📷 Photo by Matthieu Staelen on UnsplashHautecombe 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.
Hautecombe Abbey stands on the western shore of Lac du Bourget in the commune of Saint-Pierre-de-Curtille. A community of monks moved to this site around 1125 on land granted by Count Amadeus III of Savoy, who is regarded as its founder, and soon adopted the Cistercian Rule. For centuries Hautecombe was the burial place of the counts and dukes of Savoy; King Charles Felix of Sardinia and the last King of Italy, Umberto II, also rest here. After the destruction of the Revolution, Charles Felix bought the ruins in 1824 and had the church restored in the neo-Gothic style. Since 1992 the abbey has been run by the Chemin Neuf Community.
You can visit the church, with its frescoes and marble sculptures, in about an hour with an audio guide. The abbey can be reached by road, and there is a car park. According to the Chambéry Montagnes tourist office it is closed on Mondays and Tuesdays, though its listed times are flagged as unconfirmed, so check in advance (as of October 2026).
- Nearest town
- Saint-Pierre-de-Curtille, France
- Category
- History & culture
- GPS
- 45.7470, 5.8425
Hours, fees and access change. Confirm with the operator or park before you go.
Good to know
Best time to go
The most pleasant months are usually May–June and August–September. Still fine, with some compromises, in July and October. Cold, short days in December–February. (Estimate from long-term temperature averages, terrain and pass seasons)
Getting there
- France: Motorway tolls. Tolls on most autoroutes; the limit drops to 110 km/h in rain. Motorway limit for cars: 130 km/h.
Sources
Featured in these trip guides
Nearby
Campsites nearby
- KanotiCampsite8 km from Hautecombe AbbeyTentsCaravansElectricityDrinking waterShowersWi-Fi
- Aire CAMPING-CAR PARK du port de VirigninMotorhome stopover11 km from Hautecombe Abbey · 30 pitchesMotorhomesElectricityDrinking waterWaste disposalDogs allowedWi-Fi
- Camping SaumontCampsite11 km from Hautecombe AbbeyTentsCaravansElectricityDrinking waterShowersToiletsWi-Fi
- Le ColombierCampsite12 km from Hautecombe Abbey · 75 pitchesTentsCaravansMotorhomesElectricityDrinking waterShowersToiletsDogs allowedWi-Fi
- Camping CusyCampsite15 km from Hautecombe AbbeyTentsCaravansElectricityShowersToiletsDogs allowed
- Le VaugraisCampsite19 km from Hautecombe Abbey · 70 pitchesTentsCaravansMotorhomesElectricityDrinking waterShowersToiletsDogs allowedWi-Fi
All campsites in France · Campsite data: © OpenStreetMap contributors, ODbL 1.0 · Updated October 3, 2026
FAQs
Where is Hautecombe Abbey?
Hautecombe Abbey is in Saint-Pierre-de-Curtille, France, at GPS 45.7470, 5.8425. It is about 8 km from Chanaz.
Can you camp near Hautecombe Abbey?
Yes. The nearest campsite listed in OpenStreetMap is Camping municipal Le Bel Air, about 4 km away; within 25 km there are 76 campsites and motorhome stopovers.
Which road trips pass Hautecombe Abbey?
Hautecombe Abbey is a stop on these CampingSpirit trip guides: Savoy lakes and the Chartreuse massif.
What is there to see near Hautecombe Abbey?
Places worth a stop nearby: Lac d'Annecy (28 km), Col du Granier (33 km), Grande Chartreuse (43 km) and Pérouges (54 km).
When is the best time to visit Hautecombe Abbey?
The most pleasant months are usually May–June and August–September. Still fine, with some compromises, in July and October. (Estimate from long-term temperature averages, terrain and pass seasons)