#11 Riviera of the Alps

Another 2 days have passed since the last report.

How time flies...

On Monday (around 11:00 AM), we set off. The next destination was clear – Lac de Bourget on our way north.

We have often traveled past this area heading south and always found it very attractive. Aix-les-Bains and the road along the lake have always provided relaxed driving with great views.

But let's be honest – why do we always choose destinations near water or a lake? Are we from Northern Germany so fond of water connections? Is it due to our affinity for the sea? In every planning of the next destination, our first focus is always on a body of water nearby. Rivers or high valleys could also be interesting spots, but no, it always has to be a lake (unless the sea is too far away).

The navigation system suggests a route of about 200 km in 4.5 hours. Well, that sounds like a lot, but we are avoiding highways and need to navigate through the countryside. This time, the national road N 94 and later N 85 are suggested. It sounds good at first and flows smoothly until Grenoble. Particularly the section from Gap to Grenoble is varied, mountainous, and offers plenty of views. By the way, we are on the Route de Napoleon, where he once marched. In every town, the main street is called Route de Napoleon and the central restaurant is Brasserie de Napoleon.

From Grenoble, it gets annoying; the city extends with its suburbs for more than 20 km inland and we are driving from town to town. This also means passing through towns with traffic lights. And here you can feel it clearly – as soon as you enter the town too fast, the main traffic light turns red and you’re forced to slow down. However, you can no longer adjust to it. What speed counts now? 30 km/h or 50 km/h?

We cross through several French departments in the Alpine region (Haut Alpes de Provences, Hautes Alpes, Isere, and Savoie) during our 200 km journey.

And there we land at the end, in Savoie. Surprisingly, we pass through an area with some vineyards along the road before Chambery. Is this actually a wine region? Never heard of it, but it is stuck in our heads to explore it.

Finally, we reach Lac de Bourget and head to Camping Ile aux Cygnes. It is located right at the water's edge and charges only €21 per night in the low season.

Indeed, there is still no sign of the Easter holiday. The spots are mostly free, only the water spots (first row at the water's edge) are popular and taken.

Directly in front of the campsite is also a motorhome parking space. There are some large motorhomes, but there is no lake access here. And you pay €17 for the parking space with electricity. That makes no sense when you can park right by the lake for a little more and have the sanitary facilities at your doorstep.

The weather is surprisingly good, and we explore the surroundings by bike. We would like to have a drink with a view of the lake. But then comes the first disappointment. Many places are still closed or open for dinner only outside of the season. So, aside from expenses, it was not productive.

It’s also nice at the motorhome, and we managed to buy some delicacies and a wine from Savoie at the local delicatessen.

The wine turned out to be exceptionally good and begs for another tasting.

When checking in, we had to choose for the minimum stay. An extension is always possible, but a reduction is not.

A look at the weather map showed a large rain area for Wednesday – so just 2 days for now.

Indeed, we would stay here longer, even over Easter. But the weather...

Overnight, the rain came. It pounded endlessly on the motorhome roof and eventually was no longer cozy. Only towards morning did it lessen and then stopped completely. At breakfast, we could sense the first rays of sunshine through the roof window.

By noon, the bikes were finally saddled and, in perfect sunshine, we headed to the bike path along the lake towards Aix-les-Bains. This bike highway is really great and is used by everyone – everyday cyclists, racing cyclists, runners, walkers, and anyone else wanting a view of the lake.

Aix-les-Bains, with its 35,000 inhabitants, is considered a wealthy town. Many affluent people settled here thanks to the favorable climatic conditions and the spa facilities around the sulfur springs. This is reflected in the cityscape and layout. With a wide lakeside promenade, the city center is slightly elevated on the slopes, overlooking the lakeshore.

A short visit only skims the surface, just like a short stay in the area. The first impression (which is very positive here) remains, but a deeper connection or discovery of the region does not happen. Such a pity.

In the city, we were surprised by a cat monument labeled “La Dent du chat”. What kind of name is that? The Tooth of the Cat?

Later, during research on Wikipedia about the region, we discovered that a high mountain range with a special peak – the “Dent du chat” – is recorded on the west shore of the lake. That’s where the name comes from.

There is said to be a path to the top, offering a stunning view all the way to Mont Blanc. Well, if the sun still shines tomorrow...

But that is more than questionable.

The only sunny spot within a radius of 400 km is the Lake Constance region.

That would be our goal for tomorrow.

Stay cheerful...