Rhone Alpes region
This huge region has an enormous variety of stunning landscapes and a multitude of activities on offer.
As the name suggests, the most obvious feature of this region is the Alps with all that they have to offer with fantastic dramatic scenery, outdoor pursuits of every kind and many architectural and historic sites. However there is much more to the region than mountains. The cities of Lyon, Chambery, Annecy, Grenoble and St. Etienne offer culture, fine dining, entertainment, shopping and world class hotels. This is a famous wine-growing region with many opportunities for tasting and guided tours of the vineyards. To the south of the region, where it meets Provence, there are fields of lavender and olive groves. Access to the region from the UK is easy, with direct flights to Lyon, St. Etienne and Chambery and, in winter, the Eurostar direct to the heart of the Alps.
There is a huge choice of accommodation available throughout the region. There are city centre hotels, country auberges and chambre d'hotes, cosy Alpine chalets, gites and apartments available.
The Departments
The capital of the Ain department, Bourg-en-Bresse, sits on a lush productive plain in the north of the region. It is an elegant town with shopping, museums, restaurants and hotels. The area of Dombes is close to Lyon and has several lakes and is home to the largest bird park in Europe. Cerdon is surrounded by vineyards. The Valromey area has many vineyards with their attendant pleasures. One of the most popular winter pursuits in the department is cross country ski-ing and in summer there is mountain-biking, hang gliding and miles of walking trails. The area is rich in culinary specialities such as quenelles in a variety of rich sauces and the famous chickens of the Bresse.
The Ardeche is a department of dramatic landscapes with steep valleys and deep gorges. The valley of the river Rhone produces some of the very best southern wines. There are guided tours and tastings to be enjoyed here. There are many fascinating towns to be visited, such as Aubenas and the spa town of Vals-les-Bains. The limestone gorges are an ideal place for caves to form and you can visit the ones in the south of the Ardeche gorge. There is a museum dedicated to the cave paintings. This river is also renowned for exciting canoeing. The most famous gastronomic delight from the Ardeche is probably the marron glaces. There are also distinctive goats' cheese and pates to be sampled.
The department of Drome is where the region meets Provence and is known for a high amount of sunshine hours. The beautiful scenery is varied with the mountains of the Vercors range to the east and the gentle farmland of the north of the department. Tain-l'Hermitage is surrounded by vineyards and Valence is a very productive fruit growing area, whilst Montelimar is famous for nougat. There are markets throughout the department. There are forest walks, golf courses, cycling, horse riding, and rock climbing to be enjoyed. There are many sites of architectural and historic interest.
Isere, named after the river, has as its capital the lively city of Grenoble. The city is surrounded by mountains and is a very diverse place with all the shops, bars, restaurants, cafes and hotels you would expect. The city hosted the Winter Olympics in 1968. As you would expect this department offers excellent outdoor activities. Ski-ing is the main winter attraction, but in summer there are many mountain walking trails of all levels in stunning scenery. Also available are more adventurous pursuits such as paragliding or bungee jumping. The famous dish, Gratin Dauphinois, comes from here and there are many local specialities to be enjoyed.
The department of Loire is also named after the river, which flows through the area in its' early stages. The capital of the department, St. Etienne is a cosmopolitan city with an international airport, TGV links, excellent shopping, restaurants, hotels and many museums. The surrounding countryside is very beautiful with several man-made lakes where watersports are on offer and lots of walking and horse riding trails. There is a spa at Montrond-les-Bains and a racecourse at St. Galmier. Local specialities include Charolais beef, apples and chocolates. The famous Badoit mineral water comes from St. Galmier.
Lyon is the capital of the region and also of the department of Rhone. Just to the north of Lyon are the famous vineyards of Beaujolais covering an area of over 22,000 hectares. There are many opportunies for guided tours and tasting sessions and, of course, to purchase a case or two! Lyon is a fantastic city, considered to be the French capital of gastronomy, but also with wonderful shopping and a rich cultural side too. As you would expect there are excellent hotels, cafes and restaurants as well as galleries, museums and churches to visit.
Savoie is a mountainous department, dominated by the Vanoise range. The famous ski resorts of the Trois Vallees and the Espace Killy lie within its borders, as well as numerous less well known resorts. Obviously, in winter, ski-ing is the major pastime, but in summer there are many more varied activities on offer such as hiking, climbing, watersports on the many lakes and many other sports. Chambery has an international airport with direct flights to the UK and several museums as well as good shopping, hotels and restaurants. The scenery is spectacularly beautiful is every direction. Local specialities include Beaufort cheese, made in the valley of the same name.
Haute Savoie is another mountainous department and is home to the Mont Blanc range, the highest mountains in western Europe. At the base of Mont Blanc is the famous town of Chamonix, where there is world renowned ski-ing and, in the summer, stunning hiking and cable car trips and many other activities. There are many other ski resorts also including the Portes du Soleil, a vast area that goes across the border into Switzerland. Local cuisine tends to centre on meat and cheese dishes as there are numerous local cheeses made in the area, including the well known Reblochon.
