Barby, at the gateway to the Bauges mountains, very close to Chambéry

Sometimes just a few kilometers are enough to change worlds.

From the center of ChambéryIt takes less than ten minutes by car to reach Barby. The traffic slows, the buildings become more spread out, and your gaze is immediately drawn to the first wooded slopes of the Bauges mountains. Here, the town and the mountains almost meet. In fact, the houses also climb the mountainside in a competition to capture the last rays of the setting sun. On one side, the Chambéry urban area and all its amenities; on the other, forests, ancient paths, hiking trails, and panoramic views that already extend towards the Alps.

With just over 3,500 inhabitants, Barby is today one of the most pleasant residential towns in the first ring around Chambéry. Located between 292 and 655 meters above sea level, it occupies a privileged position at the foot of the Bauges mountains, whose first peaks of Nivolet and Peney overlook the town to the north.

But behind this peaceful town lies a much richer history than it appears.

A village born between water and mountain

The name Barby appears as early as the Middle Ages in the form BalbiacusYet, for centuries, the landscape bore no resemblance to what we know today.

The Prédé district, now fully integrated into the urban fabric, was still a vast wetland in the 18th century. The 1730 land registry mentions a simple "Aisse meadow." There was only a barn there, surrounded by land regularly flooded by the waters of the streams.

Walking through this quiet, residential area today, it is hard to imagine that it was once a marshy area.

At the beginning of the 19th century, the land was drained to improve its agricultural yield. Georges Besson, and later his son Henri, a lawyer and magistrate from Chambéry, had a manor house and several farm buildings constructed there to house farming families. The residence would long be known as "Maison Game," named after the family that occupied it until the beginning of the 21st century.

This story says a lot about Barby: a village that has always known how to transform natural constraints into human opportunities.

An old Roman road at the gates of the city

Barby has occupied a strategic position for centuries.

One of the oldest roads in the region passes above the village. roman road It once connected the Combe de Savoie to Aix and Seyssel via Chambéry. For centuries, merchants, travelers, pilgrims and soldiers used these paths to cross Savoy towards Italy.

Even today, some sections remain perfectly legible in the Chavonnes forest.

When you walk along these paths lined with old boxwood, downy oaks and hornbeams, you almost feel like you are following in the footsteps of all those who have passed here before us.

The silence of the forest contrasts sharply with the immediate proximity of Chambéry. This is probably one of Barby's greatest surprises: a few minutes' walk is all it takes to find yourself in a setting that seems to belong to another era.

The Château de la Bâtie, guardian of the valley

At the top of the village, the Château de la Bâtie suddenly appears.

Perched on its rocky spur, crowned by Mount Peney, it has dominated the Chambéry valley for over seven centuries. The view is exceptional. One can take in at a glance the Leysse river, the Chambéry gorge, and the first foothills of the mountains. Chartreuse and the mountains of belledonneAnd at sunset, we enjoy its gentle rays in front of this magical landscape.

The fortress had been specifically built to dominate this entire territory and observe its passages.

From the Middle Ages onwards, the lords of Seyssel watched over the old Roman road and the passes between the Combe de Savoie, Aix-les-Bains and the Bourget valley from its towers. La Bâtie then constituted one of the defensive strongholds of the region.

The current castle retains its five towers, its successive enclosures, and part of its buildings restored in the spirit of the 15th century. medieval chapel it even houses Gallo-Roman mosaics discovered in the region.

The castle is private and not open to the public, but it remains one of the finest examples of Savoyard medieval heritage.

And above all, it gives Barby an immediately recognizable silhouette.

La Colombière, a farmhouse turned manor house

Very close to the church is another witness to Barby's past.

La Colombière was originally an important fortified house belonging to the Château de la Bâtie. Its name probably comes from the dovecote that once occupied its semi-circular tower.

The building still features a magnificent barn with large, bull's-eye shaped openings.

In 1810, the property was sold to Georges Besson. His son, Pierre-Louis Besson, architect of the Chambéry Courthouse and mayor of Barby for almost half a century, established his residence there.

The history of La Colombière alone sums up the evolution of Barby: an old agricultural village gradually transformed into a place of residence appreciated by the notables of Chambéry.

Malatray Park, an unexpected haven of peace

Malatray Park is probably the most charming place in the town.

At first glance, it looks like a simple public park. Yet, its history is astonishing.

This property once belonged to Valentin Claraz, mayor of Barby from 1860 to 1890. His father, Doctor Balthazard Claraz is remembered for saving the life of Pope Pius VII at the Mont Cenis pass in 1812., during the transfer of the sovereign pontiff, a prisoner of Napoleon.

In the 19th century, the property had an elegant bourgeois residence surrounded by a vast landscaped park.

Today, the park covers nearly three hectares. It includes a pond, large and remarkable trees, a botanical path, picnic areas and children's play areas.

But what is most striking is the atmosphere.

The large cedars and century-old trees absorb the sounds of the city. A few benches are placed in the shade. Squirrels sometimes cross the lawns.

In the silence, you almost forget that Chambéry is less than five kilometers away.

A discreet church, but rich in history

Saint John's Church does not seek to impress.

Yet it is one of the historical hearts of Barby.

The first pastoral visits of the 18th century describe a building that was already old and badly deteriorated. Major works were undertaken in the 19th century. A bell tower was built in 1820 thanks to funding from Georges Besson, before the church was almost entirely rebuilt between 1867 and 1870.

Its distinctive feature is its lateral bell tower, which is quite rare in Savoy.

Inside, one discovers three beautiful stained-glass windows representing the Virgin, Saint John and Saint Joseph, as well as a painting of the Virgin of Pity attributed to the Flemish painter Jan van Niveal and a sculpted Christ on the cross dating from the 16th and 17th centuries.

Before the Revolution, the church was dependent on the priory of Saint-Geoire, itself attached to the abbey of Thonon.

And as in all the villages of Savoy, the church and its square were not only religious places: it was here that important decisions, village news and official proclamations were announced.

Another way of living near Chambéry

Barby has neither the tourist renown of Aix-les-Bains nor the residential prestige of some towns on Lake Bourget.

And yet, the quality of life there is remarkable.

Schools, sports facilities, local shops, community organizations, and the Synchro public transport network make it possible to live here without being entirely dependent on a car. Chambéry train station is less than ten minutes away, and the A43 motorway provides quick access to Lyon, Grenoble, and Albertville.

But true luxury lies elsewhere.

In the morning, you can see the sun rise behind the Bauges mountains. In just a few minutes, you can go for a run in the Chavonnes woods or hike up to the Château de la Bâtie. On weekends, the resorts of wallowsLake Bourget and the first Alpine passes are within easy reach.

Barby is ultimately a transitional municipality.

People live in the city, but with the mountains as their daily horizon.

And it is perhaps this constant proximity to nature, history and the great Savoyard landscapes that gives this small town its very special character.

You might also be interested in these articles: