L SAVOY, formerly a duchy belonging to the kingdom of Sardinia (q.v.), now incor porated with France, is hounded on the n. and e. by Switzerland, e. and s, by Piedmont, and w. by the French departments of Isere and Ain. While an Italian duchy it was politically divided into seven provinces, a division which exhibited the successive steps of its acquisition by the house of Savoy • hut since its annexation to France this division has been modified, though the change has been little more than nominal. It is now separated into two departments: first, SAVOIE. or CHAMIILRY, the southern part iii Savoy. with an area of 2,2g2 sq. in., and a pop. of (1872)'267,958. which is divided into four artenolissemente—Chanibery (old provink.e of Chambi.ry), Albertville (Alta-Saiwia), litoutiers (Therintaxia), and Saint .Jean de Maurienne (eteu•ieune)—and has Chambery for its capital; Ilisirre-Savote, Or CONFLANS, the northern part of Savoy, which has au area of 1:119 sq.m., with a pop. of 278,027, and is divided into four arron disscinents—Bunneville (Fessigni or Paucigny), Mayon (Ciaba8e or Chablais), Annecy and St. Julien (Genevcse)—Annecy the capital. The two departments resemble each other so much in all respects that they may be described together.
Savoy is the most elevated tract in Europe, and is mostly covered with mountains, which break up the country into a number of valleys, each watered by its own snow fed torrent or stream The highest elevation of Savoy is the summit of Mont Blanc (q.v.), and the lowest is the bank of the Rhone at Saint-Genix d'Aosta. 670 ft. above sea level. The Graian Alps run along the eastern boundary of Savoy, and form a netui'al barrier between it and Piedmont, Several breaks or gorges affording means of communication between the two countries; from this range the mountains gradually decrease in height toward the valley of the Rhone, which is on the western boundary.
• Savoy (especially Haute-Savoie) is extremely picturesque, and within a comparatively limited space exhibits at once the curious, the beautiful, the grand, and the wild mid forbidding phases of natural scenery. There we have the lakes of Geneva, Annecy(9 m. by 11), Aiguebellette, each perfect in its own style of beauty; the subterranean lakes of Bauge, the cascades of Sallanches and Bout-du-monde, the intermittent springs of Pigros and the grottoes of Baltne, Bauge, and Sallanches, the hot springs of Aix-le-bains (near Chainbery), of Saint Gervais, Bride, Echaillon, and others; the smiling valleys of Chambery, Faverge, Magian, and Albertville; the glaciers of Chamounix, Buet, and upper Tarautasia; the wooded mountain-sides of Ciablese, the bare rugged peaks which surround Mont Blanc, the frowning gorge of Challes, and the wild and savage glens and dells of Maurieune. Tourists consequently flock in .great•number4 to Savoy, the robust to gratify their love of sight-seeing, and the invalids to benefit by the thermal springs, which are much esteemed.
The whole of the country is drained by streams which flow either into lake Leman (the northern boundary) or the Rhone. Chief of the former is the Drance, which trav erses Chablais; among the latter are the Arve, which drains the Chamounix valley, the Usses, the Fier, the Laisse, the Guier, and the Isere. The geology of Savoy is marked
by the presence of three distinct ranges, exhibiting respectively the primary, transition, and secondary series of rocks with great completeness; and the depth of the crevasses, the height of the mountains, inversions of strata, debris on the mountain-sides, afford excellent opportunities for a thorough study of the constitution and elements of the earth's crust.
The whole of Savoy is broken up into a multitude of small.estates, and the country is as a consequence most carefully cultivated, some of the fertile valleys resembling a continuous garden abounding in flowers and fruits. The ground suitable for cultivation being very limited, the enterprising natives have made extraordinary efforts to increase it by constructing line above line of parapets along the steep mountain-sides, and by filling in earth behind, forming long and narrow terraces, on which, if they can succeed in growing two rows of vines, they consider themselves well rewarded for their These terraces are most common in the hilly districts of Tarantasia and Maurienne: The climate of Savoy is in general cold, the winters are long and severe, and the summers frequently follow without an intermediate spring. Yet Savoy can boast of the vegetation of warm countries, as well as of that of higher latitudes; the vine is found growing almost to the edges of the glaciers, and cereals and fruits of various sorts are produced in great perfection. The pasturage is rich and abundant, and mulberry trees are largely planted. Although it is essentially an agricultural country, the Industrial arts are not unrepresented; fabrics of cotton, printed calico and gauze, stockings, felt hats, woolen cloth, are manufactured in various localities; and tanneries, breweries. dis tilleries, glass-works, potteries, etc., are occasionally met with. • The chief oceup,ition, however, is the breeding of cattle, horses, and mules, all of which are much esteemed and fetch good prices; and bees and silkworms are tended as a source both of amuse ment and profit.
Savoy is rich in minerals—silver, iron, copper, antimony, manganese. lead, zinc, asphalt, marble, granite, gypsum, sulphur, and salt. The principal mines are the spathic iron mine of Saint Georges d'Hurtieres, and the lead mine of Macot. Coal is found in Maurienne.
The exports consist of the surplusage of these products, and also of cheese, hemp, silk, both raw and spun, and wood of various sorts. Savoy is, with the exception of Bavaria, the only country of Europe in which advanced education is given gratuitously, there being within the country 14 colleges for this purpose, Ordinary education is also well provided for, as more than 1200 schools exist, nearly the whole of which are sup ported on old foundations.
• The Savoyard.s are honest, intelligent, religious, hospitable. and entlinsiastically.patri otic, even to a greater extent than the Swiss. More than 20,000 of them expatriate them selves annually for the purpose of pursuing various callings, but the greater portion ret urn early in summer, while others wait till they have amassed wealth sufficient for the rest of their lives.