Savoy

Savoy, in English also Savoy, is a historic Alpine region in the western part of the Alps, now part of France. The name also denotes the Duchy of Savoy, a medieval sovereign state, and the House of Savoy, a European royal dynasty that later ruled Piedmont-Sardinia and, from the 19th century, the Kingdom of Italy. In modern administration, the French Savoy comprises the departments of Savoie and Haute-Savoie in the Auvergne-Rhône-Alpes region.

Geography and landscape define the area by high mountains, including Mont Blanc on the Italian border, and numerous glacial lakes such as Bourget and Annecy. The region extends from Alpine valleys to foothills and offers diverse climates that support winter sports, hiking, and tourism. It borders Italy and lies near Lake Geneva, with significant alpine infrastructure for tourism and transport.

History traces the region to the medieval County of Savoy, which evolved into the Duchy of Savoy and expanded across the western Alps and Piedmont. The House of Savoy pursued strategic marriages and territorial growth, eventually ruling the Kingdom of Sardinia and contributing to Italian unification. In 1860, the Treaty of Turin ceded Savoy to France in exchange for French support of Italian unification; the French departments of Savoie and Haute-Savoie were incorporated into France.

Economy and culture center on tourism, winter sports, and agriculture. The Savoie wine region and dairy production—famed cheeses such as Beaufort, Abondance, and Reblochon—are notable. The region has a distinct Savoyard heritage and dialects within the Franco-Provençal-speaking area, though French is the dominant language today.