Albertville is the Savoie town that hosted the 1992 Winter Olympics. It was born in 1836 from the union of the medieval city of Conflans and the riverside town of L’Hôpital, and took the name of King Charles Albert of Sardinia. It sits where the Arly meets the Isère, at the entrance to the great ski valleys of the Tarentaise.
Why stay in Albertville
It is a practical, year-round base: hotels at town prices, shops and restaurants, and quick roads to the ski resorts of the Tarentaise and the Beaufortain, to the lakes and to the mountain passes.
Things to see in and around Albertville
The medieval city of Conflans
On the hill above the town, Conflans keeps its cobbled lanes, the Grande Place with its fountain, old gates and the Maison Rouge, a brick house that holds the local museum. The view over the valleys is the best in town.
The Olympic heritage
The Halle Olympique and the Olympic park recall the 1992 Games, and the town’s museum of the Games tells their story.
The ski valleys
Courchevel, Méribel, Val Thorens, La Plagne and Les Arcs are reached up the Tarentaise valley, and Les Saisies and Arêches-Beaufort up the Beaufortain.
Lakes and mountain roads
Lake Annecy is less than an hour away, and in summer the Col des Saisies and the Cormet de Roselend are classic drives and bike climbs.
Best time to visit
December to April for skiing in the nearby resorts; June to September for hiking, lakes, cheese dairies and mountain passes.
Getting there
Albertville station has regional trains towards Chambéry and the Tarentaise, with extra long-distance trains in the ski season. The nearest airports are Chambéry-Savoie, Geneva and Lyon-Saint-Exupéry.
What to eat
Savoie classics: Beaufort cheese from the valley next door, tartiflette, fondue savoyarde, raclette and diots (local sausages) with crozets, plus Savoie white wines.
FAQ
When did Albertville host the Olympics?
The XVI Winter Olympic Games were held in Albertville and the Savoie resorts in February 1992.
Is Albertville a good base for skiing?
Yes: it sits at the foot of the Tarentaise and Beaufortain valleys, with resorts such as Courchevel, Méribel and Les Saisies within driving distance.
