La Petite Chartreuse

(1) In front of the skating rink, follow the cycle lane along the river until you reach a roundabout. Bypass the city centre of Chambéry by following the direction ‘Préfecture’ until you reach it.
(2) At the roundabout of the prefecture, take the Bellevue slope, towards ‘Massif de la Chartreuse/Col du Granier’.
(3) At the top of Bellevue, the road comes out on the B-road D912. Stay on the D912 until the ‘Col du Granier’.
(4) The ascent is steady (about 5%) on about 15 km until the ‘Col du Granier’, except some steeper sections. In particular, the section before the tunnel requires a more intense effort. However, the view on the valley of Chambéry and the Lake du Bourget behind you is amazing!
(5) After the tunnel and until the col, the road is clean and wide. The declivity varies between 4% and 6%, with a section at 7.5% just before arriving at the foot of the mount Granier (Caution! No watering place at the col).
(6) Still on the B-road D912, the 5 km descent to Entremont-le-Vieux is brief, on a wide and good road.
(7) In Entremont-le-Vieux, take right on the B-road D45 – towards Le Désert d’Entremont. The way up is steeper, with a significant elevation gain (6 to 8% up to a sustained 12%). A splendid panorama at the Col de la Cluse will reward the effort, you could even glimpse the Mont Blanc!
(8) Start the way down to Corbel. There, the setting is breathtaking, with a view on the high Chartreuse and the Gorges du Frou.
(9) The last ascent of 3 km weaves above the gorge until the Col des Egaux. Stay on the B-road D45 to go down to Saint-Jean-de-Couz.
(10) At the junction with the B-road D1006, take right to Chambéry. Stay on the D1006 until the roundabout after you left Cognin. There, take right on the Avenue de Lyon, towards the prefecture. At the prefecture, take the starting itinerary the other way.

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