The Château de Miolans (Miolans Castle) is a fortress in the Bauges mountains above Saint-Pierre-d’Albigny, Savoie. It was built during the Middle Ages and was converted to a prison by the Duchy of Savoy after they acquired it in the 16th century. Its most famous prisoner was probably writer (and notorious pervert) Marquis de Sade: He was arrested in 1772 in Chambéry and placed under guard at Miolans, until he escaped a few months later.
Last summer, a few weeks after riding my bike from La Féclaz to Albens, I came back to the Bauges mountains. This time, I rode from the Semnoz plateau to Saint-Pierre-d’Albigny in Savoie.
Starting at the Petit Port in Annecy-le-Vieux, I walked along the north shore of Lake Annecy until the Port des Marquisats.
Last summer, I went on a hike in the Chartreuse mountains next to Grenoble: I visited La Bastille, Mont Jalla and Mont Rachais. I used these directions as reference.
The Jardin des Dauphins is a park located in Grenoble, near the Isère river and below the Bastille fortress. It is composed of multiple levels of terraces that offer a good view on the city of Grenoble and the surrounding mountains.
Starting from the Savoie Technolac in Bourget-du-Lac, I walked on the Voie Verte along Lac du Bourget towards Aix-les-Bains. On the way, I made a detour through Base de Loisir des Mottets in Viviers-du-Lac.
The Fort de Tamié is a military fortress built by France starting in 1872 with the goal of defending the Albertville valley. It is located on Col de Tamié, in the Bauges mountains between Albertville and Faverges. Beyond its historical interest, it offers a great view on Albertville and the surrounding mountains.
The Réserve Naturelle du Bout du Lac is a nature reserve located south of Lake Annecy. It is a marshland where the Ire and Eau Morte rivers flow into the lake. I was there a few years ago, in a rush since it was raining heavily. This time, there was a really nice weather and I could take my time.
Last summer, I went on a hike to Croix du Nivolet, where I had already gone a few years ago. I took my bike on the bus from Aix-les-Bains to La Féclaz on the Mont Revard plateau, where the start of the trail is located. After the hike, instead of going down to Aix-les-Bains, I went in the other direction, towards the Vallée du Chéran and Vallée de Bange, at the center of the Bauges mountains. When I reached there, it had started to rain so I rushed to the nearest train station, in Albens.
The Donjon des Seigneurs de Faverges (Keep of the Lords of Faverges) is a tower built in the 13th century and located inside the castle of Faverges. It is open to individuals during summer and offers a great view on the surrounding area.
I went there coming down the Pointe de la Sambuy, on the way back to Annecy.