I've tried it out for you The Savoisien Museum Chambéry

I’ve tried it out for you!

The Musée Savoisien, the Savoie departmental museum of history and culture, reopened its doors to the public just a few weeks ago, after being closed for eight years whilst major renovation work was carried out. Located in Chambéry in a former Franciscan convent, the museum has been open to the public as a museum since 1913, so it has a long history as a place of remembrance and cultural transmission.

Discover
a museum
in the heart of Chambéry

You can reach the Musée Savoisien from Place Métropole (see map), which is flanked by two other must-see landmarks of Chambéry’s heritage: the majestic Saint-François-de-Sales Cathedral and… a pub, which has also become a real local institution.

As soon as you enter, the spacious reception hall whets your cultural appetite: a scale model of the building, a gift shop and an information desk all encourage you to make the most of your visit. And the good news is: entry is free! It’s a great opportunity to pop in, even for those who are short on time or who don’t always feel confident stepping inside a museum.

Another distinctive feature is that some of the exhibits are regularly rotated. This is necessary to protect these fragile items from light, but it’s also a way of offering the public an ever-changing experience. Here, every visit therefore holds new discoveries in store.

Tour itinerary

Travelling
through
Savoyard history

The tour begins with a monumental stone staircase — or a lift for greater comfort. From the very first rooms, visitors discover a modern and original exhibition layout, which moves away from a simple chronological narrative to offer a thematic journey through the history of Savoy.

The collections are organised into six main themes:

Power and territories,
People and Movement,
Resources and Food,
Housing,
Belief,
Clothing.

This approach allows visitors to explore different eras in a new light: a single display case might juxtapose a medieval cheese strainer with a contemporary mould, or place traditional clothing alongside high-tech sportswear. The past thus engages with the present in a lively and accessible way.

The museum also houses a space dedicated to temporary exhibitions and a room showcasing an exceptional work: the murals at the Château de la Rive in Cruet (13th century), a secular tale of colourful adventures.

The light-wood exhibition design creates a warm atmosphere that is both elegant and true to the region’s identity.

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When 8 years
of closure
turn into
1,000 years of history

Eight years of closure is not merely a long slumber: the Musée Savoisien has undergone a true metamorphosis. Before the renovation work began, archaeological excavations unearthed numerous artefacts now on display and revealed new chapters in the history of this 13th-century building.

During this period, the collections have also been expanded: new acquisitions, donations and recent archaeological finds. Those who knew the museum before it closed will be surprised by the scale of the new exhibits on display.

The exhibition design has also been given a complete makeover: 2½ hours of film screenings, interactive displays, and objects and models to handle. Everything has been designed to make the visit lively and fun, particularly for families.
Children are given their own visitor’s booklet (ages 6–11) and can follow trails tailored to their age group (0–6 and 7–11). In short, it’s the perfect way to combine culture and family fun!

My top 5
at the Musée Savoisien

The programme of guided tours, suitable for all ages,
The spacious, light-filled areas created by the recent refurbishment,
The temporary exhibition space, where you can discover new exhibits on a regular basis,
The models of the region’s typical dwellings and the reconstructions of interiors characteristic of Savoie (I’ll leave you to discover which ones);
The museum is a former convent, which has retained its Franciscan cloister – a peaceful and serene spot.