Chindrieux combines marked trails with a layered history on the shores of Lac du Bourget. The commune includes 640 hectares of woodland and 600 hectares of marshland. The different ways to get to know the area include several signposted walking trails, a mountain biking route and evidence of prehistoric stilt-house settlements.
Walking and Mountain Biking Options
The Sentier pédestre de Rochetaillée is a 4.8-kilometre circular trail. Yellow markings on a green background indicate the route. If you want to include a specific walking loop in your plans, its length and markings provide clear points of reference. Chindrieux also has several signposted walking trails.
Another option is Boucle 3, the Circuit VTT du marais. This mountain biking loop starts in Chindrieux at locations including the Les Peupliers campsite and Plage de Châtillon. Its activity and stated starting points distinguish it from the walking loop, for which the length and marking colours are the main points of reference. Conditions on Boucle 3 may vary with the weather; check them before setting off.
The two routes offer different starting points for planning your day: the Sentier pédestre de Rochetaillée is a circular route with a specified distance, while for Boucle 3 you can start by considering its mountain biking focus and one of its starting points.
Châtillon: Stilt-House History and Architecture
Châtillon is one of the thirteen hamlets that have developed around Chindrieux, and lies on the sheltered northern shore of Lac du Bourget. The remains of the stilt-house village of Châtillon lie three to five metres underwater. They are part of one of the four prehistoric stilt-house settlements on the lake that were added to the UNESCO World Heritage List in 2011.
The layout of the Village palafitte de la Baie de Châtillon is also revealing: the buildings are arranged closely together and orthogonally, at right angles to one another, with narrow lanes between them. This makes the layout another distinctive aspect of the site, alongside the underwater location of the prehistoric remains.
The Château de Châtillon offers a different historical perspective. It was built from the late 12th century onwards on a promontory overlooking Lac du Bourget. The stilt-house settlement and the château represent different chapters in Châtillon’s history: prehistoric settlement in one case, and a building dating from the late 12th century in the other.
Discover Fish from the Lake
Pêcherie du bout du Lac offers the opportunity to discover fish from the lake on Fridays at the fishery and on Wednesdays and Saturdays at the market in Aix-les-Bains. It also provides advice on preparation. As arrangements for visits may change, it is best to check the current days and locations in advance.
Tailor Your Stay to Your Interests
When looking for a hotel in Chindrieux, you can start by deciding what you want your stay to focus on: a marked walking loop, a mountain biking route or the history of Châtillon. Each offers a different focus, without requiring you to follow a set itinerary.
Discover more destinations: Domessin, La Motte-En-Bauges, Les Chapelles, Saint-Christophe, Jarsy, Beaufort, Belmont-Tramonet, Saint-Martin-Sur-La-Chambre.
View the broader travel overview: Savoie.
