Skiing and snow near Chambéry

From Chambéry, the snow is closer than you might think. About 40 minutes from our place, the La Féclaz and Revard plateau forms the Savoie Grand Revard Nordic area, one of France’s large cross-country skiing areas, with snowshoe trails too. Margériaz, at a similar distance, offers downhill skiing in the Bauges. For altitude, the nearest Tarentaise and Maurienne resorts are about an hour’s drive.

In winter the ridges you see from the garden turn white and, on clear evenings, the setting sun often lights up the snowy Nivolet cliffs. Staying down in La Motte-Servolex has its advantages: you sleep somewhere quiet, away from the bustle of the resorts, and each morning you choose, depending on the snow and the weather, between a big ski area, the plateau or a day in town, without moving accommodation. With its fully equipped kitchen, our duplex for 4 suits families as well as skiers.

The cross-country trails wind through fir forest and clearings. Equipment hire and lessons are available on site, which makes the plateau very approachable for beginners. On the Revard side, some trails pass close to the viewpoint, so on a clear day you ski with Lake Bourget below you and Mont Blanc on the horizon.

On snowshoes, the winter walk up to the Croix du Nivolet is a classic: allow at least three hours there and back from La Féclaz, with Chambéry far below. At the top, stay well back from the edge, as snow can build cornices over the drop. In summer, the same paths are for walking: see hiking in the Bauges.

Snow cover

At these mid-mountain altitudes the season usually runs from December to March, but snow cover varies a lot from one winter to the next, sometimes from one week to the next. Check which runs are open before you set off.

Away from the marked routes

Avalanche risk is real even in these mid-altitude mountains. Check the avalanche bulletin for the Bauges massif and, if you want to leave the tracks, go out with a qualified mountain leader.

On the road

From 1 November to 31 March, many mountain municipalities in Savoie require winter equipment: winter tyres, or snow chains or snow socks in the boot. Resort roads can be snowy early in the morning, so allow extra time and check road conditions before heading up. Towards the Tarentaise, avoid Saturdays during the French school holidays if you can, when the road is jammed with traffic from the weekly changeover in the resorts, and allow more than an hour for the highest resorts further up the valleys.