Rhone Alpes

There is a lot of contrast that is very noticeable to anyone visiting Rhone Alpes. You will love the gorges that are found in Ardeche and you can’t help but are impressed by the outstanding French Alps as well. It is not for nothing that the French Alps is considered without peer in the whole of Europe and also in the rest of the world.

The highest peak is Mont Blanc and you can visit Chamonix and also Courcheval that are excellent ski stations. In fact, you will not be able to find better ski stations in the rest of the world. Be sure to visit here during the ski season that lasts till April and which begins towards the end of November.

If you are not a skier it will not matter because you can try the other French delights. Be sure to visit Lyon that is the second city in France that has excellent architecture from the Renaissance times, and there are excellent museums as well. More than that, you can enjoy lovely spa towns that border on Lake Geneva and include Evian.

Day Out In Rhone Alpes

When in the Rhone Alpes you would do well to sample the excellent Beaujolais which is a red fruity wine and the excellent Beaujolais Nouveau that’s only released from its storage place deep in wine cellars on each Thursday in the third week of November is worth sampling.

For culture, you can spend time in Lyon where there is the outstanding Musee des Beaux arts and here you will find the most excellent works of art that is second only in terms of size to what you can view at the Louvre.

Or, stroll down the Evian-les-Bains which is situated by the shores of Lake Geneva and if that does not satisfy you, there is always the never to be forgotten spa treatments which are readily available here.

Another excellent place to visit is Temple d’Auguste et Livie which is very impressive to say the least, and along with the impressive Corinthian columns imposes it over the town that has existed from Roman times called Vienne.

There are many natural parks that total six in all, and the number of nature reserves is twenty-eight all of which makes the Rhone Alpes very attractive for nature lovers.

Check out Ain and Bourg en Bresse that is well known for chickens, and Dombes that has fantastic natural wonders. In addition, Ardeche has Vallon Pont d’Arc and many caves to discover paintings from prehistoric times.

Drome has Montelimar where nothing much has changed since the Medieval Age, or come to Valence which is a market town from where you can discover excellent vineyards in the vicinity of Die.

Chamoix is a place that attracts many crowds in all seasons and in fact there are only two other natural sites on the planet that are visited more often. Here, there is plenty for the skier, free-rider, snowboarder and also something for those who love to skate.

France is a wonderful, romantic country, abound with art and architecture. Officially known as the French Republic, France is an incredible tourist destination in Western Europe, stretching from the Rhine to the Atlantic Ocean and the Mediterranean Sea to the English Channel and the North Sea.

Each area of France is unique and has its own specialties. For instance, the capital city – Paris, alternatively known as the City of Light, boasts of world class attractions, all of which offer such an experience that lasts for a lifetime. The impressive Eiffel Tower, majestic Notre Dame, historic Musee D’Orsay, unequalled Chateau de Versailles, and Montmarte with an amazing blend of culture and ambience, are just few among them. A peerless host of beautiful buildings, gardens, parks, squares, cafes, and open markets can also be seen here.

For tourists who want to explore the rich history of France, one of the best destinations would be Marseille, which has to its credit some of the charming streets in the country, apart from old ports and attractions like fortresses built by Louis the XIV. Another great historic city is Normandy – a picturesque town with awesome attractions such as D-Day beaches. Places of historic significances also include Rouen – an ancient town where Joan of Arch was cremated. Further, Rouen is home to some of the fantastic buildings of medieval style.

A visit to France is incomplete without an excursion to the unspoilt oasis at the edge of the Mediterranean – French Rivera, also called Côte d’Azur, which is a fabulous assortment of upscale beachfront resorts such as Saint Tropez, Nice, Monte Carlo, and Cannes, hosting the much famed international film festival. Provence is another great destination for those looking to enjoy the Mediterranean lifestyle.

The Loire Valley is also a great destination for those who want to explore the beautiful castles, ranging from the periods Middle Ages to the Renaissance. For connoisseur of tastes, a great destination is the lively city of Lyon, acknowledged as the gastronomic capital of France.

For vibrant as well as exciting nightlife, cities including Toulouse are great options. Likewise, cities including Bordeaux arrive with a diverse mix of beaches, forests, and dunes. Also, worth mentioning are superb destinations of Bayonne and Biarritz, located in Basque County.

Found in the Languedoc region is Pont du Gard, an aqueduct built by the Romans during the 19th century BC.

Also, a must-see attraction in France is the Alps – the largest mountain range in Europe, spreading over France, Switzerland, and Italy. This enchanting destination is filled with craggy peaks as well as snow-covered mountains, each of them rendering opportunities for a range of activities such as skiing and snowboarding. Further, the Alps are home to more than 200 resorts, among which most popular are Val d’Isere, Grenoble, Megeve, and Chamonix boasting of the highest cable car in the world. Marvelous mountain ranges in France also include the Pyrenees, offering spectacular views.

Apart from these, France renders opportunities for a host of activities such as shopping, dining, and sightseeing.

The capital of France, Paris or the City of Lights, is located by the River Seine and lies in the northern part of France and is a big city vibrant as well as attractive that is home to more than two million Parisians. The capital city of France lies at a crossroads that has both land as well as river trade routes along with much agriculture, which makes it the premier city of France that also has many royal palaces as well as other architectural marvels.

Paris is also a center for learning as well as the arts and it plays a major part in politics, fashion, business as well as arts and sciences and is an important transportation hub that connects the rest of Europe. Also, in Paris are found universities, opportunities for sporting events as well as many opera companies and of course, museums that are well known throughout the world that attracts more than thirty million tourists each year.

Paris is also the center of French economic activity and produces more than a quarter of the gross domestic product of the country. The climate is affected by the North Atlantic Drift which makes the oceanic climate temperate with little extremity of temperature. Modern Paris grew out of the mid nineteenth century urban remodeling and its major districts include the Champs Elysees, Avenue Montaigne, Place de la Concorde, Faubourg Saint-Honore, L’Opera and many more.

Paris has some famous landmarks including the twelfth century cathedral of Notre Dame de Paris and of course, the world famous nineteenth century Eiffel Tower. There is also the Napoleonic Arc de Triompe as well as the Invalides museum where Napoleon and many other French soldiers have been buried. And, on the darker side is the Conciergerie prison that was home to many notable ancient regime members that were put to death during the course of the French Revolution.

Paris is also well known for the entertainment that one can savor including operas, of which the largest opera houses are the Opera Garnier as well as the more modern Opera Bastille. There are also many discotheques including the Le Queen, L’Etoile, Le Cab and more. Guinguettes as well as the Bals-concerts formed the backbone of entertainment in Paris till the middle of the twentieth century. Paris is also a great place for movie goers and French cinema is almost as good as Hollywood.

Paris is also a destination which sees traders, students as well as religious pilgrims making a beeline here for it has something for everyone. Places such as the Louvre and the Notre Dame Cathedral as well as the Eiffel Tower are major attractions that sees millions of visitors come here year after year looking for more of these wonderful tourist attractions.