Royal Abbey of Hautecombe

The Royal Abbey of Hautecombe is a former Cistercian monastery on the shore of Lac du Bourget in Savoie, southeastern France, notable as the burial place of many members of the House of Savoy. The complex combines a Romanesque‑Gothic church with cloisters and terraces overlooking the lake.

Visitors can view the abbey church with its royal funerary monuments and the cloistered courtyard set on terraces above the lake; the lakeside position provides clear views across France’s largest natural lake. The site functions as both a historical monument and a place of pilgrimage to the Savoy burial vaults.

The abbey originated in the medieval period and later became associated with the Counts and Dukes of Savoy, who chose it as a dynastic necropolis. It underwent restoration and conservation works in the 19th century and has remained an important historic and religious site since then.

Hautecombe sits on the western shore of Lac du Bourget, between the towns of Aix‑les‑Bains and Chambéry in Auvergne‑Rhône‑Alpes; road and seasonal boat services provide the usual visitor access.

• How to approach: A short boat crossing from Aix‑les‑Bains or road access from nearby towns provides the common visitor approaches and viewpoints over Lac du Bourget.
• Visiting tip: The site is best seen outside busy summer months for quieter access to the church interior and lakeside terraces.

What to See #

• Abbey church and royal tombs: The abbey church, which contains the funerary monuments and tombs of members of the House of Savoy dating from medieval to modern periods.
• Cloisters and lakeside terraces: Cloisters and gardens on the lakeshore terraces that open onto views over Lac du Bourget and were the focus of 19th century restoration work.