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Purple Summer’s Château de Candie invites families to step into a Savoie summer this year with a host of new alpine adventures for all ages. Located in picturesque Chambéry, just an hour from both Geneva and Lyon airports, the 25-room residence from luxury villa specialists Purple Summer sleeps up to 60 and provides the quintessential Savoyard escape for the whole famille.
Reopening for the season from May until 31st October, Château de Candie has introduced a number of new experiences for families. From canyoning in Savoie’s most spectacular natural waterpark and water sports on the glacial Lac du Bourget to picnics in the vineyards and cultural visits to local towns and villages- endless family fun awaits at Château de Candie this summer.
Active Adventures
Families in search of an active adventure will be spoilt for choice with the opportunity to visit the nearby Lac du Bourget with its numerous water sports, just 20 minutes from Château de Candie. On the deepest natural lake in all of France and set against a backdrop of snow-capped mountains, guests can enjoy paddle boarding, sailing, kayaking and wild swimming beneath sunny blue skies. Daredevils age four and up can try their hand at motor sports including water-skiing and wakeboarding, with lessons and courses available from the Ski Club Nautique d’Aux-les-Bains for beginners and competitors alike.
Climbers of all ages can delight in the various options available in the area. Beginners can take on the Via Ferrata de la Dent du Chat, just 30 minutes from the château. Suitable for even the youngest in the brood, this guided walk along a scenic path overlooking the Lac du Bourget offers spellbinding views, bountiful nature, and low-difficulty climbing for all. Older children aged 8 and up and adults in search of a thrill can try a ‘vertical adventure’ in the form of canyoning in the nearby Bauges mountains. Supervised by qualified instructors, adventurers will splash about in a natural waterpark, with waterslides, syphons, jumping opportunities and panoramic views galore.
For the family who has done and seen it all (until now!), scenic small plane flights offer the most thrilling way to soak in the area’s natural beauty. Departing from Chambéry airport, just 10 minutes from the château, families will soar above the Lac du Bourget and Mont Blanc. A professional pilot will share expert knowledge as passengers fly, admiring the Swiss and Italian peaks, the Vanoise park and the Three Valleys, before continuing on to the Maurienne Valley, the Aiguilles d’Arves and Belledonnes. From 210 € per person for a 50-minute flight.
Foodie Fun
When it comes to gastronomy in and around Château de Candie, there are tasting experiences to delight even the fussiest of young palettes. Families can take a jaunt to the local farmers’ market in Chambéry town centre each Wednesday evening (4-8pm), or indulge in a lunch, dinner or half-day dining cruise on the Lac du Bourget.
Back home at Château de Candie, surrounded by six hectares of private parkland and rolling vineyards, al-fresco dining is taken to another level with a new family picnic offering. The castle’s warm and friendly team will set up a glorious picnic lunch within the vines, complete with a basket of red and white wines and chilled champagne for the grown-ups, a selection of cold meats, cheeses, quiches and summer salads served with crusty French bread, with local jams and home-made cakes for dessert. All this with the vineyard and hills of the Chartreuse mountain range as a backdrop promises a truly memorable gastronomic experience filled with wholesome family fun.
The restaurant team will be on hand throughout to ensure guests want for nothing and can enjoy the produce from the château – whether it’s the Viognier wine grown on the grounds or the honey from the château’s own beehives.
Dining at the hotel’s restaurant proves to be an unforgettable experience, with a brand-new seasonal menu by Chef Badara Gueye of exceptional quality dishes created using locally sourced ingredients that showcase the very best of the region.
Culture Kids
For an authentic taste of Savoyard life, families can head to the historic city centre of Chambery to discover its Saturday morning covered market, or visit Annecy, just 30 minutes away. Also a short drive from the castle, the quaint canalside town of Chanaz – known for the production of walnut oil – offers unique arts and crafts souvenirs.
Family-friendly cultural activities abound in Chanaz, everything from boat cruises along the canal on a solar-powered boat to visits of a working water mill. Dating from 1868 and still in use to this day, families can observe the millworkers first hand and try freshly-pressed oil, as well as the various products made from hazelnuts and walnuts. The sweet-toothed will delight in the opportunity to try locally produced honey at the Miellerie de Chanaz, and shop for various local products made from honeycomb and beeswax.
Back at the château, families can spot stunning seasonal flora and fauna, and enjoy dog walks in the sprawling vineyards and surrounding woodland. And tucked away in the verdant gardens amidst statues and flowers, the glistening swimming pool is the perfect place to unwind after a long day of hiking, cycling or sightseeing. For the ultimate evening relaxation, parents can indulge in a restorative massage or simply curl up in the cosy bar area with a digestif.
