Aix-les-Bains - The Riviera of the Alps

Where the mountain falls into the water, Lac du Bourget, the largest natural lake in France, seduces with the unspoilt beauty of its shores. Mountain hikes, water sports and a multitude of leisure activities make it a perfect holiday destination

Latest edition : 09 September 2019

Oh time, suspend your flight…. By discovering the Lac du Bourget, we gladly endorse the words of Lamartine who lived a great love story there.

Lamartine was an illustrious guest at Aix-les-Bains. His meeting with Julie Charles, whom he rescued during a storm, inspired all his work. It is in memory of this love that he composed “Le Lac”.

The spa town has known how to evolve with the times, replacing this old-fashioned little perfume with a fresher scent that evokes lake mint, wild cyclamen, waterlogged fruits. Like this perfume created recently as a sensory marketing, Aix-les-Bains and the other towns around the lake display a more modern, younger, more dynamic image while focusing fully on this destination " life and well-being”.

While there are still the traditional tea dances for spa guests, a young clientele comes for sporting activities by the lake: fitness. Yoga, paddle, tai-chi-chuan, yoga paddle…

Wake up gently during a Qi-Gong session facing the lake with Marcel. Draw energy from the blue of the lake, the green of the mountains to disconnect from everyday life.

Hikes but also easy thematic walks take the visitor to discover the banks, parks and flower gardens and emblematic buildings of Aix-les-Bains. Don't miss the Mont Revard belvedere for a breathtaking 360° view: The Alps, the Belledonne range, the Jura, the Chartreuse, Mont Blanc. Unforgettable !
You can also rent a bike to embark on the Via Rhônea which connects Lake Geneva to the Mediterranean in 815 km.

Water and mountains, this is pure happiness.

But why not rent an electric boat or a canoe for a ride on the lake? The port of Aix has 2,800 rings. By far not enough: 750 requests are in progress and as you have to wait between 9 and 14 years to have a chance of obtaining a berth in one of the 14 ports on the lake, it is better to be patient! It is only by boat that you can reach the "wild coast" opposite Aix, or by canoe or even by paddle for sports enthusiasts.

The port of Aix-les-Bains, starting point for beautiful rides on the water.

Among the essential visits around Lake Bourget is Hautecombe Abbey, a magnificent Cistercian abbey from the 12th century which overlooks the lake. The abbey church is a jewel of pure Gothic style with a profusion of paintings, bas-reliefs and statues. To be visited preferably with a guide from the "Chemin Neuf Catholic community", which manages the site, to discover all the hidden treasures and symbols of the church which also houses the tombs of the House of Savoy.

Lac du Bourget seduces with its turquoise hues. Aerial view of the lake and the abbey of Hautecombe

At the end of the lake, the Savières canal - which connects with the Rhône - allows you to reach Chanaz, a picturesque village where craftsmen are in the spotlight. It is better to plan a little time because they willingly share their passion with visitors, whether it is the roaster, the brewer or the miller of the nut mill.

Coffee roaster, father and son share the same passion.

Aix-les-Bains is labeled Health City, the waters of its thermal springs treat ENT and respiratory ailments, relieve rheumatism. But it is also the perfect destination for recharging your batteries, discovering culinary specialties in gourmet restaurants or simple inns, and tasting the good wines of the vineyard which covers 450 hectares.