La Motte-Servolex sits at the western edge of Chambéry, at the southern tip of the Lac du Bourget, the largest natural lake entirely in France. Behind it rises the long, wooded ridge of the Mont du Chat and the Chaîne de l'Épine, and on clear days the view over the lake and towards the Alps is magnificent.
The Lac du Bourget is a deep, glacial lake, with clear blue water and steep shores. On its eastern side lies Aix-les-Bains, an elegant spa town with grand hotels and a lakeside promenade. On the western shore, the Abbaye de Hautecombe, a Cistercian abbey founded in the twelfth century, served as the burial place of the princes of Savoy. The poet Lamartine wrote some of his most famous verses about the lake.
For riders, the area is a playground. The road over the Mont du Chat, climbing from Le Bourget-du-Lac, is a steep, narrow, twisting ascent with hairpins and spectacular views over the lake. The Col de l'Épine, just south, offers another fine climb. The roads along the lake shore are scenic, though busy in summer. Surfaces are generally good on the main roads, but the minor passes can be rough.
La Motte-Servolex has full services, including fuel, food and coffee, and Chambéry, the historic capital of Savoy, is just next door, with its château, its elephant fountain and a lively old town. For a photo, head up towards the Mont du Chat for a view over the lake, or stop on the shore near Le Bourget-du-Lac.