Located in the former Duchy of Savoie, the superb Lac du Bourget is about 18 km long and 3.5 km wide. Its deep waters, with a maximum depth of 145 metres, are rich in tasty fish, such as trout, pike-perch, pike-perch, lavaret and arctic char. The lake is dotted with a host of charming little ports and many pleasant beaches, with a bathing temperature that can reach 26 degrees in summer. This romantic vastness celebrated by Alphonse de Lamartine with his famous poem of the lake, has also been glorified by the writers Alexandre Dumas, Honoré de Balzac, Guy de Maupassant, as well as many painters.
A famous destination of charm
The spa town of Aix-les-Bains is the symbol of this tourist craze which began in the 19th century. Stars and rulers from all over the world flock to enjoy the setting, the pure air, the luxury of the villas and palaces, the numerous festive and sporting events. To the north of the town, the footpaths of the Corsuet forest offer you beautiful escapades. In the background towards the east, the Mont Revard massif (1,538 m) stands out, where the Nordic ski resort of La Féclaz nestles.
On the lake shore, welcoming beaches and green holiday resorts follow one another. At the southern end of the lake, the picturesque village of Le Bourget-du-Lac has a cloister and a Cluniac priory dating from the 11th century. But you can also find several starred gastronomic tables there. A little further on, in Bourdeau, admire the castle church and a cave, where Lamartine loved to meditate.
A more intimate lakeside aspect
Very wooded and very steep, the northern bank of the Lac du Bourget has remained very wild. It is dominated by the characteristic Dent du Chat, which emerges from the forests of Mont du Chat (1,504 m). On this slope, the shady and very scenic road rises up to go around the natural obstacles, with a very beautiful view from the Notre-Dame de l'Étoile chapel. In the middle of this bank, visit the Royal Abbey of Hautecombe, camped on the water's edge and surrounded by a few vines. Founded in the 12th century under the Cistercian, then Benedictine influence, it houses the necropolis of the reigning family of Savoy and Sardinia.
From the romantic canal to the sublime panorama
You can rent an electric boat in Charnaz, the Savoyard Venice, to sail on the bucolic Canal de Savière which links the Rhône to the Lac du Bourget.
Visible from afar, the emblematic medieval fortress of Châtillon is perched on a promontory. Behind the vineyards and marshes and the large Chautagne poplar grove stands the impressive silhouette of the Grand Colombier (1,534 m).
A cornice leads to the incomparable panoramic viewpoint of La Chambotte which reveals the whole lake and the surrounding peaks. Well sheltered, the charming vineyards of Brison-Saint-Innocent are close by with fig, olive and mimosa trees, just a few minutes from Aix-les-Bains.
The art of partying
The shores of Lac du Bourget are fertile in sporting events, music festivals, celebrations and a wide variety of cultural events. By spending your holiday at one of the campsites on the shores of Lac du Bourget, you can easily visit Chambéry, go to Lake Annecy, or wander through the valleys and peaks of the Bauges and Chartreuse massifs, protected by two regional nature parks.
Campsites near the Lac du Bourget
Among the addresses of campsites on the shores of the Bourget Lake in Aix-les-Bains, we recommend the L'International du Sierroz *** campsite with nearly 250 possibilities, more than a quarter of which are rented, and the Le Pêcheur *** campsite with about fifty accommodations. But also the Ile aux Cygnes*** campsite in Le Bourget-du-Lac with more than 250 pitches and rentals available from April to October. Or the campsite des îles in Chanaz with nearly 150 pitches, including about 20 rentals 3 km from the lake.