La Motte-Servolex walks

Peri-urban circuit to quickly escape the city. Views of Chartreuse and Bauges.

A short walk to escape the city. Some clear views as soon as you climb.

A short walk to discover the heritage of the Bissy neighbourhood. This walk will soon leave the built-up area behind to wind its way along paths and small country lanes.

This walk passes through some of the many hamlets of La Motte Sevolex. Although they are gradually being swallowed up by urbanisation, they nevertheless retain their rural character. Along the way, there are beautiful views of Les Bauge and Lac du Bourget.

A circular route mainly through woodland in the Montagne de l’Épine above La Motte-Servolex. The path, which is quite steep for the first few kilometres, joins a forest track that descends towards the hamlet of Les Cattis, where there are views towards Lac du Bourget (to the north-east), the Massif des Bauges (to the east) and the Cluse de Chambéry. On the return journey, after a few sections along roads, you pass through the hamlets of Les Granges, Le Villard and Montaugier.

A short walk above La Motte Servolex, offering rural scenery and panoramic views of the surrounding area.

An easy walk at the foot of the Montagne de l'Epine, enhanced by a waterfall and panoramic views of Lac du Bourget and Les Bauges. Markings are inconsistent.

From the town to the mountains without a car. A long but gently sloping walk. After leaving the last houses of Cognin, the first part takes you through fields, streams, cows, horses and apple trees; it is only after Saint-Sulpice that you will enter the forest via the ancient Sardinian Way, which, in the 16th century, replaced the Roman road from Vienne to Milan (50 BC) – a route you will follow in part on your return from the Col Saint-Michel.

A walk through the woodland on the hills above Bourget-du-Lac, very pleasant in hot weather! Superb views from the summit over Lakes Bourget and Aiguebelette, as well as over Chambéry.

A walk above Bissy, towards the Côte de Chamoux, through forests and meadows offering lovely views of the Épine mountain range, the southern tip of Lake Bourget and La Motte Servolex, as well as the Chambéry conurbation and the iconic summit of the Croix du Nivolet.

An easy hike on the eastern slope of the Épine mountain, taking the Roman road and the Sardinian road.

This hike takes place on the eastern flank of the Montagne de l'Épine towards a destination that is clearly visible from the entire Chambéry basin. At the summit, there is a beautiful view of the Savoyard foothills and Lake Aiguebelette, and Lake Bourget is also visible. The route does not present any orientation difficulties.

The Rocher du Corbeau is easily accessible from Aiguebelette-le-Lac. I suggest you get there without taking the car to cross the massif. I have deliberately extended the hike slightly by adding a bit of elevation gain and giving us the chance to walk through this massif and discover two passes and the François I Cave. It’s a hike I particularly enjoy in winter (when it’s warm, I prefer to head for the higher peaks), but above all, as it’s mainly through woodland, the lack of vegetation means you can enjoy more views.

This walk to the Pragondran paragliding launch area takes place along the edge of the cliff, offering occasional views of the valley and Lake Bourget.

The Épine massif near Chambéry is criss-crossed by numerous marked and unmarked trails; it is a mountain that has always been traversed by people. It is a vibrant area with economic and tourist appeal.Here is a short route that allows you to discover some of its attractions.

I recommend a walk at Château Richard offering numerous panoramic views of the Savoyard foothills, the Chambéry gorge, the Chartreuse, the Bauges and Belledonne to the east. To the west, you’ll see Lake Aiguebelette and a rolling landscape of hills and plains. Why not take the opportunity to hunt for the many geocaches dotted along the route (which the children will love)?

A beautiful hike, not too difficult despite a few climbs! But no problem for experienced hikers. The route is partly shaded.

This walk combines a variety of points of interest, starting from Les Éléphants, Chambéry’s iconic monument, before heading towards the Charmettes neighbourhood, dear to Jean-Jacques Rousseau. Further up lies the Grande Montagne, which, whilst nothing like high mountains, nevertheless offers panoramic views of distant mountain ranges. The first section follows theGR®96route.

A pleasant green walk in the hills, very close to the very centre of the Chambéry conurbation, allowing you to visit the home of the illustrious Jean-Jacques Rousseau and explore the Nant du Pontet streams. This walk takes you through the areas of Jacob-Bellecombette, Chambéry and Barberaz, and past the boundary of the municipality of Montagnole. Despite its proximity to the city, most of the route is through woods or across meadows.

Visit the historic centre of Chambéry, passing by the Château des Ducs de Savoie, the Town Hall, Saint-François de Salles Cathedral, the Museum of Fine Arts... and charming little pedestrian passages. A very pleasant route.

On the outskirts of Chambéry, the Nant du Ruisseau du Pontet retains a wild course, hemmed in by urban development, with its waterfalls and gorges offering an interesting hike that continues up the Grobelle hillside for views over the Chambéry Basin. The return route naturally involves some sections along roads that are fairly unavoidable given the layout of the area.

A short, easy walk on the outskirts of the town and at the foot of the Chartreuse Mountains. Panoramic views over the Chambéry Basin.

Varied landscapes with lovely views of Lake Bourget and the surrounding mountains. A variation on the famous Croix du Nivolet hike with its 360° panorama, but more physically demanding than it appears.

Fournet is not the best-known starting point, but this circular route along the cliff edge offers magnificent and varied panoramic views, passing by the paragliding take-off area.

Enjoy the undergrowth and streams as you walk along the stony paths and through the forest. Pass through the hamlets of Grimaillon and Les Cachouds to La Roche Saint-Alban. Return via Château de la Serraz, Les Grangeons and La Matassine.

This is a simple circular walk for a half-day excursion. It takes place in the foothills of the Chartreuse Mountains. Beautiful views of Les Bauges, Chartreuse, L'Épine and Lac du Bourget.

Coche or Cochette means a passage. The ancestral passage between the villages of Montagnole and Saint-Baldoph is marked by a solid, massive stone cross. Information panels along the way. Panoramic views at the summit and on the descent along the ridge.

Your calves will get a good workout, but you’ll love it! The route takes you via the Malpassant and the Cheminée du Nivolet before reaching the challenging Pas du Rebollion and its arch. It’s a challenging day, but with magnificent scenery and technically demanding sections on the itinerary. Please take note of the route description, which highlights the difficulty of certain sections.

This hike is for the fittest and most experienced walkers! You’ll need to be up for a long distance, tackling significant elevation gain, and navigating a few technical sections – some of which are off-track! You’ll be rewarded with superb views of Lake Bourget, the Croix du Nivolet, the Chambéry basin, the ‘Arche Improbable’ and the Doriaz, amongst others. Please note thatthe section leading to the ‘Arche Improbable’ requires you to find your way under a rocky outcrop, in an area with no marked trail, including a section where you’ll need to use your hands and do a bit of scrambling before emerging onto Mont Peney.