Albertville

Albertville (French pronunciation: [albɛʁvil] (listen); Arpitan: Arbèrtvile) is a subprefecture of the Savoie department in the Auvergne-Rhône-Alpes region in Southeastern France. It is best known for hosting the 1992 Winter Olympics and Paralympics. In 2018, the commune had a population of 19,214; its urban area had 39,780 inhabitants.[2]

Albertville
Arbèrtvile (Arpitan)
Subprefecture and commune
A general view of Albertville
Coat of arms
Location of Albertville
Albertville
Albertville
Coordinates: 45°40′36″N 6°23′36″E
CountryFrance
RegionAuvergne-Rhône-Alpes
DepartmentSavoie
ArrondissementAlbertville
CantonAlbertville-1
Albertville-2
IntercommunalityArlysère
Government
 • Mayor (2020–2026) Frédéric Burnier-Framboret
Area
1
17.54 km2 (6.77 sq mi)
 • Urban
163.6 km2 (63.2 sq mi)
Population
 (Jan. 2019)[1]
19,502
 • Density1,100/km2 (2,900/sq mi)
 • Urban
 (2018)
39,780
 • Urban density240/km2 (630/sq mi)
Time zoneUTC+01:00 (CET)
 • Summer (DST)UTC+02:00 (CEST)
INSEE/Postal code
73011 /73200
Elevation328–2,030 m (1,076–6,660 ft)
(avg. 352 m or 1,155 ft)
Websitewww.albertville.fr
1 French Land Register data, which excludes lakes, ponds, glaciers > 1 km2 (0.386 sq mi or 247 acres) and river estuaries.

Geography

Albertville is one of two subprefectures of the Savoie department, alongside Saint-Jean-de-Maurienne.

Albertville is situated on the river Arly, close to the confluence with the river Isère. Its altitude ranges from 345 to 2,037 metres (1,132 to 6,683 ft). Nearby mountains include: Belle Étoile, Dent de Cons, Négresse, Roche Pourrie, Mirantin, Pointe de la Grande Journée, Chaîne du Grand Arc. Nearby mountain ranges include the Bauges, the Beaufortain and the beginning of the Vanoise.

History
Medieval town of Conflans, Albertville

The modern city of Albertville was formed in 1836 by King Charles Albert of Sardinia, who merged the medieval town of Conflans, which had buildings dating to the 14th century, with the town of L'Hôpital. Since then, Albertville has fostered trade between France, Italy and Switzerland. Industries such as paper mills and hydroelectricity are found along its river.

The 1992 Winter Olympics were organised in the Savoie region, with Albertville hosting it. Some of the sports venues were later adapted for other uses. Some sports venues still remain, such as the ice rink, La halle de glace Olympique, designed by the architect Jacques Kalisz. Despite this, the town remains more industrial than touristic.[3]

In 2003, the town was labelled a "Town of Art and History".

Population
Historical population
YearPop.±% p.a.
1968 15,739—    
1975 16,961+1.07%
1982 16,970+0.01%
1990 17,411+0.32%
1999 17,340−0.05%
2007 17,814+0.34%
2012 19,271+1.58%
2017 18,899−0.39%
Source: INSEE[4]

Transport

Albertville station was put into service in 1879 by the Compagnie des chemins de fer de Paris à Lyon et à la Méditerranée (PLM).

Notable people
  • Gérard Mourou (born 1944), Nobel Prize winner in Physics, 2018
  • Justine Braisaz (born 1996), world and Olympic medalist in biathlon
  • Jean-Luc Crétier (born 1966), Olympic champion in alpine skiing (WOC 1998, downhill)
  • Léa Lemare (born 1996), ski jumper and national champion
  • Florine De Leymarie (born 1981), skier
  • Jérôme Jarre (born 1990), comedian on the Vine app

Sites of interest
  • La halle de glace Olympique, or the Olympic ice hall, the ice arena that hosted events during the 1992 Winter Olympics.
  • L'anneau de vitesse, or speed oval, the athletic stadium that previously served as the site of the speed skating competitions of 1992 Winter Olympics.

International relations

Albertville is twinned with:

Heraldry
Heraldry of Albertville

See also

References
  1. "Populations légales 2019". The National Institute of Statistics and Economic Studies. 29 December 2021.
  2. Unité urbaine 2020 d'Albertville (73401), INSEE, retrieved 20 June 2022.
  3. Politique économique, albertville.fr (in French)
  4. Population en historique depuis 1968, INSEE
  5. Annuaire-Mairie.fr. "Ville d'Aoste" (in French). Retrieved 2013-06-18.
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