Rhône Alpes

With a rich and varied landscape, the Rhône Alpes is a spectacular region that includes the craggy gorges and scented hills of the Rhône Valley, the deep valleys and mountain slopes of the Savoie Alps and the forbidding Dauphiné Alps.

The Rhône Valley holds areas of great interest and natural beauty. From the sun-baked Drôme, with its ever-changing landscapes and the isolated mountains of the Vercors to the deep gorges and high plateaux of the Ardèche, studded with prehistoric caves and lush valleys filled with orchards, it is a region of immense diversity and splendour. For the energetic there are cycling, horse riding and even white-water rafting opportunities, while for the more leisurely inclined, the remote areas are a haven for bird watching and walking.

Lying between the Rhône Valley and the Alpine borders with Switzerland and Italy are the old provinces of Savoie and Dauphiné. These are areas of enormous granite outcrops, deeply riven by spectacular glacier hewn valleys and hailed as some of the world’s leading winter playgrounds. Despite development, great care has been taken to blend the old with the new and many traditional villages still retain their charm and historical interest. For many, it is an opportunity to escape the crowds and enjoy some clean air, unusual wildlife and stunning views.

Places of interest

Aix-les-Bains: Spa resort on the Lac du Bourget; boat excursions to the Royal Abbey of Hautecombe.

Annecy: Canal-filled lakeside town; 12th-century château; old quarter.

Bourg en Bresse: Late Gothic Eglise de Brou; wetlands centre rich in birdlife.

Bourg-Saint-Maurice: Centre of Savoie café society.

Chambéry: Old quarter; Dukes of Savoie château; Savoie museum.

Chamonix: Site of first Winter Olympics in 1924; world capital of mountain climbing.

Grenoble: Fort de la Bastille by cable car; museum with 19th- and 20th-century art.

Lyon: Gallo-Roman artifacts; Renaissance quarter; historical Fabric Museum; silk museum.

Vallon-Pont d’Arc: Base from which to visit Gorges de l’Ardèche.

Cuisine of the region

Bresse (Poulet, Poularde, Volaille de): the best French poultry, fed on corn and, when killed, bathed in milk.

Farcement (Farçon Savoyard): potatoes baked with cream, eggs, bacon, dried pears and prunes.

Gratin Dauphinois: potato dish with cream, cheese and garlic.

Gratin Savoyard: another potato dish with cheese and butter.

Tartiflette: potato, bacon, onions and Reblochon cheese.