Savoie sits at the heart of the French Alps, its capital, Chambéry, once the seat of the Dukes of Savoy and well placed for access to some of the biggest ski areas in the world. Good rail links keep the department connected to Paris and Lyon year-round. Marked by ducal and outdoor history, Savoie is home to Chambéry's cobbled old town, and to the Trois Vallées, one of the largest ski areas anywhere, including resorts such as Courchevel, Méribel and Val Thorens. Away from the best-known sites, buyers will find the Parc National de la Vanoise, France's first national park, and the Belle Époque spa town of Aix-les-Bains, on the shores of Lac du Bourget. Savoie is also known for its mountain villages, with Bonneval-sur-Arc, built from stone and slate, listed among the most beautiful in France. A mountain climate brings warm summers and cold, snowy winters. Property ranges from a ski apartment in one of the Trois Vallées resorts, a traditional chalet in a quieter valley, or a townhouse in Chambéry or Aix-les-Bains. With ducal heritage, world-class skiing and lakeside charm, it remains one of the Alps' most desirable departments. On the local market, houses in Savoie average €2,907/m².