Nances walks

This circular walk can be enjoyed in any season, taking you up above Novalaise to the Sainte-Rose Chapel, then up to the former Villas Doria before crossing over to the site of the old Épine fortified castle and descending back into the valley.

This long circular loop takes you across the slopes of L'Épine overlooking Lake Aiguebelette, between a rather tough and steep climb and a return to lake level. It can get hot here on summer afternoons, but it remains passable until late in the season, as long as the snow does not fall below 800m.

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.

A circular forest loop, which can be completed in half a day and is accessible for most of the year, passing by the Croix du Signal viewpoint overlooking the Cluse de Chambéry and the Échelles de Chateau-Richard with its views of Lake Aiguebelette.

A hike for everyone, entirely through woodland, with two superb viewpoints to discover the Chambéry basin, the foothills of the Bauges massif, the northern Chartreuse (Mont Granier) and, the icing on the cake, His Majesty Mont Blanc. There is a slight difficulty in the form of three steel ladders, which can be bypassed via another path so you don’t miss a thing.

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

The Croix du Signal is a point on the Mont du Chat ridge that is easily accessible in all seasons and offers, in fine weather, a sweeping view. In winter, the easiest ascent is on the western slope, from the former Verthemex snow stadium.

A short hike in the Savoyard hinterland on ancient paths, once essential to economic life, now developed for the enjoyment of hikers.

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 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.

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.

Les Chenevières is a wooded rocky ridge connecting Banchet to Mont Tournier, between the Cols de la Crusille and Cols de la Lattaz. This short circular route, which can be completed in half a day with the family, passes by the Pierre des Millières viewpoint and numerous daffodil sites in spring.

Montagne du Banchet is very popular when the daffodils are in bloom: the proposed route runs along the flower-covered ridge and stretches to the ruins of the proud Château de Montbel.

A pleasant, sunny half-day walk, very popular in spring when the daffodils are in bloom.

This is an 8-shaped hike; you can do the southern circular loop or the northern circular loop. You can also do both, starting from the centre of the village of Dullin.

This hike takes you to the summit of Mont Grelle and runs along part of Lake Aiguebelette, which can be admired from a viewpoint.

Starting from Aiguebelette, this is an easy hike on the western slope of the Épine mountain, taking the Voie Romaine and the Voie Sarde. This route offers numerous views of Lake Aiguebelette. See the safety recommendations at (9).

A moderately challenging hike overlooking the beautiful Lac d'Aiguebelette. You’ll follow part of the old trade routes between France and Italy and discover the François I Cave.

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.

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.

The Avressieux Marshes: an easy route to discover peace and nature along the water’s edge.

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.

The Mont Tournier hike is described several times on the site, and this circular route differs from previous descriptions in a few ways. Part of this route is on tarmac roads, but there is very little traffic.

This circular route, suitable for all seasons, takes you along the ridge of the Montagne du Tournier, which runs from the Col de la Lattaz to Mont Tournier (877m), passing through various characteristic spots in the area, with unobstructed views of the surrounding mountain ranges.

A modest peak in the Savoyard foothills, Mont Tournier offers the opportunity for a pleasant hike to discover the vestiges of the past and the history of the Italian engineer Galetti.

Variation of the "Dent du Chat" with a route that passes through Molard Noir and starts above Caton, instead of the traditional "Col du Chat".

This circular route takes place mainly in the forest and can be completed in any season in half a day, allowing you to visit the characteristic sites and viewpoints of this area crossed by pilgrims on the Way of St James.

An easy route starting from the village of La Bridoire, where you can learn about contemporary history and marvel at the work of water, which over thousands of years has shaped the geological curiosities of what is now the Combe Grenand. There are various information panels along the route, including a series in the form of a game for children.

A very pleasant walk, often in the shade. Ideal for very hot days. Very little tarmac and, as a bonus, waterfalls. Points of interest: the Robin Stele (a tragic episode in the Resistance), the gorges visible from the footbridge, the waterfall, etc.

A pleasant walk in good weather. Some sections are quite steep. Please note that for much of the route, signposting is virtually non-existent. Take care, and use the map or GPS track.

This loop starting from the village of Grésin allows you to discover the site where the Italian engineer Galetti installed his harp antenna. Today, the site on the edge of a cliff offers a beautiful view of the Rhône canalised between the departments of Savoie and Ain. It then follows a section of the Way of St James. The route is dotted with shells, of course, but also with stone and metal crosses.

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.

The Mont Grêle lookout point and Archelle’s summit. Mont Grêle is a peak that is visible from the valley of Chambéry and the Aiguebelette region. It is easily spotted thanks to or because of the pylons that are installed at the top. Up close, these towers have still look great, but they do not alone justify the purpose of the tour, which is interesting because it offers views over Lake Aiguebelette and Chartreuse.

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.

A fairly challenging walk on the first section with an average gradient of around 20%. Some quite vertiginous sections, but well secured with cables and ladders.On the descent, part of the path is poorly marked or unmarked; it is best to have some basic orienteering skills. At the top, superb views of Mont Blanc, Belledone, the Chartreuse, the Bauges, etc.

This varied route, set in a picturesque countryside, offers magnificent views of the Montagne de l’Épine, Lac du Bourget (and the Dent du Chat), as well as the foothills of the Massif des Bauges, not to mention, to the south, the view towards the Pointe de la Gorgeat, the gateway to the Chartreuse.

This is a beautiful hike with stunning views of the Chartreuse, the Chambéry valley as far as Lac du Bourget, Les Bauges, Belledonne and even Mont Blanc on a clear day.

Here is a good route connecting Bourdeau to Hautecombe Abbey. The outward journey takes you above the wild shores of Lake Bourget with numerous viewpoints, all on a somewhat rugged route. After climbing a little higher, the return route takes you in the shadow of Mont de la Charvaz before coming back via the Col du Chat.

This hike takes place in a setting dear to Lamartine. The first part, which runs alongside Lac du Bourget, offers beautiful views, and a good climb leads to the Chapelle Notre-Dame de l'Étoile. Be sure to linger around the building and take advantage of the facilities to admire the panorama. On the way back through the forest, there are other viewpoints over the Savoyard countryside. Finally, the descent to Bourdeau also offers some sought-after views. 19/09/2023 Message from the moderator: the section between (2) and (3) is very steep and slippery on the way up and requires a good level of fitness for around 500 m. Some sections between (8) and (9) are also slippery on the way down. This route should be attempted in dry weather. Not recommended for young children.

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.