Chambéry: the elephants that never saw India

Ancient capital of the Duchy of Savoy before the court moved to Turin, Chambéry preserves a ducal castle and a fountain with four elephants that became the city's symbol.

The historic center, dominated by the castle of the Dukes of Savoy, is comfortably explored on foot.

The Castle of the Dukes of Savoy, residence of the Savoy rulers before the capital moved to Turin, can be visited today with guided tours through the historic rooms.

Inside the castle, the Sainte-Chapelle guarded the Turin Shroud for centuries before the Savoys transferred it to their new Piedmont capital in 1578.

Coming down to the center, you encounter the Fountain of the Elephants, erected in 1838 in honor of a local count who became wealthy in India, with four elephants supporting a central column.

Toward evening, the streets of the historic center lead toward the lakes and mountains of Savoy that surround the city on all sides.

The elephants of the fountain have no direct connection to local history: they were chosen only to honor the fortune of Count de Boigne, made through commerce and military service in India.

The transfer of the Shroud to Turin in 1578 symbolically marked the definitive shift of Savoyard power from Savoy to Piedmont, a change Chambéry has never truly recovered from politically.