France's largest natural lake, the belle-époque thermal town that inspired Lamartine's "Le Lac," a royal Savoy abbey on the water, and a flat lakeside cycling loop — a proper long-haul trip that needs real charging planning.
Lac du Bourget is France's largest natural lake (18 km long, over 20 km²), cupped between the Chartreuse and Bauges massifs. Alphonse de Lamartine made it famous with his 1820 poem "Le Lac," written after falling in love here at Aix-les-Bains — a spa town the Romans already prized for its hot springs, and which the House of Savoy later used as a royal retreat. On the lake's western shore sits the Abbaye de Hautecombe, necropolis of the Savoy dynasty, its white silhouette visible from across the water. This is genuinely far — the first road trip in this series that requires actual EV route planning rather than a single-charge round trip.
Head south on the A6, then A43 toward Chambéry, exiting for Aix-les-Bains. Charge en route at an A6-corridor Supercharger (Beaune and Mâcon-Sud are the well-known options on this axis) to arrive with a comfortable buffer — one stop here is enough to comfortably finish the leg. There's a real Tesla Supercharger right at Chambéry (1097 Avenue des Landiers, 4 stalls, up to 125 kW), and a much bigger one at Seynod near Annecy (16 stalls, up to 250 kW) about 25 minutes past Aix-les-Bains — either is a handy optional top-up before or during your stay rather than a required leg of the drive. Arrive, set up camp, and take an easy evening stroll along the Grand Port waterfront.
Aix-les-Bains built its whole identity on its hot springs — Romans, then 19th-century European aristocracy (Queen Victoria came repeatedly) took the waters here. The Thermes Chevalley spa complex is the real modern version: standard adult entry runs roughly €19–21 depending on day/season, with a cheaper after-5:45pm rate (~€15 on weekdays outside school holidays). Consider it your one comfort splurge for the trip. Afterward, cool off for free at Plage Mémard or the beaches near the Grand Port — both are real, popular public lake swimming spots with grass, shade and lake access.
Drive or boat around the western shore to the Abbaye d'Hautecombe in Saint-Pierre-de-Curtille — the real royal necropolis of the House of Savoy, still an active Chemin Neuf community. Entry is inexpensive: full price €4.50, reduced €2.50; a 45-minute guided tour of the royal apartments adds €7.50 (open Wednesday–Sunday, morning and afternoon sessions outside winter, closed Mondays except July/August — check current hours before driving over). In the afternoon, unload the bike for the Tour du Lac du Bourget, a real signed cycling route of roughly 51–55 km circling the whole lake, largely flat and traffic-separated along the shoreline sections (the lakeside "Voie Verte" stretch alone runs about 11 km, part of a wider ~31 km greenway network linking Aix-les-Bains, Le Bourget-du-Lac and Chambéry). Ride as much or as little of the loop as you like — the northern shore near the abbey is the quietest and most scenic section.
Slow morning, one more swim if the weather holds, then the long drive back — same charging strategy in reverse.
Paid fallback: Camping du Sierroz, right on the lakeshore near the Grand Port in Aix-les-Bains, is the obvious choice — genuinely lakefront, walkable to town and the beaches. 2025/2026 published rates run roughly €11.40–16.10/night for a tent pitch, or €17.40–21.60/night for a car+tent pitch (tourist tax extra); open late March to early November for pitches. Camping International de l'Île aux Cygnes and Camping Le Pêcheur are two further lakefront alternatives if Sierroz is full.
This is one of the best destinations in the series for the bike. The Tour du Lac du Bourget (~51–55 km) is a genuine, signed, mostly-flat route circling the entire lake, with long dedicated greenway ("Voie Verte") sections separated from traffic — including an 11 km lakeside stretch and a wider ~31 km network of linked greenways connecting Aix-les-Bains, Le Bourget-du-Lac and Chambéry. Bike loaded inside per the Car Camping & Bike Guide — no range penalty on the long drive down. Do the full loop in a day, or just ride out-and-back along the quiet northern shore toward Hautecombe if you'd rather keep it short.
| Category | Cost |
|---|---|
| Tolls (A6/A43, round trip) | ≈ €55–70 |
| Charging (2 mandatory Supercharger stops round trip, plus optional buffer top-ups) | ≈ €25–45 |
| Lodging, 3 nights at Camping du Sierroz (car+tent) | ≈ €55–65 |
| Thermes Chevalley entry (comfort splurge) | ≈ €19–21 |
| Abbaye de Hautecombe entry (+ optional guided tour) | ≈ €4.50–12 |
| Food (mostly self-cooked, one local meal out) | ≈ €35–45 |
| Total | €180–250 |