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RHONE ALPS REGIONAL GUIDE

The diversity of Rhone Alps is a draw to all who love the great outdoors with its vast mountain ranges, including Europe’s highest peak – Mont Blanc, the Ardeche hills and River Rhone valley.

Revel in wonderful Alpine skiing, or later enjoy the river valleys and lakes that come alive once the blanket of snow melts.

Prosperous Rhone Alps has industry, agriculture and wine at its heart. Visit dynamic Lyon and picturesque lakeside Annecy.

Indulge in hearty cuisine, rich local cheeses and the famous Beaujolais and Cote du Rhone wines.

Rhone Alps Places of Interest

Annecy

Lake Annecy, Haute Savoie, Rhone Alps, France Popular town in Alpine setting sometimes known as the Venice of the Mountains due to the picture-postcard canals that criss-cross the town. The banks of the Thiou Canal are a delight to stroll, and many visitors head for the medieval arcaded streets of shops and restaurants.

The Musee Chateau, with its distinctive twelfth century Queens Tower, houses modern art exhibitions, regional art and artefacts plus presentations on the region’s natural history and geology.

Annecy is a great base for mountain activities and hiking and, if time allows, make a detour to the nearby breathtaking Gorges du Fier.

Lyon

Lyon’s site was founded by the Romans in the first century BC as the capital of the Three Gauls and has continued to play a major role in Europe’s political, cultural and economic development. Considered by many to be the gastronomic capital of France - even ahead of Paris. Presqu’ile has superb shops whilst Vieux Lyon is good for arts, crafts and textiles and rue Augue Comte for antiques. For dedicated shopaholics, the Part-Dieu shopping centre has more than 260 retailers.

Evian-les-Bains

With its Lake Geneva setting, this elegant town is renowned for its mineral water and spa treatments. Walk along the lakeside, visit the Pre Curieux water gardens (access by boat) or enjoy the shops and restaurants.

Geneva

Just across the Rhone Alps border lies the beautiful Swiss city of Geneva. It has a stunning lakeside setting complete with its famous 140m high jet d’eau fountain. In addition to its delightful old quarter, superb shops and clock museum, not to be missed is Cathedrale St Pierre where John Calvin preached. This cosmopolitan city is of course home to the International Red Cross and the annual Geneva Motor Show which takes place in March in 2008.

Chambery

Chambery was once the capital of the Savoie and of strategic military importance. Its thirteenth century streets are a delight to explore and the Cathedral was the previous home of the Turin Shroud. There are 2 museums – Fine Arts and Savoie – to visit plus, if in Chambery on a Saturday, the weekly market. In the winter, it’s an important winter sports centre and, at any time of the year, try the local speciality – Savoie fondue made with local cheeses, white wine and kirsch.

Lake Bourget

Just a short distance from Chambery is Lac Bourget, a stunning stretch of water with the Jura Mountains as its backdrop. Enjoy the lake’s beauty by boat or follow one of the many hiking trails. The lake has beaches and 5 ports and the town of Le Bourget offers a beautiful priory, priory gardens and an ancient castle.

Rhone Alps Geography and Natural Beauty

Mont Blanc

Mont Blanc, Haute Savoie, Rhone Alps, France At 4,810m, Mont Blanc is Europe’s highest mountain. Chamonix is the mountaineers favoured starting point. Of the various routes to the summit, the most popular is the Gouter Route; in fact, it is so popular that you must pre-book overnight hut accommodation. Less popular is the Cosmiques Route due to its extremely steep terrain in parts. However, climbers can enjoy the spectacular scenery away from the crowds.

Non-climbers can ascend 3,842m to the Aiguille du Midi by cable car to enjoy the wonderful views.

The Chamonix area is a haven for wintersports whilst, in the summer, you can hike, ride or raft.

Rhone Valley

The River Rhone rises at the Rhone Glacier in Switzerland, joins the River Saone in Lyon and then runs south past Vienne and Avignon. At Arles, it divides, both the Grand and Petit Rhone flowing to the west of Marseille and forming a two branched delta – the marshy ground between is of course the Camargue. 500 miles long, the Rhone has long been used to transport people and goods.

