Regions of France : Rhône-Alpes

The sky is the limit in this region of France for things to do, from the towering summits of the French Alps to the spires and rooftops of the villages and towns.

Down in the south of the region, the Drôme is more sun drenched and the hills of the Ardèche are full of chirruping cicadas during the summer months.

In the départements of Savoie and Haute Savoie - buffeting the Italian border - the snow capped mountains rule whatever the season.

Six natural parks, 28 nature reserves, some of the most prolific lakeside scenery in France and six thousand metres of ski runs all add up to make the Rhône Alpes one of the most diverse holiday environments in France. Non skiers take heart, there are plenty of specialist touring itineraries to choose from - for a few days, to over a week.

Ain

• Bourg en Bresse is famous for its chickens which are appellation contrôlée
• Dombes with its glacier is natural wonder
• Unspoilt medieval Pérouges is a film director’s favourite

Ardèche

• Vallon Pont d'Arc's famous limestone arch is a favourite picnic spot
• Abundant caves and potholes to explore and prehistoric paintings
• Hermitage vineyards near Annonay and river rafting in the gorges

Drôme

• Nougat centre Montélimar's narrow streets have changed little since medieval times
• Market town Valence is a good base for exploring the vineyards around Die
• Wine lovers head for the famous Hermitage vines planted more than 2000 years ago

Haute-Savoie (see also: La Clusaz combines skiing and a true taste of France)

Avoriaz, 40 years on and still in the vanguard!
Inaugurated in 1966, this futuristic resort still remains a model of town planning and conviviality. Its aficionados, skiers, tourists seeking peace and quiet or nostalgic for the seventies, nurse an unfailing loyalty to it...

Annecy

Isère

• Hi-tech centre Grenoble's modern art museum includes works by Monet and Picasso
• Lesser known ski resorts of L'Alpe d'Huez and Les Deux Alpes
• Parc des Ecrins is a mountain walker's paradise

Loire

• St Etienne is the Ville Verte and has a good modern art museum
• For gastronomy head for Roanne – which has also its own AOC wine
• Medieval history in Montbrison – where time has stood still

Rhône

• Lyon, France’s second largest city, is a centre for gastronomy and caters for all tastes
• Fine Arts Museum in Lyon is second only to the Louvre
• Beaujolais has a lot more to offer than the infamous Nouveau

Hotels Lyon

Radisson SAS Hotel Lyon  The Radisson SAS Hotel Lyon, Europe's tallest hotel, is a deluxe property located in the heart of the city of Lyon. In the hotel's fine dining restaurant, 'L'Arc en Ciel', guests will be charmed by the exceptional views of Lyon's old quarter and monuments as they sample the culinary delights of exquisitely prepared fare. The hotel's 245 guest rooms are located around a central atrium from the 33rd to 39th floor. They have been recently redecorated and feature all the facilities of an international class hotel. In addition, all rooms command breathtaking views over Lyon and surrounding countryside.

» LYON Sightseeing Tours Events & Attractions

The re-found soul of Beaujolais

Beyond the clichés

In France, when people talk about Beaujolais, a slight disdain is often accompanied by a certain snobbery, dismissing this wine as a "popular" drink. So how can one make people understand that this region also produces great wines which, at 10 years old, can be compared with the finest Burgundies of Côte de Nuits? It's simple - instead of using the name "Beaujolais" just say: "Moulin-à-Vent, Fleurie, Morgon, Juliénas or Saint-Amour". all classified châteaux of Beaujolais (there are 10) whose granitic soils favour the development of the famous Gamay Noir à jus blanc (black Gamay with white juice).

What is a real Beaujolais?

When young, a Beaujolais wine is first and foremost a fresh, fruity "vin de plaisir" that is drunk among friends with a good Charolais goat's cheese... But after 10 years, Gamay - commonly treated with contempt by "connoisseurs"* - takes on an extraordinary dimension with animal and game flavours that take it closer to Pinot Noir. Tasting blind, an old Morgon or venerable Fleurie can thus be mistaken for Chambolle-Musigny and Gevrey-Chambertin. The notable difference is in the price: between 8 and 14 euros for the Beaujolais, as opposed to 40 or 60 euros for the Burgundies!

To achieve this result, you don't just need to have the terroir (granitic and schistose soils well exposed on the hillsides), it is also necessary - following the example of a few conscientious winegrowers - to respect certain rules difficult to put into practice in the context of a predominant industrial viticulture in Beaujolais: cultivation of vines, respect for soils, control of yields, manual grape harvesting, sorting of grapes and traditional vinification. Very much in the minority in the early 1980s, these idealists also understood that the use of chemical yeasts (such as isoamyl acetate, responsible for the famous banana aroma) was erasing the mark of the terroir and contributing towards standardising the style of the wines. Avoiding chaptalising, filtering and sulphating their wines as much as possible, they have not only saved the honour of Beaujolais but also defined ahead of time a qualitative process that is essential in these times of worldwide overproduction of wine.

• Courchevel, Méribel and Val d'Isère - this is skiing country par excellence
• Spa town Aix les Bains popular with Victorians is still busy today
• Outdoor sports are all accessible from Chambéry