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Rhone-Alpes, France travel guide

Rhône-Alpes region of France is found in the south-east of France, where it borders Italy and Switzerland to the east and Provence to the south. 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.

For winter and ski holidays in the Alps see Ski holidays in France

Places to visit in Rhone Alps

Savoy Alps - high mountains and the east

The eastern part of the region is 'high Alps' country', including the highest mountain in France, Mont Blanc (on the border with Italy).

Outdoor activities - hiking, cycling, mountain climbing, skiing etc are predictably key activities throughout the region, where natural beauty is the great attraction rather than architecture.

This part of the Rhone-Alpes is largely covered by the Savoie and Haute-Savoie departments, from Geneva in the north and towards Briancon (Provence region) in the south, with Albertville and Conflans, Annecy (and of course Lake Annecy), Mont Blanc and Chambery all falling in the region.

Grenoble itself falls in the Isere department.

Ski resorts in the Alps

Skiing is a major attraction to the region which includes much of the best skiing in France - some of the best known ski resorts here include:

• the 'Espace Killy' ski region includes  Val d'Isere and neighbour Tignes
• the Three Valleys (Les Trois Vallées) ski-region includes the resorts of Meribel, Courchevel and Val Thorens (with Les Menuires)
• the Portes du Soleil ski region, including Morzine, Les Gets and Avoriaz
• skiing at and around Chamonix Mont-Blanc, also nearby Megeve and Sallanches.
• south-east of Grenoble, the Deux-Alpes region, and the Les-7-Laux resort to the north-east of Grenoble
• Other popular skiing areas are found at L'Alpe d'Huez - both a ski resort and renowned Tour de France mountain stage - and at Valmorel. The resort at La Clusaz is popular with 'day-trippers' from Annecy.

See also Ski resorts in the French Alps

The high alps are also a great centre for outdoor activities year around - including canoeing and kayaking, hiking and mountain biking, mountain climbing etc. Each year some of the most exciting stages in the Tour de France take place here, including the great climb at Alpe d'Huez.

Other places

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 with a mountain backdrop that will capture your attention as you travel around.

Alpe d'Huez in summer / Val d'Isere in winter

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, on the banks of the Bourget Lake, and the Vanoise National Parc is anotheer scenic highlight.

The classified beautiful villages of Bonneval (Savoie department) and Yvoire on the banks of Lake Geneva (Haute-Savoie) are also in this part of France.

Ain, Loire and Rhone departments - the northern Rhone-Alpes

Some of the highlights of this region include:

• 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
• the main towns of Lyon (capital of the region) and Cremieu are to the east
• the pretty medieval town of Perouges is a 'most beautiful village' in the Ain department, while Oingt, at 20 km from Lyon, is in the Rhone department.

Drome and the south

Also a very attractive region, some of the highlights to discover here include:

• relaxing 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 Palais 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-sur-Isere, Montelimar and Valence, also the nearby town of Tain l'Hermitage best known for its gourmet products. The town of Crest also merits a visit.
• A 'beautiful village' to discover in Drome is  Mirmande, a medieval village near Montelimar

Ardeche - south west Rhone Alps

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 (not to be confused with Pont d'Arc itself, the stone arch at the entrance to the gorges).

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 below). (See also Massif Central, which includes this part of the Ardeche).

The 'capital' of the Ardeche is Privas, also in a fine setting, while the cathedral town at Viviers has quite an extensive old town.

The classified 'most beautiful village' of Balazuc is on a cliff on the banks of the Ardeche River. a further classification of villages in the Ardeche is as 'villages of character' many of which are very beautiful and in very scenic locations. These include : Ailhon, Alba-la-Romaine, Antraigues-sur-Volane, Beauchastel, Banne, Boucieu-le-Roi, Chalencon, Desaignes, Jaujac, Labeaume, Meyras, Naves (near Les Vans), Saint-Montan, Thueyts, Vinezac and Vogue. (The majority of these are in the south of the department around Aubenas.)

See more information in the Ardeche travel guide

Visit Rhone-Alpes - tourist information

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See also Rhone-Alpes (version Francais)