PETIT LOIC

Chambery Cathedral has unusual trompe l'oeil decoration to the Gothic ribbed vaults (painted to look 3-dimensional) with monochrome murals on the walls of the nave. Apparently the largest in Europe. Worth a visit. Allow 20-30 minutes.

If you are a devout Catholic, your reasons for visiting the cathedral have nothing to do with tourism, so this review is not for you. For everyone else: it’s just a mediocre cathedral, with nothing particularly spectacular about it. If it were located in a city full of interesting attractions, I’d tell you to simply walk past it without paying much attention. However, since it’s in Chambéry, a rather dull city, you might as well visit it to pass the time. As for me, I ended up there twice: once to escape the heat, and the second time because I got caught in the rain in the old town and all the terraces were full. Bonus note: Trompe-l'œil is a painting technique that deceives the eye to create the illusion of three-dimensionality. In some cathedrals or chapels, the walls are painted so masterfully that they look as if they’re carved from stone (as in the case of the nearby Sainte-Chapelle du Château des Ducs de Savoie, located inside the ducal castle). Unfortunately, in this case, the attempt to create an optical illusion failed miserably.

God grant me serenity to accept things I cannot change, courage to change things I can; and serenity to know the difference.

Amazing cathedral in the heart of Chambery. The architecture and stained glass windows are a must to visit this place in the city. I really loved how the light come into the church by the windows. One of my favorite places in the city.

Chambery is a very nice medieval town. Many buildings stunningly beautiful inside while retaining their original outside

Lovely church in the heart of Chambéry. There’s a beautiful garden right next door as well. A must-see when in Chambéry.

Amazing painted stonework that looks 3D. Trompe l'oeil (pronounced tromp-loy) is a French term meaning "deceive the eye,"

Chambery is a very nice medieval town. Many buildings stunningly beautiful inside while retaining their original outside.