Cat Tunnel Circular Loop

de fr

Exploring the Cat Tunnel via the safety gallery. This gallery, running parallel to the road tunnel, serves as an emergency exit in the event of an incident. Normally, this passage is used by many cyclists as well as pedestrians to get from the Lac du Bourget side to the Yenne Valley and the Chevelu Lakes. The tunnel has been converted into the “Musée du Chat” and features an impressive collection of murals created by contemporary artists, inspired by Savoyard tradition. In my opinion, it is unique in France. A note on the route: you will see an elevation gain of 732 m, which is incorrect, as the software includes the mountain height above the tunnel; you must therefore subtract 321 m, bringing the route’s total elevation gain down to 455 m.

Details

n°99529175
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  • Walking
    Activity: Walking
  • ↔
    Distance: 4.54 mi
  • ◔
    Average duration: 4h 20 
  • ▲
    Difficulty: Easy
  • ⚐
    Back to start: Yes
  • ↗
    Ascent: + 2,546 ft
  • ↘
    Descent: - 2,539 ft
  • ▲
    Highest point: 2,867 ft
  • ▼
    Lowest point: 1,263 ft
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Photos

One of the murals in the Cat Tunnel
One of the Chevelu lakes seen from the Monthoux viewpoint
Lake Bourget on the descent from the Col du Chat

Description of the walk

Car park opposite the restaurants, just before the Tunnel du Chat. But it is best to take the access road to the gallery, which is a little past these spaces on the right, and use the car park, with around twenty spaces, located near the tunnel’s technical facilities. This is where the walk begins.

(S/E) Walk through the tunnel and visit the "Musée du Chat".

(1) After the tunnel, head towards the roundabout on the left, cross it and follow the Route du Col du Chat for 200 metres.

(2) Turn left to follow the signposted Col du Chat path, which you continue to follow after crossing the road. The path then runs parallel to this road.

(3) Take the track on the left, leaving the Col du Chat path, to rejoin the Route du Col du Chat D914a, which you follow to the right for 150 metres before turning left onto the Route de Monthoux. Continue along this road to the viewpoint and the telecoms relay station, overlooking the Lacs de Chevelu. Carry on a little further along Route de Monthoux.

(4) Then, turn right and take the path joining the one coming from Monthoux. Keep to your right at the junction, and head for the fork signposted “Col du Chat”.

(5) Leave the path signposted Charvaz on your left, and follow the lovely path heading right towards the Col du Chat.

(6) Please note: head right for the pass: there are no signs and you might be tempted to go up on the left.

(7) Leave the "Col du Chat" sign on your left and follow the sign for "Bourdeau" on the left (staying on this path until you reach the car park at the end).

(8) Keep left, following signs for "Bourdeau", to descend towards Croizerbou, then turn right onto the Route de Hautecombe D914, heading towards the Col du Chat.

(9) At the hamlet of Col du Chat, take the path leading down towards Bourdeau. The path follows the Route du Col du Chat in places and offers beautiful views of Lake Bourget. Leave the path heading towards Bourdeau on your left and return to the car park on your right (S/E).

Waypoints

  1. S/E : mi 0 - alt. 1,266 ft - Tunnel du Chat car park
  2. 1 : mi 0.97 - alt. 1,306 ft - Route de Billième
  3. 2 : mi 1.2 - alt. 1,332 ft - Col du Chat Trail
  4. 3 : mi 1.94 - alt. 1,824 ft - Towards the Col du Chat road
  5. 4 : mi 2.4 - alt. 1,880 ft - Connecting path to La Charvaz
  6. 5 : mi 2.69 - alt. 2,087 ft - Downhill path towards the Col du Chat
  7. 6 : mi 2.93 - alt. 2,136 ft - Charvaz junction, Col du Chat
  8. 7 : mi 3.27 - alt. 2,277 ft - The Marshes towards Bourdeau
  9. 8 : mi 3.51 - alt. 2,142 ft - Col du Chat Bourdeau junction - Col du Chat
  10. 9 : mi 3.93 - alt. 1,952 ft - The hamlet of Col du Chat
  11. S/E : mi 4.54 - alt. 1,263 ft - Tunnel du Chat car park

Notes

It can be cool inside the tunnel.

Watch out for cyclists. They travel in both directions, so keep an eye on them whilst admiring the murals.

Worth a visit

Cat museum in the tunnel. Viewpoints over the Chevelu Lakes and Lake Bourget.

Other walks in the area

Walking From Bourdeau to Hautecombe overlooking Lake Bourget

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Walking From Col du Chat to Petit Villard

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Walking Circular Mont de la Charvaz route via the southern ridge

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Walking Grand loop of the lakes of Saint-Jean-de-Chevelu

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