From the prestigious Mont-Blanc to the Ardèche gorges, from the royal monastery of Brou to the ideal palace of the facteur Cheval, from Old Lyon to the peaceful canals of Annecy, the Rhône-Alpes region has many surprises in store.
With the largest ski area in the world, the Rhône-Alpes region is a true paradise for ski lovers. In Courchevel, Chamonix, Avoriaz or in a small more confidential village, you can ski downhill, snowboard, Nordic ski, biathlon... In winter, of course, but also in summer because some resorts have high skiable glaciers (Val d'Isère, Tignes, Les Deux Alpes, Alpe d'Huez). With its mild and sunny climate, the region offers many other ways to get some fresh air: hiking in the Vanoise or Vercors natural parks, biking on the ViaRhôna, fresh water swimming in the large Alpine lakes, caving in the Isère caves...
Take advantage of your stay in Rhône-Alpes to enjoy culture. In Lyon, enjoy the Gallo-Roman theater, the Saint-Jean cathedral, the Notre-Dame de Fourvière basilica, the traboule of the Tour Rose, the Palais de la Bourse, the Bartholdi fountain... Also take a few hours to visit the Fine Arts museum, whose collection of paintings is the most important in France, after the Louvre. In Isère, go and see the domain of Vizille and its 10th century castle which hosted the Dauphiné States General in 1788, the starting point of the French Revolution. In the Loire, discover the Le Corbusier site of Firminy and, in Ardèche, go back in time by admiring the very recent replica of the Chauvet-Pont d'Arc cave.
In Savoie and Haute-Savoie, don't miss the castle of the Dukes of Savoie in Chambéry or the castle of Menthon-Saint-Bernard which inspired Walt Disney for his animated film "Sleeping Beauty". Then relax on the shores or in the wonderful waters of the Alpine lakes (Leman, Annecy, Bourget, Aiguebelette). But also taste the flavors of this beautiful region of gastronomy, the second most starred in the Michelin Guide. On the menu: fine charcuterie, quenelles, cervelle de canut, praline pie in a small Lyonnais "bouchon" or gratin dauphinois, tartiflette, fondue, diots in a Savoyard chalet restaurant... Without forgetting the great variety of wines offered by the region.
