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Rhone Alpes travel guide
Visit Rhone-Alps: Rhone-Alps Gites : Rhone Alps Hotels : car hire
Rhône-Alpes region of France is found in the south-east of France, where it borders Italy and Switzerland to the east, Provence to the south, Auvergne and Langudoc-Roussillon to the west, and Burgundy/Franche-Comté to the north. It is a wild and very beautiful part of France.
The departments in the Rhone-Alps region are Ain, Ardeche, Drome, Isère, Loire, Rhone, Savoie and Haute-Savoie.
Places to visit in Rhone Alps
High mountains and the east
The eastern part of the region is 'high Alps' country', including the highest mountain in France, Mont Blanc. Outdoor activities - hiking, cycling, mountain climbing, skiing etc are key activities throughout the region, where natural beauty is the great attraction rather than architecture.
This region is largely covered by the Savoie and Haute-Savoie departments, from Geneva in the north and towards Briancon in the south, with Albertville and Conflans, Annecy, Chambery, Grenoble and Mont Blanc falling in the region.
- Skiing is of course a major attraction to the region, for example around Chamonix (see photos of Chamonix Valley) and the other world-renowned resorts. Likewise the high alps are a great centre for all outdoor activities year around. Each year some of the most exciting stages in the Tour de France take place here, including the great climb at Alpe d'Huez. Unfortunately it is beyond the scope of this guide (for now!) to cover the myriad of possibilities for skiing and hiking in the Alps.
- The architecture of many of the towns is not always exceptional, it is rather the smaller mountain villages and towns, unchanged over hundred years, and in perfect settings witha mountain backdrop that will capture your attention as you travel around.
- Lake Geneva and the towns along its shores, and the magnificent scenery in the Gex region, around Divonne-les-Bains, Ferney-Voltaire and Bellegarde-sur-Valserine, along the valley of the Valserine, part of the Natural regional park of Haut-Jura.
- There is a large spa town at Aix-les-Bains
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- the Vanoise National Parc
Northern Rhone-Alpes
- the Dombes plateau and lakes, north of Trévoux and Pérouges, ideal for bird-watching
- Bourg-en-Bresse to the north of the region, and the surrounding pretty villages such as Coligny, Verjon, Pressiat, Cuisiat, Treffort, and Meillonnas, each with their own character and appeal.
- in the north-west of the region is the beaujolais wine region, around Villefranche-sur-Saone
- main towns : Lyon
Southern Rhone-Alpes - Drome
- relax in the Drome-Provence region, surrounded by lavender fields, and visit Vaison la Romaine
- the Vercors Natural Regional Park
- The most visited landmarks in the region include the Chateau de Grignan, the Chateau de Suze-la-Rousse, and the extraordinary monuments including Maison Idéal built by the postman Cheval at Hauterives.
- For children on a visit to Drome? Visit the crocodile farm at Pierrelatte
- the Valley of the Rhone, including the principal towns of Vienne, Romans, Montelimar and Valence
(See Drome gites)
Ardeche region
The Ardeche, to the south-west of the Rhone-Alpes, has several highlights and places of great natural beauty. These include the Gorges de l'Ardeche - amazingly beautiful, about 40km of deep gorge with the Ardeche at the bottom and best accessed from Vallon Pont d'Arc. Another sight not to be missed in the Ardeche is the Bois de Paiolive near Les Vans, where olive trees are interspersed with large, curiously shaped rock formations, and the nearby villages of Chambonas, Naves and Banne. (see also Massif Central, which includes this part of the Ardeche)
Most Beautiful villages
Some of the beautiful villages to explore in the Rhone Alps include Mirmande, a medieval village near Montelimar; Balazuc on a cliff on the banks of the Ardeche River; Bonneval in the high mountains; Yvoire on the banks of Lake Geneva; the pretty medieval town of Perouges (see also Dombes above).
Most beautiful villages not covered in this guide:
VOGUE - 15 km S of Aubenas
LA GARDE-ADHEMAR - 30 km N of Orange
MONTBRUN-LES-BAINS - 10 km N of Sault
LE POET-LAVAL - 20 km E of Montélimar
SAINTE-CROIX-EN-JAREZ - 20 km SW of Vienne
SIXT-FER-A-CHEVAL - 15 km E of Cluses
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Visit Rhone-Alps - travel information
If you are planning Rhone-Alps holidays or vacation you will find all you need on the France This Way site, including Rhone-Alps gites, hotels and car hire:
- car hire
- France camping holidays in the Alps