This huge region has an enormous variety of stunning landscapes and a multitude of activities on offer.
As the name suggests, the most obvious feature of this region is the Alps with all that they have to offer with fantastic dramatic scenery, outdoor pursuits of every kind and many architectural and historic sites. However there is much more to the region than mountains. The cities of Lyon, Chambery, Annecy, Grenoble and St. Etienne offer culture, fine dining, entertainment, shopping and world class hotels. This is a famous wine-growing region with many opportunities for tasting and guided tours of the vineyards. To the south of the region, where it meets Provence, there are fields of lavender and olive groves. Access to the region from the UK is easy, with direct flights to Lyon, St. Etienne and Chambery and, in winter, the Eurostar direct to the heart of the Alps.
There is a huge choice of accommodation available throughout the region. There are city centre hotels, country auberges and chambre d'hotes, cosy Alpine chalets, gites and apartments available.The Departments
The capital of the Ain department, Bourg-en-Bresse, sits on a lush productive plain in the north of the region. It is an elegant town with shopping, museums, restaurants and hotels. The area of Dombes is close to Lyon and has several lakes and is home to the largest bird park in Europe. Cerdon is surrounded by vineyards. The Valromey area has many vineyards with their attendant pleasures. One of the most popular winter pursuits in the department is cross country ski-ing and in summer there is mountain-biking, hang gliding and miles of walking trails. The area is rich in culinary specialities such as quenelles in a variety of rich sauces and the famous chickens of the Bresse.
The Ardeche is a department of dramatic landscapes with steep valleys and deep gorges. The valley of the river Rhone produces some of the very best southern wines. There are guided tours and tastings to be enjoyed here. There are many fascinating towns to be visited, such as Aubenas and the spa town of Vals-les-Bains. The limestone gorges are an ideal place for caves to form and you can visit the ones in the south of the Ardeche gorge. There is a museum dedicated to the cave paintings. This river is also renowned for exciting canoeing. The most famous gastronomic delight from the Ardeche is probably the marron glaces. There are also distinctive goats' cheese and pates to be sampled.
The department of Drome is where the region meets Provence and is known for a high amount of sunshine hours. The beautiful scenery is varied with the mountains of the Vercors range to the east and the gentle farmland of the north of the department. Tain-l'Hermitage is surrounded by vineyards and Valence is a very productive fruit growing area, whilst Montelimar is famous for nougat. There are markets throughout the department. There are forest walks, golf courses, cycling, horse riding, and rock climbing to be enjoyed. There are many sites of architectural and historic interest.Isere, named after the river, has as its capital the lively city of Grenoble. The city is surrounded by mountains and is a very diverse place with all the shops, bars, restaurants, cafes and hotels you would expect. The city hosted the Winter Olympics in 1968. As you would expect this department offers excellent outdoor activities. Ski-ing is the main winter attraction, but in summer there are many mountain walking trails of all levels in stunning scenery. Also available are more adventurous pursuits such as paragliding or bungee jumping. The famous dish, Gratin Dauphinois, comes from here and there are many local specialities to be enjoyed.
The department of Loire is also named after the river, which flows through the area in its' early stages. The capital of the department, St. Etienne is a cosmopolitan city with an international airport, TGV links, excellent shopping, restaurants, hotels and many museums. The surrounding countryside is very beautiful with several man-made lakes where watersports are on offer and lots of walking and horse riding trails. There is a spa at Montrond-les-Bains and a racecourse at St. Galmier. Local specialities include Charolais beef, apples and chocolates. The famous Badoit mineral water comes from St. Galmier.
Lyon is the capital of the region and also of the department of Rhone. Just to the north of Lyon are the famous vineyards of Beaujolais covering an area of over 22,000 hectares. There are many opportunies for guided tours and tasting sessions and, of course, to purchase a case or two! Lyon is a fantastic city, considered to be the French capital of gastronomy, but also with wonderful shopping and a rich cultural side too. As you would expect there are excellent hotels, cafes and restaurants as well as galleries, museums and churches to visit.
Savoie is a mountainous department, dominated by the Vanoise range. The famous ski resorts of the Trois Vallees and the Espace Killy lie within its borders, as well as numerous less well known resorts. Obviously, in winter, ski-ing is the major pastime, but in summer there are many more varied activities on offer such as hiking, climbing, watersports on the many lakes and many other sports. Chambery has an international airport with direct flights to the UK and several museums as well as good shopping, hotels and restaurants. The scenery is spectacularly beautiful is every direction. Local specialities include Beaufort cheese, made in the valley of the same name.
Haute Savoie is another mountainous department and is home to the Mont Blanc range, the highest mountains in western Europe. At the base of Mont Blanc is the famous town of Chamonix, where there is world renowned ski-ing and, in the summer, stunning hiking and cable car trips and many other activities. There are many other ski resorts also including the Portes du Soleil, a vast area that goes across the border into Switzerland. Local cuisine tends to centre on meat and cheese dishes as there are numerous local cheeses made in the area, including the well known Reblochon.