Col du Granier was a delightfully gentle, low-stress climb after Mont Revard. The gradient never pushes beyond moderately steep, offering smooth, flat recovery sections, pristine tarmac, manageable distance, and postcard-perfect alpine scenery.
It is the quintessential “coffee-rider’s pass”—ideal for anyone who wants to enjoy a day in the French Alps without grinding their knees to dust.
⛰️ Climbing Col du Granier: 17 Times in Tour de France History
Col du Granier (1,134 m) is a mountain pass in the Savoie Alps of France, slicing through the dramatic Chartreuse Massif just above the historic city of Chambéry. The Tour de France peloton has crossed this pass 17 times, making its debut way back in 1947.
- North Approach (from Chambéry): A rewarding 15.3 km climb winding past picturesque farmsteads, alpine meadows, and limestone cliffs. Total elevation gain is 864 meters with a very friendly average gradient of just 5.6%.
- South Approach (from Chapareillan): Significantly shorter (9.5 km), but packing the exact same elevation gain (845 m). It is far steeper, featuring an average gradient of 8.6% and ramps pinching up to a painful 17.9%.
At the summit, a chilly breeze greeted us. After a quick hot tea, we flipped our bikes for the descent back toward Chambéry—a roll so smooth you hardly need to touch a pedal.
💡 Photo Tip: About one kilometer into the descent, you will pass through a short rock tunnel. As you pop out the other side, the landscape instantly shifts, presenting two completely contrasting, spectacular alpine panoramas!
🍦 Chambéry to Lake Bourget: Gelato and Lakeside Cycling
The city of Chambéry exudes charm. Founded by the Romans as Lemencum, it served as the seat of the Dukes of Savoy from 1232 to 1536 and was named Alpine Town of the Year in 2006.
💡 Travel Hack: International Flixbus routes directly connect central European hubs (including Bratislava) to Chambéry, and they regularly transport bicycles on rear racks—a budget-friendly dream for a DIY cycling trip!
Aside from historical alleyways and fresh baguettes, Chambéry wowed us with incredible artisanal gelato. The city is connected to the spa town of Aix-les-Bains via a dedicated, high-quality bike path. Rolling towards Lac du Bourget took us twice as long as expected—not due to tired legs, but because the sunset views over the water forced us to pull over for photos every few hundred meters.
🎶 Aix-les-Bains: A Reggae Concert for Dogs
A wide, impeccably maintained promenade borders the lake Lac Bourget in Aix-les-Bains, radiating warmth and good vibes. Locals and travelers of all ages gather along the shore to picnic, walk, and soak in the evening sun.
Near the water’s edge, we stumbled upon an unforgettable scene: two dog owners—a local Frenchman and a dreadlocked Rastafarian—decided to jam casually for their pets.
Within an hour, their infectious reggae rhythms drew a crowd of over a hundred people lounging on the grass. A funny misunderstanding happened when I walked over to toss a few coins into their open guitar case.
“Ah, non, we’re not collecting money,” the guitarist smiled. “We’re just playing for fun, for ourselves and our dogs. But please, take a seat and enjoy!”
And just like that, an easy day on the saddle turned into one of the most memorable highlights of the summer.
