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