# Savoy lakes and the Chartreuse massif

> 3-day road trip of about 133 km (82 mi) with 7 stops, from Annecy to Grenoble. About 1 h 50 min of driving in total.

Source: https://camping-spirit.com/guides/b2-savoy-lakes-chartreuse/

**At a glance:** 3-day road trip of about 133 km (82 mi) with 7 stops, from Annecy to Grenoble. About 1 h 50 min of driving in total. From Annecy to the spa town of Aix-les-Bains, an abbey on Lac du Bourget, the dukes’ Chambéry and the forests of the Chartreuse.

| | |
|---|---|
| Distance | 133 km (82 mi) |
| Driving | 1 h 50 min |
| Suggested days | 3 |
| Stops | 7 |
| Route | Annecy → Grenoble |
| Countries | France |
| Updated | September 10, 2026 |

## Route description

Leave Annecy on the road towards Aix-les-Bains, a Belle Époque spa on Lac du Bourget, the largest natural lake entirely in France. Drive round the north end of the lake to its quieter western shore and the abbey of Hautecombe, burial place of the House of Savoy.

Chambéry, the old capital of the dukes of Savoy, has a castle, arcaded streets and the odd Elephant Fountain. From the town the D912 climbs steeply to the Col du Granier, below the great cliff whose collapse in 1248 buried several villages.

Beyond the pass the road enters the Chartreuse, a massif of limestone walls and deep forests. The monastery of the Grande Chartreuse cannot be visited, but the museum at La Correrie and the walk towards the monastery walls give a sense of the place. Finish over the Col de Porte and down to Grenoble.

The Chartreuse roads are winding but open to motorhomes, with an aire at Saint-Pierre-de-Chartreuse. Lac du Bourget has campsites and lakeside swimming from June to September.

## Stop-by-stop itinerary

1. **Annecy** (France)
2. **Aix-les-Bains** (France)
3. **Hautecombe Abbey** (Saint-Pierre-de-Curtille, France): A lakeside abbey on the wild western shore of Lac du Bourget, burial place of the princes of Savoy. Boats also run here from Aix-les-Bains in season.
4. **Chambéry** (France)
5. **Col du Granier** (Entremont-le-Vieux, France): A 1,134 m pass below the cliffs of Mont Granier, whose face collapsed in 1248. The terrace looks straight down on Chambéry and the Combe de Savoie.
6. **Grande Chartreuse** (Saint-Pierre-de-Chartreuse, France): The mother house of the Carthusian order hidden in deep forest. The monastery itself is closed to visitors, but the museum at La Correrie shows how the silent monks live.
7. **Grenoble** (France)

## FAQs

**How long is Savoy lakes and the Chartreuse massif?**
3-day road trip of about 133 km (82 mi) with 7 stops, from Annecy to Grenoble. About 1 h 50 min of driving in total.

**How many days do you need for Savoy lakes and the Chartreuse massif?**
We suggest 3 days: about 1 h 50 min of driving, which leaves time for the stops.

**Where does Savoy lakes and the Chartreuse massif start and end?**
It starts in Annecy and ends in Grenoble.

**Which countries does Savoy lakes and the Chartreuse massif pass through?**
France.