Chindrieux is a town in Savoie, in the Auvergne-Rhône-Alpes region, 18 km north of Aix-les-Bains.
Its territory of some 16 km² stretches from 227 to 900 m above sea level, bordering the north of Lac du Bourget.
Part of the land remains made up of marshes, to the north, and rests on the foothills of the Sapenay mountain, a southern extension of the Jura massif.
Covered mainly with forests (40%) and agricultural land (30%), the locality is made up of a village and many hamlets, one of which, Châtillon, where a seigneurial castle was built in the Middle Ages, was built long the capital of the region of Chautagne. Moreover, before its current name, Lac du Bourget was called "Lac de Châtillon".
Nautical activities, a heritage of interest and a preserved environment (partly dedicated to viticulture) are now the main assets of Chindrieux which has nearly 1,400 inhabitants.
To the south-west of the village of Chindrieux, the castle of Châtillon is the jewel of the local heritage. It was built on a rocky outcrop overlooking the lake, and was for a long time the seat of a powerful seigneury. Built in the 12th century by vassals of the counts of Geneva, it then passed to the family of Montluel who obeyed the counts of Savoy then in the 15th century, the Seyssel became the masters of the place, recognized as barons of Aix and Châtillon. After the Revolution, the domain, already altered, was further transformed. Alphonse de Lamartine stayed there and at the end of the 19th century, the site was for a time transformed into a hotel.
Nowadays, this private property listed in the Inventory takes the form of a castle built on Romanesque foundations and still exhibiting the characteristics of a medieval building. The house has retained parts of the 15th century and the wall from the 13th century has various entrances. A polygonal keep and a large square tower dominate the whole. The alterations and modernizations have been carried out in the same materials (limestone and tuff from the region) and contribute to the unity of the castle despite the different phases of construction. The park has been laid out in terraces and includes a monument (with statue) dedicated to the poet Lamartine. Overlooking the lake, the site has been the setting for film shoots. Visits are offered occasionally in summer and during Heritage Days in September. Information on +33 4 79 88 68 00. In the hamlet of Groisin, to see also, the manor of Champleury (15th century), once the seat of a small seigneury, but which has now lost its splendor…
On the village of Chindrieux, originally formed around a priory dependent on the abbey of Nantua, in addition to the parish church of Saint-Laurent, bread ovens, washhouses and stairs or dry stone walls mark out a discovery trail, just like old peasant houses or buildings with a wine vocation…
However, the oldest elements of the local heritage are no longer visible: they are covered by the waters of the lake… They are the remains of a village pile dwelling: dating from prehistoric times, it consisted of dwellings on stilts. Excavations have brought to light utilitarian objects, ceramics and what was then a port in Antiquity. Other sites of this type border Lac du Bourget and Lac d'Aiguebelette, and all were listed as "World Heritage" by UNESCO in 2011. On Chindrieux, only seasoned divers can now observe the old village. Information on +33 4 79 88 68 00.
On the sport side, a climbing base has been set up on a cliff overlooking the lake. The start is located at an altitude of 350 m and 29 routes are available on this 40 m high natural "wall". Open from March to November. Contact on +33 4 79 88 68 00.
Also for thrill seekers, a club offers paragliding flights from the summits of the town. Information on +33 4 79 54 10 10.
For the general public, Châtillon beach includes a children's play area and a rental point for pedal boats, canoes and other boats without a license. Nicely landscaped, the beach lends itself to idleness and in July and August, swimming is supervised.
Nearby, a small marina adds to the charm of this real seaside resort! Information on +33 4 79 35 00 51.
Finally, hiking enthusiasts (on foot or mountain biking) will be delighted with marked trails in the town itself including unparalleled views of the lake and the nearby Rhône valley or the vines. In addition, routes allow you to go around the lake. Also note that from Chindrieux, you can easily reach the road bike linking Geneva to Marseille along the Rhône…
Maps and information on +33 4 79 88 68 00 or +33 4 79 54 54 72.
