Seyssel / Chanaz / Belley

This ViaRhôna stage goes along both banks of the Rhône. This route is provisional. It leads between crests and plateaux, through landscapes marked by lakes and waterfalls. Then you come to a land of vineyards and gastronomy set below the Bugey Range, passing delightful little historic stops like Belley, Culoz and Chanaz. This physically-demanding stage is along a mix of greenways and roads.

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