Are you planning to spend your holidays at the gateway to the Alps? Chambéry and Grenoble will still be surprising you!
Chambéry
Chambéry is the ideal setting for a few days of relaxation in a remarkable setting. The city lends itself to the City Trip (count two or three days to go around), while the valley offers many opportunities for walks and sports activities.
The city
Chambéry is not to be visited: it is to be explored. By foot. With a guide, where possible - a must, by the way, to discover the castle of the Dukes of Savoy and its collection of buildings built between the 11th century and today. This is the best guarantee that you won't miss any of the wonders of the old town centre: the Saint François de Sales cathedral famous for its trompe-l'oeil, the elephant fountain, the narrow streets (traboules) that lead to old buildings or inner courtyards, the Place Saint-Léger (entirely pedestrian). To get into the intimacy of the city, the Tourist Office offers exciting night guided tours. Finally, every Saturday in the summer at 5.30 pm sharp, you can listen to the concert (free) of the largest carillon in Europe with its 70 bells.
The valley
Book a parking space for the week and explore the Chambéry valley. Rent a bike (classic or electric) at the station near the SNCF train station, a stone's throw from the Roissard and Verdun car parks and set off on an excursion to the Lac du Bourget. Take a hike to the Croix du Nivolet (a 21-metre structure overlooking the valley). 10 km away as the crow flies, embark on a canyoning session in the Ternèze with your family, from 8 years old (provided you know how to swim!). And end your stay in style by tasting Chignin and Apremont wines directly at the cellar.
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Grenoble
Grenoble's richness makes it a destination of choice for anyone wishing to discover, exercise or relax. The "capital of the Alps" is renowned for its art of living, its remarkable landscapes, and its numerous outdoor activities.
The city :
Grenoble only reveals its secrets to curious walkers who take their time. A piece of advice: park your car for one or more days (at the Chavant car park, in the city centre) and explore on foot the old streets, the Place Grenette, the Place de la Cymaise (with its famous "Lion Fountain"), the Saint-Laurent footbridge, or the Notre-Dame-de-Grenoble Cathedral (next to the Saint-Hugues church). Relax for a few hours in the Paul Mistral park, a veritable green lung of 21 hectares. Once well rested, take the Montée de Chalemont path to reach the site of the imposing Bastille, a former 19th century military fort overlooking the town - otherwise, climb up a "bubble" (the name given to the cable car cabins) to reach the building while enjoying a breathtaking view. Is it raining? Take shelter in the Grenoble museum, with its 900 works of art (and free for under 18s).
The valley :
About Grenoble, Stendhal wrote: "At the end of every street, a mountain". The city is indeed surrounded by three imposing massifs, the Belledonne, the Chartreuse and the Vercors. This is a wonderful scenery for those who want to go down the rapids in the Furon canyon or to go down the 4,000 metres of negative height difference by mountain bike. If you prefer quiet walks, the breathtaking scenery of the Vercors Regional Nature Park awaits you.
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