Albertville (French pronunciation: [albɛʁvil] ; 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.[3]

Albertville
Arbèrtvile (Arpitan)
A general view of Albertville
A general view of Albertville
Coat of arms of Albertville
Location of Albertville
Map
Albertville is located in France
Albertville
Albertville
Albertville is located in Auvergne-Rhône-Alpes
Albertville
Albertville
Coordinates: 45°40′36″N 6°23′36″E / 45.6767°N 6.3933°E / 45.6767; 6.3933
CountryFrance
RegionAuvergne-Rhône-Alpes
DepartmentSavoie
ArrondissementAlbertville
CantonAlbertville-1
Albertville-2
IntercommunalityCA Arlysère
Government
 • Mayor (2020–2026) Frédéric Burnier-Framboret[1]
Area
1
17.54 km2 (6.77 sq mi)
 • Urban
163.6 km2 (63.2 sq mi)
Population
 (2021)[2]
19,812
 • 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

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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

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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.[4]

In 2003, the town was labelled a "Town of Art and History".[citation needed]

Population

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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[5]

Transport

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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

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Sites of interest

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International relations

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Albertville is twinned with:

Heraldry

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Heraldry of Albertville

See also

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References

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  1. ^ "Répertoire national des élus: les maires" (in French). data.gouv.fr, Plateforme ouverte des données publiques françaises. 13 September 2022.
  2. ^ "Populations légales 2021" (in French). The National Institute of Statistics and Economic Studies. 28 December 2023.
  3. ^ Unité urbaine 2020 d'Albertville (73401), INSEE, retrieved 20 June 2022.
  4. ^ Politique économique Archived 2022-02-07 at the Wayback Machine, albertville.fr (in French)
  5. ^ Population en historique depuis 1968, INSEE
  6. ^ Ayache, Albert (1998a). "Mazzella, Lucette (née Gorré Lucette Emma)". In Ayache, Albert; Gallissot, René; Oved, Georges (eds.). Dictionnaire biographique du mouvement ouvrier: Maghreb. Vol. 1: Maroc des origines à 1956. Paris: Editions de l'Atelier. pp. 168–169. ISBN 978-2-7082-3355-3.
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