 3 easy step or let our experienced and helpful reservation agents help you with any requests.

How is the traffic in Chambery?

Chambery is a very popular destination for tourists to visit throughout the year making the traffic at peak times relatively busy. The A43 and A41 are two of the main highways coming into Chambery and are known to get heavily congested at peak hours especially around the school holidays when families regularly visit Chambery to spend their weekends sightseeing. Drivers have to be 18 and over to drive in Chambery and have a duty to have their driver’s license, ID and insurance documents present when operating a motor vehicle. However do check when booking your car hire in Chambery as the supplier you have booked may have a different minimum age requirement, for further information on how to drive in the France, please click here.

Where can I park my car hire in Chambery?

Parking your car in Chambery has been made easy as numerous car parking facilities are available in and around the city. One of the main companies offering secure parking is called EFIIA whose website you can browse to get all the prices and rates. Street parking varies in prices depending on where you wish to park so it is best you speak to someone local or obtain correct prices for parking online. Parking your car on the main roads usually requires payment by method of meter tickets which can be extended by the hour for 1.40 Euros, please check prices locally as they do differ from area to area. Long term and short term parking facilities are provided with numerous companies near most of the tourist sites making life easier for you to visit and not have to worry about parking .

Chambery Airport

Chambery Airport is situated roughly 6 miles from the central parts of the city, making it easy for you to commute back and fourth from the airport in a variety of transport means available. Chambery airport is considered to be one of the smallest airports in France but has national and international flights all over Europe. The airport is fully equipped with every amenity a traveler would require passing through the airport, including restaurants, cafes and souvenirs shops. The airport also offers relaxation lounges throughout the airport for you to unwind until you board your plane or while you wait for a connecting flight. Free Wi-Fi is also available which is unlimited, making it perfect for downloading music or movies before your next flight.

Chambery Airport (CMF)
Official Name: Chambery Airport
Website: www.chambery-airport.com
Address: Route de l’Aeroport, 73420 Viviers-du-lac, France
Telephone: +33 479 544 954
Airlines Operating at Chambery Airport: Several well established airlines operate from Chambery Airport daily such as Air France, British Airways, Atlantic Airways and many more.

What to do in Chambery

Chambery will take your breath away with beautiful architecture, ambient atmosphere and friendly locals. The city of Chambery is the perfect stepping stone for a fun filled and educational road trip leading on to other stunning cites as Lyon and Bordeaux. When you decide to rent a car in Chambery the following sights are a must not to miss:

• Old Town – The Old Town is a maze full of exciting alleys and tunnels which lead to unbelievable courtyards. The Old Town is a what one would class as a perfect little town full of historical features and mind blowing scenery. You’ll spend hours wandering around the hidden alleys exploring the buildings and once you have discovered the beauty of the Old Town settle down in one of its many little restaurants and enjoy the local delicacies. There are cafes, restaurants and gifts shops scattered all over this little gem of a town.


• Place Saint-Leger – The Place Saint-Leger is a historic pedestrian street located in the town of Chambery, this is something you cannot miss out on. The street has been fully restored to its historical elegance, showing off the pastel colours of the buildings and cobbled roads making you feel as though you are in a different era. Place Saint-Leger is full of cafes, restaurants and shops for you to browse at your own leisure. Discover the charm of Place Saint-Leger and its elegance, exploring the side streets and viewing some truly iconic buildings including the private mansions. Once you have conquered the streets of Place Saint-Leger find a nice café in the centre next to the main fountain and relax and sit back and enjoy the ambience of this beautiful street.


• Musee Des Beaux-Arts – A look in to the history of France and the importance of the Italian influence in Chambery. The museum itself holds antiques dating back to the early 1830’s with various items to see and learn about. An excellent day out if you enjoy learning about the history of Chambery and the treasures it held. The museum has numerous different collections of paintings, coins, medals and antiques.The museum offers guided tours about the exhibitions on display at various times throughout the day. Once you have soaked up the history of Chambery sit back and relax in the café within Musee Des Beaus Arts and you may want to pop in to the gift shop for a little souvenir.


• Lac Du Bourget – One of many wonders of the earth, natural, mind blowing and views which will stay with you for a lifetime. A perfect pit stop for the family to have a picnic or even take a bike ride around the rugged edges of this beautiful lake and soak up the mind blowing views on offer. Various water sports are available at the lakeside depending on what season you are going to be visiting.

Best day trips with my car rental in Chambery

For those wishing to explore the area surrounding the town of Chambery, we would recommend the below outlined destinations for a day trip.

Galerie Eureka

If you are travelling with kids this venue is a must. A science museum full of exhibits and interactive science based projects which the children can all take part in. The best part of visiting this museum is that if you are travelling in a group your entrance fee is free of charge, so you can enjoy this venue with your family and let the children learn and have fun in the name of science. Please be advised to go on the web page of Galerie Eureka and check for opening times especially through the school holidays and national bank holidays.

Fontaine Des Elephants

This is by far one of the oldest historical monuments still standing in Chambery, erected in 1838 and is also a listed historical monument in France. The statue was raised as memorabilia for a general in the army who was once captured in a war and was freed only because of his great speeches and personal qualities and was returned back to Chambery. The general was given fortunes from India to take back and help build the infrastructure in Chambery. The fountain commemorates the significant efforts an individual made towards Chambery and still stands as one of the most popular tourist sites in the city.

Les Charmettes

If you are a romantic at heart visiting this place is a must. Many romantic novels have been written with a mention of Les Charmettes. The house still has some of the original property owned by Jean Jacques Rousseau and has also been restored fully in the 1730’s décor throughout the building. Walk around and take in the surroundings which influenced this young writer and his award winning novels. The famous novelist moved to this house at the age of 13 and lived the rest of his life at the foothills of Chambery being recognised around the world for his life time experiences and love of nature. Maybe read one of his famous novels before visiting to get a better feel for this historical building.

Restaurant Carre Des Sens

The perfect ending to an amazing trip to Chambery would not go a miss without visiting one of the Michelin star restaurants. A great treat for a little indulgence in a fine dining establishment at the hands of one of the world’s famous chefs. The presentation of the dishes alone will leave you breathless with mouthwatering smells and aromas. This venue is regularly visited by celebrities so you never know who you might meet spot dining next to you. The restaurant accepts reservations only, so if you are planning on a fine dining experience please pre-book your table to avoid disappointment.

Geographical information and history

Chambery is situated in the southeast of France, beautifully placed between Lyon and Turin. The city is full of historical features and amazing buildings giving this city a very unique look, especially the Old Town area of Chambery which will have you walking for hours without realising the time and remembering where you actually started as the area is like an adventurous maze with alleys and adjoining courtyards. The weather in Chambery is typical of a southern European country with good summers and mild winters, always plan ahead and check to see what the weather is like before your visit depending on what season you are to visit.

How to get around in Chambery

Taxis

Taxis are available 24 hours a day with Taxi Chambery to be voted one of the best in the region, the taxis do except card payments and can be booked via their hotline. Most of the new taxis are now fitted with cctv for further security and making customers feel more at ease.

Buses

Buses are available from the bus terminals and will only stop at certain spots along its journey, so check prior to boarding that the bus route you have chosen covers the area you need to visit. Timetables and terminal details are readily available from the tour operators. All of the buses have free Wi-Fi and power outlets available on board.

Useful links

Driving Safely in Chambery

Official Tourism Website