Discover Savoie: nature, hiking trails and cultural heritage

From wetlands to glaciers, Savoie is home to a remarkable variety of natural environments. More than 15,000 species live here, and 19 sensitive natural areas are spread across the region. These diverse landscapes make nature a defining theme for any trip.

Natural areas and trails in the Vanoise

In some sensitive natural areas, visitor access may include educational trails, visitor facilities and nature discovery activities. Savoie is also home to Vanoise National Park, founded in 1963 as France’s first national park. There are different ways to explore the landscape here: on foot along marked trails or on the major north–south routes through the Vanoise Massif.

Nearly 400 kilometres of marked hiking trails run through the national park, starting from villages and resorts in Maurienne and Tarentaise. The Via Alpina and the GR®5 cross the Vanoise Massif from north to south. For route planning, Rando Vanoise lists around 60 routes in the park’s core zone and more than 250 in Maurienne and Tarentaise.

A network of mountain huts offers overnight accommodation and meals throughout the Vanoise Massif. This provides a practical option for food and lodging to complement your route planning in the area. If you prefer to travel by bike, Savoie also offers an extensive network of routes, with more than 2,600 kilometres of marked cycle routes.

Museums and historic buildings

The Musée Savoisien is housed in a 13th-century monastery and displays 2,000 objects across seven themed rooms. Interactive exhibits include a mountain pasture hut and a winter sports studio; there are also digital games, films and projected maps. The exhibition brings together different ways of presenting its subject matter, from immersive settings to digital elements.

The Château des ducs de Savoie combines the history of a fortress with that of a princely palace. The buildings in the complex date from the 13th century to the present day. Abbaye de Hautecombe offers a different historical focus: founded as a Cistercian abbey in the 12th century, it is home to the necropolis of the Princes of Savoy. The abbey offers audio guides for visits to the church.

In Albertville, a museum also brings art, history and architecture together. The Musée d’art et d’histoire d’Albertville is housed in the 14th-century Maison rouge, overlooking the medieval cité de Conflans. Alongside the monastery, château and abbey, it offers different ways to explore history: through collections, buildings and the original religious or princely functions of these places.

Cuisine and wine from Savoie

Savoie’s culinary traditions include farcement, diots, crozets and rissoles. The wine designations also offer a clear guide: Vin des Allobroges is classified as an IGP; Roussette de Savoie, Seyssel and Vins de Savoie are AOC/AOP designations.

When looking for hotels in Savoie, you can weigh up your travel interests: nature and hiking trails, cultural sites, or regional cuisine and wine offer different focuses.

Discover more destinations

Discover more destinations: Sardières, Villaroger, Les Déserts, Doucy-en-Bauges, Gerbaix, La Motte-Servolex, Coise-Saint-Jean-Pied-Gauthier, Lanslevillard, Challes-Les-Eaux, Barberaz, Albertville, Valezan, Cohennoz, Notre-Dame-Du-Pré, Saint-Oyen, Jongieux, Montmélian, Les Allues, Le Bourget-Du-Lac, Hautecour, Saint-Genix-sur-Guiers, Gilly-sur-Isère, Saint-Alban-de-Montbel, Saint-Avre, Saint-Paul, La Bridoire, Belmont-Tramonet, Tresserve, Myans, Brison-Saint-Innocent, Grésy-Sur-Aix, Feissons-Sur-Salins, Aiguebelle, La Perrière, Lanslebourg-Mont-Cenis, Saint-Jean-De-Maurienne, Chindrieux, Pralognan-La-Vanoise, Praranger, Pussy, Saint Francois Longchamp, Villarodin-Bourget, Avressieux, Verrens-Arvey, Planay, Bourdeau, Chamoux-sur-Gelon, La Bâthie, Fontaine-le-Puits, Brides-Les-Bains, La Table, La Thuile, Salins-Les-Thermes, Motz, Chambéry, La Tania, La Trinité, Le Bettaix, Le Bois, Le Pontet, Le Pré, Les Avanchers Valmorel, Les Coches, Levassaix, Méribel-Mottaret, Méribel-Village, Montagnole, Montagny, Montalbert, Montchavin, Montricher-Albanne, Notre-Dame-De-Bellecombe, Peisey-Nancroix, Granier, Saint-Christophe, Aiton, Thoiry, Chignin, Ruffieux, Arbin, Saint-Baldoph, Apremont, Saint-Jean-De-Chevelu, Pugny-Chatenod, Vions, Saint-Jean-De-Belleville, Jarsy, Saint-Pierre-D'entremont, La Bauche, Épersy, Montaimont, Montgellafrey, Bourg-Saint-Maurice, Fontcouverte-La-Toussuire, Lépin-Le-Lac, Novalaise, Jarrier, La Côte-D'aime, Montailleur, Ugine, La Motte-En-Bauges, Viviers-Du-Lac, Demi-Quartier, Montvalezan, Les Chapelles, Bramans, Villarembert, Saint-Marcel, Saint-Martin-Sur-La-Chambre, Aime, Hermillon, Seez, Serrières-En-Chautagne, Valmorel, Bessans, Saint-Sorlin-Darves, Bellentre, Valloire, Valmeinier, Villard-Sur-Doron, Hauteluce, Aussois, Courchevel 1550, Cruet, Saint-Colomban-Des-Villards, Mercury, Albens, Saint-Franc, Flumet, Arith, Attignat-Oncin, La Ravoire, Beaufort, La Lechere, Moutiers, Sainte-Foy-Tarentaise, Saint-André, Saint-Jean-D'arves, Saint-Etienne-De-Cuines, Barby, Saint-Bon-Tarentaise, Saint-Julien-Mont-Denis, Saint-Martin-De-Belleville, Presle, Saint-Pierre-De-Genebroz, Frontenex, Sainte-Hélène-Du-Lac, Francin, Montcel, Albiez Montrond, Belle-Plagne, Modane, Les Échelles, Champagny-En-Vanoise, Crest-Voland, Lescheraines, Grignon, La Rochette, Saint-Michel-De-Maurienne, Aigueblanche, La Giettaz, Voglans, Mouxy, Mâcot-La-Plagne, Trévignin, Aillon-Le-Jeune, Le Châtelard, Domessin, Dullin, Landry, Bozel, Plancherine, Termignon, Tignes, Traize, Val-D'isère, Aix-Les-Bains, Rochefort, Grésy-Sur-Isère, Queige, Bonneval-Sur-Arc, Saint-Nicolas-La-Chapelle, Avrieux, Orelle, Saint-Pierre-D'albigny, Saint-Alban-Leysse, Montsapey, Entremont-Le-Vieux, Les Marches, Champagneux, Aiguebelette-Le-Lac, Sainte-Hélène-Sur-Isère, Saint-Pancrace

For the broader travel overview: Rhône-Alpes.