Although heavily industrialised in places, particularly around Lyon, the Rhone Valley is perhaps best known for its wine production. The Romans first planted vines here in the first century. Nowadays, about 90% of the Rhone Valley wines come from the southern part of the valley, and include familiar names such as Cotes du Rhone and Chateauneuf du Pape. The Northern Rhone produces quite different wines and, although in smaller quantities, the quality is superb, in particular, Hermitage and Cote-Rotie.

RHONE ALPS CUISINE AND WINE

Beaujolais Vineyard, Rhone Alps, France Wonderful delicatessen food, particularly in Lyon, France’s gastronomic capital, prestigious wines and fondue savoyarde, are among the delights to be enjoyed in Rhone Alps.

This region is also renowned for its cheeses – for example, reblochon, St-Felicien and St-Marcellin (a small, disc-shaped cheese with a golden surface and white interior made in the the Chartreuse area) plus blue cheeses, such as bleu du Vercors and creamy bleu de Bresse.

Try cuisses de grenouilles sautees (fried frog legs) and, of course, accompany your food with some of the region’s fine wines and liqueurs, such as pear brandy and chartreuse, used extensively in desserts and cocktails too.

RHONE ALPS ACTIVITIES

Wintersports

Skiing, La Valle Blanche, Haute Savoie, Rhone Alps, France King of the wintersports is of course skiing with over 150 ski resorts located throughout the Alps and the Jura Mountains. But the full range of wintersports awaits you in Rhone Alps, including not only mainstream activities such as snowboarding, telemark and toboganning but also more unusual ones – dog-sleighing, igloo-building, night skiing (by full moonlight) and Baroque church snow-shoe tours. After a busy day of sport, there are plenty of opportunities for spa treatments and even chocolate bodywraps.

Canoeing, Ardeche

The Ardeche gained its reputation as a top canoeing destination at the end of the Second World War. The beautiful, though popular, descent from Vallon Pont d’Arc to St Martin d’Ardeche goes through stunning scenery and should be taken at a leisurely pace with stops to swim, sunbathe and picnic. You can bivouac or camp at one of the various sites en route. There are shorter itineraries for beginners. Canoe hire is available as well as other organised outward-bound style activities.

Wine-tasting, Beaujolais

Beaujolais is one of the famous name wines from this part of France. Usually red, it is made from gamay grapes which are well suited to the area’s granite soil. The 14 mile long Beaujolais route takes in visits to produces in Brouilly, St-Amour, Fleurie, Morgon and Moulin-a-Vent. Alternatively, try the new ‘Route des Etoiles’ a 12 stage guide to the area’s wine and culture, spearheaded by 12 women each passionate about their wine, or visit Vauxrenard and be guided around the 2.8km wine trail by a local wine-maker.

Wildlife-spotting, Vanoise National Park

The Vanoise National Park lies south of Mont Blanc. With an area of just over 520 square kilometres, its geology varies from sandstone and limestone to schist, and its altitudes from 770m to 2796m. The terrain includes 107 summits, alpine pastures, over 100 lakes and 20 glaciers. As a result, it has a huge variety of flora and fauna and, of course, its scenery is magnificent. It is particularly noted for its alpine flowers, chamois, ibex, marmots, golden eagles and bearded vultures.

This was the very first French National Park, established in 1963 to protect the ibex. There are now some 2,500 ibex and 5,500 chamois. It is best explored on foot and there is over 500km of footpaths to choose from, ranging in grade from easy to strenuous. Camping is not allowed, although there are huts – most are manned in July and August, and serve dinner and breakfast. Pre-booking is advisable. There is a park information centre at Termignon la Vanoise.

RHONE ALPS EVENTS

Chamonix Festival, 2008

Carnival where participants parade through the streets in fancy dress.

Nissan Outdoor Games Competion, Chamonix, 14-17 February 2008

Two competitions in one. Extreme sports combined with the Columbia film and photography competition. Opportunities to watch stunt paragliders , BASE jumpers and speedriders, have a go on the ice climbing wall and watch the film makers’ productions in competition to win the Gold Peak trophy.

Avoriaz Winter Carnival, February – March 2008

Colourful parade, street performers and evening fireworks. Avoriaz also hosts jazz concerts 15 to 22 March 2008 and its annual Spring Pop Rock Festival 5 to 12 April 2008.