Savoie was reduced to reserve after the war, but was reactivated in 1872 and assigned to the Mediterranean Squadron (Escadre de la Méditerranée).

The Provence class was designed as an enlarged version of the Gloire-class ironclads with thicker armor, more powerful guns, and better seakeeping qualities.

[2] The Provence class carried enough coal to allow them to steam for 2,410 nautical miles (4,460 km; 2,770 mi) at a speed of 10 knots (19 km/h; 12 mph).

[1] Savoie, named after the historic province,[6] was ordered on 16 November 1860 from the Arsenal de Toulon, laid down in March 1861 and launched on 29 September 1864.

The ship was assigned to Vice Admiral Léon Martin Fourichon's squadron that was tasked to blockade German ports in the Heligoland Bight.

The neutral British denied the French permission to re-coal there and the ships were forced to perform it at sea under dangerous conditions.

Bad weather and a series of storms beginning in late August prevented the squadron from coaling and the ships were forced to return to France in early September.

She was reactivated on 15 April 1876 and was commanded by Captain (Capitaine de Vaisseau) Théophile Aube, the future French Minister of Marine, in 1878.