Cabin de la Cave

Cabane de la Cave sits at 2,518m in the Chaîne de la Bauges, between Annecy and Chambéry in Savoie. The standard approach is from Châtel-sur-Montsalvens (1,050m) via a 4-hour hike through beech forest and alpine pastures. The route is well-marked but steep in sections. You can also reach it in 3 hours from Col de la Loze (1,653m) via the GR96 if you have transport at the pass. The hut sits on a minor col overlooking a limestone plateau, making it a natural base for ridge traverses and peak ascents in the Bauges.
The cabane is a simple stone refuge run by FFCAM (Fédération Française des Clubs Alpins et de Montagne) with 20 bunks across two rooms and basic dormitory conditions. It has a small kitchen where meals are prepared; expect hearty stews and pasta rather than restaurant dining. Water comes from a spring but can be scarce in late summer. There's no electricity or heating beyond a wood stove. The hut typically opens mid-June through September, depending on snow conditions. Winter access is possible for skilled mountaineers only.
Book directly with FFCAM Chambéry section at least 4 weeks ahead for July and August weekends. The hut fills quickly during school holidays and in good weather windows. The guardian is usually present from mid-June onwards but may be absent in shoulder seasons; contact ahead to confirm occupancy. Half-board (dinner and breakfast) is standard. Bring a headlamp—the hut has no lighting after sunset.