Montmélian / La Terrasse

La Belle Via continues towards Les Marches and Saint-André Lake, leading you through the vineyards of the Cœur de Savoie area. Do plan a little detour to visit the Musée de la Vigne et du Vin, a wine museum in Montmélian. From here, views of the Grésivaudan Valley open up, the magnificent summits of the Belledonne and Chartreuse Ranges rising to either side. This portion of the cycle route evokes the times when this valley marked the frontier between the mighty duchy of Savoy and the powerful former province of Dauphiné, its strategic importance indicated by the likes of Fort Barraux and the Château du Touvet. Reaching La Terrasse, cyclists might enjoy a stop at the outdoor leisure centre with its own campsite. Carrying on by bike, continue enjoying breathtaking mountain views up to your arrival at the city of Grenoble.

The Route

After a stop at Montmélian, rejoin the greenway south of town, riding towards Myans. Lovely little roads lead you on to the charming Lac de Saint-André, followed by Chapareillan, nestling in the heart of the vineyards of the Cœur de Savoie area.
From Chapareillan up to La Terrasse, you cycle along roads with light traffic for 20km. This stretch may be one of the steepest along the whole cycle route, but is much appreciated for its magnificent views and proves quite doable for families on bikes. 

Don't miss

• Montmélian: Musée de la Vigne et du Vin de Savoie (a regional wine museum)
• Les Marches: the Savoie vineyards; Lac de Saint-André
• Barraux: fort Barraux (an Ancien Régime fort)
• Le Touvet: the Château du Touvet and its formal gardens
• La Terrasse: the outdoor leisure centre (base de loisirs) 
  The majestic views of the mountain ranges rising either side of the cycle route