After telling you about the Roche de Solutré and its 493 meters, and more recently about Mont Saint-Rigaud and its 1,012 meters in elevation, let’s move on to the “third floor,” if you’ll allow me, to now reach the 1,500-meter mark. Rest assured, at this altitude, you won’t need oxygen tanks just yet, but you’ll certainly feel the cooler temperatures compared to Lyon . Not a bad option on a sweltering day. We invite you to spend a day in “feline mode” to take you straight to the Mont du Chat lookout!
The Mont du Chat viewpoint and its breathtaking view of Lake Bourget
Up there, you could stay for hours… The 360° panorama offers breathtaking views of Lake Bourget and the Mont Blanc range, as well as the Vanoise, Bauges, and Belledonne massifs… in short, the whole gang. It’s no coincidence, by the way, that many paragliders take off from here—a fascinating spectacle to experience up close at the takeoff strip.
From Lyon by car, you reach the Mont du Chat viewpoint via the road leading to Lake Aiguebelette, situated at “only” 400 meters above sea level. This is followed by a long climb with over 1,000 meters of elevation gain to reach the Mont du Chat Pass. Quite the challenge!
An impressive spot for young and old alike
The Mont du Chat viewpoint is a perfect getaway for everyone looking to escape, and it’s kid-friendly. In fact, its easy access by car and the many hiking trails in the area make it the ideal playground. Up there , there’s even a tree-top adventure course, the Nid des Aigles footbridge, and plenty of opportunities for a gourmet break at the Relais des Aigles restaurant .
For the more athletic, you can take the hike leading to the famous Dent du Chat via a ridge trail in about 1.5 hours. Cables and ladders at the end make the climb easier. If via ferrata isn’t really your thing, you can easily stop before tackling these challenges. The most adventurous can even start their journey from the Col du Chat(700 meters above sea level) for a 2.5-hour climb. Finally, for the most determined, it’s even possible to start all the way down at the bottom (from the Saint-Jean-de-Chevelu recreation center) for a 6-hour climb to the Dent du Chat.
