A soft reset in Savoie

Morning in Savoie can start with a loop along Lac du Bourget, then shift without much effort into an afternoon of warm pools, steam rooms, and massages. Savoie lends itself to a quieter kind of trip when you’re looking for a restorative reset.

Base yourself in Chambéry’s medieval old town or in Aix-les-Bains, the lakeside spa city that grew into a major resort destination during the Belle Époque. Both will show you the French Alps at their best: quiet streets, crisp air, and days spent around water, wellness, and nature. While you can see some highlights on a three-day trip, travels in Savoie are most enjoyed when you take your time.

Chambéry, Savoie’s historic capital, is a walkable city that’s best enjoyed when you slow down and take in the details. Centuries of cross-border influence with nearby Piedmont have shaped the culture. Start with a slow loop through the Old Town (Vieille Ville), dipping into bakeries like La Bellequoise as you go, then make your way to the Fontaine des Éléphants, the city’s signature landmark, inaugurated in 1838. It’s a short walk from there for a light lunch and wine at the natural wine bar La Maniguette, where you’ll find hundreds of wines to choose from, or get a taste of Alpine cheeses at Fromages et Breuvages.

From there, walk up to the Château des ducs de Savoie (also called the Château de Chambéry), a fortified complex with 11th-century origins that was expanded and reworked over the centuries as the seat of Savoy’s rulers and administrators.

While your walk through Old Town can give you a broader context of Chambéry’s past and culture, the museums allow you to zoom in. The Musée Savoisien is the best primer on local history and cultures, with thousands of objects spanning from prehistory to the present that are best enjoyed at an unhurried pace. You can slow down in front of art at Musée des Beaux-Arts, known for its collection of Italian Renaissance and Baroque pieces as well as other European works from the 14th to the 20th centuries, and see the permanent collections for free.

For a walkable Old Town base, stay at Hôtel des Princes – Chambéry Centre, or splurge at the Petit Hôtel Confidentiel steps from the château. Kyriad Chambéry Centre – Curial has a full-service spa and is near Carré Curial, a cultural center, and Espace Malraux, a theater that hosts a number of performances year-round.

From Chambéry, you can head to Aix-les-Bains, less than 30 minutes away by train. Here, you’ll find a focus on wellness that pairs with Chambéry’s history and culture. Situated on Lac du Bourget, France’s largest natural lake, this spa town is known for its dramatic views of the Alps. What it is even more famous for, however, are the thermal baths—particularly at Thermes Chevalley, where you’ll find indoor and outdoor pools, saunas, steam rooms, and treatment areas for massages and hydrotherapy. A stay in Aix-les-Bains feels most complete at accommodations known for the on-site spas and hotel rooms.

Between restorative spa and bath bookings, you can partake in various watersports on the lake, including kayaking, canoeing, waterskiing, and sailing. Enjoy the sun at Plage d’Aix les Bains or Plage de Mémard for a quaint beach excursion, and book a scenic boat tour around Lac du Bourget.

Come evening, the town’s sleepy daytime charm transitions to Belle Epoque-inspired nightlife. Stop at the Grand Cercle Casino, or simply grab a cocktail at the Art Deco-styled Les Loges or Le Comptoir d’Aix.

End your Savoie reset on a high note with a hike through Parc de la Vanoise, France’s first national park. Located in the Alps between the Tarentaise and Maurienne valleys, the park is a nature lover’s paradise with over 100 peaks, many glaciers, and a wide variety of Alpine plants and flowers. The park offers free year-round entry and can be explored as a solo trail venture or via a guided hike. The park is also part of the GR5 (Grande Randonnée 5), Europe’s famous 1,500-mile hiking trail spanning from the North Sea to the Mediterranean.

For those looking to extend their Savoie reset and take in more of the region’s natural beauty, the Bauges massif offers a number of opportunities for hiking, trail wandering, and canyoning. History buffs will take delight in a stop at the picturesque Abbey of Hautecombe, located on the banks of the Lac du Bourget.