Hautecombe Abbey

Hautecombe Abbey tickets: which one to buy

Hautecombe Abbey stands on the western shore of Lac du Bourget, the largest natural lake in France, in Savoie, and entry to the abbey church is free, with an audio guide available for a small fee. It is the burial place of the Counts and Dukes of Savoy and of the last kings of Italy. The abbey can be reached by boat from Aix-les-Bains, a pleasant trip of about an hour across the lake, or by car.

Visitors to Aix-les-Bains, a spa town, and Annecy, about an hour away, often include Hautecombe in their tours of the region. The abbey is run by a Catholic community, the Chemin Neuf, and it offers retreats and hospitality. The abbey's garden and the lakeshore are peaceful. The site is closed to visitors during some services, so check the opening times. Boat tickets from Aix-les-Bains include a stop at Hautecombe, with time to visit the abbey.

Visiting Hautecombe Abbey: what to see

The abbey was founded by Cistercian monks in the twelfth century, around 1139, under the patronage of the Counts of Savoy, who chose it as their burial place. Many members of the House of Savoy were buried here over the centuries. The abbey declined, and after the French Revolution it was partly destroyed. King Charles Felix of Sardinia, of the House of Savoy, had it restored in the 1820s in an elaborate neo-Gothic style, with a painted and sculpted interior, and he was buried here. The church holds more than three hundred statues and many tombs, and its ceiling and walls are decorated with painted patterns. In 1983, Umberto II, the last king of Italy, who died in exile, was buried in the abbey, and his wife, Queen Marie José, was also buried here.

The abbey's grange, a medieval building by the lake, was used to store goods transported by boat. The abbey church's facade is decorated with neo-Gothic pinnacles and statues. The interior's painted ceiling shows stars on a blue background. The tombs of the Savoy family are carved in marble, some with effigies. The Chapel of the Princes holds the tombs of Umberto II and Marie José. The abbey's cloister, partly restored, is peaceful. The grange by the lake has a Gothic vaulted hall. The abbey's position on the lake offers views of the Mont du Chat and the mountains. The community's shop sells books and products from monasteries.

Hautecombe Abbey opening hours and the best time to go

The abbey church is open daily, except during services, with shorter hours in winter. The boat trips from Aix-les-Bains run mainly from spring to autumn. Summer is the busiest season on the lake, and spring and autumn are quieter and beautiful. The abbey's community holds services throughout the day, and visitors may attend. Allow about forty-five minutes for the abbey, and take the boat back to Aix-les-Bains or continue by car to Annecy. Aix-les-Bains' thermal baths and lakeside promenade are about an hour by boat or half an hour by car from the abbey.