Albertville

Visit Albertville, Rhone-Alpes

Albertville and Conflans are found in the Savoie department of the Rhone-Alpes.

It is as a mountain and ski region that Albertville is best known - especially since the town played host to the 1992 Winter Olympics - and several mountain regions are found nearby including the Bauges and the Beaufortain ranges.

Exploring Albertville

Albertville is classed as a town of Art and History and whilst it is not really a tourist destination in itself it is reasonably attractive and is in a very picturesque setting with a backdrop of the mountains and has easy access to outdoor activities such as mountain biking, horse-riding, walking and trekking etc. It is also just a couple of kilometers from the medieval village of Conflans which is well worth the short drive if you are here.

The centre of the town is based around the neo-classical town hall (late 19th century) and the adjacent Palce de l'Europe. The Place de l'Europe is a modern centre in an unusual kind of modern neo-classical style. This square is  bordered with cafes and shops and the original Palais de Justice. Above the square the mountains almost look like they have been painted on!

Near this square is the Rue Gambette which  is an attractive paved street with vues straight down to the Albertville's church and again a backdrop of mountains adding dramatically to the view. There are a few other monuments from the 19th century to be seen, such as the Hotel Geny, and the Church of Saint John the Baptist - the neo-gothic church you can see dominating the end of Rue Gambetta.

There are also several museums including the House of the Olympic Games which is housed in the old Palais de Justice. The Olympic House has an exhibition covering the 1992 Winter Olympic Games hosted in the town. It is possible to visit the olympic park aswell.

There are otherwise few traces of the town's long history, which dates back to its role as a Roman frontier town, within Albertville itself, and most visitors will head for the medieval part of the town, Conflans.

Exploring Conflans

Conflans stands above Albertville just a couple of kilometres up the hill. It is a picturesque village and in its main central square there are lots of boutiques and cafes - it's a lovely place to stop for lunch.  It also has some interesting medieval buildings, the highlights among these are the red-brick buildings of the Chateau-Rouge and the Maison Rouge, and streets lined with houses dating from the 17th-18th centuries.

The Chateau Rouge is home to the museum of Art and History and has exhibits of life over the last 2000 years in the area as well as art from the region.

There is also a small 18th century church - the Church of Saint-Grat.

When you have explored the village follow the signs to the vue panoramique and here there is a Sarrasson tower -  a sturdy stone tower being the remnants of Conflans castle- a public garden and some excellent views over Albertville and the surrounding countryside.

Photos of Albertville (click any picture to start the gallery)

Tourist classifications for Albertville: Village in bloom (ville fleurie) 2*;

Suggested places to visit near Albertville, France

Distances shown are direct, driving distances will be greater.

More suggestions: Megeve 27km; Meribel 29km; Veyrier du Lac 29km; Lake Annecy 32km; Annecy 33km; Les Arcs 34km; Courchevel 34km; Sallanches 35km; Saint Gervais Les Bains 35km; Aix-les-Bains 38km; Chambery 38km; Val Thorens 44km; Chamonix 45km; Tignes 46km; Vanoise National Park 50km; Val d'Isere 51km;

See these places and more on a map at places near Albertville

Albertville tourism: sights and attractions nearby

Massif des Bauges - regional natural parc (21km) : Roc de Chere - site of natural beauty (25km) : Gorges du Fier - site of natural beauty (38km) : Les jardins du Prieuré - remarkable garden (42km) : Glacier des Bossons - site of natural beauty (43km) : Aiguille du Midi - site of natural beauty (44km) : Saint-Jean-de-Maurienne - recommended detour (44km) : La Roche-sur-Foron - recommended detour (45km) :

French version: see Albertville (Francais)