Seyssel / Chanaz / Belley ViaRhôna

The route

Leave Seyssel on a greenway. Between the Fier and Loi bridges, the D 991 and D 904 roads have lots of traffic and bends on which you must take extreme care. Then between Loi’s bridge and Chanaz it’s a mix of specially laid-out roads and greenways.

For families

- Culoz <> Chanaz: go via the train stations at Culoz or Chanaz-Vions.

- Belley <> île aux Oiseaux <> Barrage de Lavours: turn around to retrace your route at Lavours Dam. Parking spots to access this stretch: at Belley or l’île aux Oiseaux

Alternative options 

From Chanaz, there’s a bike+boat link to reach Aix-les-Bains via Lac du Bourget. Prior reservation is essential. See Practical Information below.

Canal de Savières <> Lac du Bourget: taking the D18 road alongside the canal

Railway stations (SNCF) :

Culoz station :

• TER (local services) Line 51 : Chambéry > Culoz > Geneva
• TER (local services) Line 35 : Chambéry > Culoz > Ambérieu > Lyon
• TER (local services) Line 03 : Geneva > Bellegarde > Lyon

Vion-Chanaz station :

• TER (local services) Line 51 : Chambéry > Culoz > Geneva

>>Check TER timetables in Rhône-Alpes

Tourist Information Centres :

• Seyssel tourist office Ph. : 04 50 59 36 56
• Culoz and Colombier tourists offices Ph.  04 79 87 00 30
• Communauté de communes Belley – Bas-Bugey  Ph.  04 79 81 29 06
• Chautagne tourist office (Ruffieux) Ph. 04 79 54 54 72

Don't miss :

Lavours : its marshes, declared a nature reserve in 1984, with a nature trail on raised boardwalks to allow you to appreciate this exceptional site to the full. 

Belley: a charming historic town with Roman roots. It’s renowned as the birthplace of Brillat-Savarin, a ground-breaking writer on gastronomy who encouraged the area’s culinary traditions.

Ruffieux: visit the prestigious Chautagne wine cellars here.

Chanaz: an enchanting village beside the Canal de Savières, offering an outdoor sports and recreation centre, cruises to Lac du Bourget, and tours of an historic walnut oil mill

Aix-les-Bains/Chambéry: reach the historic lake-side thermal spa town of Aix-les-Bains by boat from Chanaz; then a greenway, partly beside Lac du Bourget, leads south to Savoie’s historic capital, Chambéry. Bikes are accepted on boats from Chanaz, but you must book in advance: +33 (0)4 79 63 45 00

Markets :

Culoz : Wednesday morning

Belley : Saturday morning