FEEL REBORN HERE. AWAKEN YOUR SENSES, REDISCOVER MEANING, AUVERGNE-RHONE-ALPES 2022/2023 PRESS PACK - Auvergne-Rhône-Alpes Tourisme
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AUVERGNE-RHONE-ALPES
2022/2023 PRESS PACK
AWAKEN YOUR SENSES,
REDISCOVER MEANING,
FEEL REBORN HERE.
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RESPONSIBLE, INCLUSIVE TOURISM
OUR VISION
Visitors’ expectations are changing. They’re seeking tourist
experiences that respect the environment more, enriching
human encounters rather than visits to over-popular sites, Auvergne-Rhône-Alpes Tourisme
produce that’s locally and fairly produced, and low-impact is committing, via Partir Ici,
forms of transport that are gentle on the planet. to a plan to move towards the tourism
of the future.
Listening to these shifting concerns and reflecting on how
best to promote the second most important tourist region in Motivated by a vision of responsible, inclusive
France in the longer term, Auvergne-Rhône-Alpes Tourisme tourism, sensitive to a desire among visitors to
is committing to responsible, inclusive tourism and aiming find meaning and enjoy meaningful encounters,
to act wholly consciously and responsibly as regards its and engaged in working to promoting local
economic, environmental and societal impacts. travel… it’s with these factors in mind that Partir
Ici, our new collaborative platform promoting
Read our mission statement responsible, inclusive tourist offers, has been
as well as finding out about all the actions conceived.
we’re taking to act responsibly and inclusively at:
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www.tourismebienveillant.org Partir Ici is the go-to guide highlighting the many possibilities
for visits, original activities and events, meeting the public’s
desire for local, sustainable tourism based around a
community of passionately committed people.
TOURISME & HANDICAP
ACCREDITATION Developed with the longer term in mind and thanks to
TOURISM FOR ALL the involvement of local tourist offices, this online guide is
contributing to the development of a kind of tourism that
takes account of environmental issues, puts the focus on the
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Over 400 professionnals across the region (including
local economy and creates precious links between locals
hoteliers, holiday centres, tourist sites, restaurateurs, B&B
and visitors. www.partir-ici.fr
owners, tourist offices and more) have signed up to this
committment, to welcome all types of visitors, offering
solutions adapted to all forms of handicap, whether MAKE THE MOST OF THE RÉGION
concerning mobility, sight, hearing or mental handicap. WITHOUT EVEN TRAVELLING!
Find all the relevant offers on our website:
https://tourisme-handicaps.org/ Journey across our region in images – this internet
TV channel gathers together videos made to illustrate our
region’s landscapes, sites and activities. It offers a fantastic
way of discovering the volcanic Chaîne des Puys, the
Alps and Mont Blanc, our southern landscapes touching
on Provence, our tourist destinations, major museums and
remarkable sites, our gastronomy and iconic recipes, our
outdoor activities and those leading you into the heart of
our countryside… plus it provides the possibility of sharing
videos online and taking advantage of videos in foreign
languages.
www.auvergnerhonealpes-tourisme.tv
https://discover.auvergnerhonealpes-tourisme.tv/
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THE AUVERGNE-RHONE-ALPES REGION
The Auvergne-Rhône-Alpes region offers a great variety of destinations, from the city of Lyon, capital of gastronomy, to the Alps and Mont Blanc, the highest peak in Western Europe, not forgetting
the Drôme and the Ardèche, with their hints of Provence, or the Auvergne, with its distinctive volcanoes. In winter, our famed French Alpine ski resorts, such as Chamonix, Courchevel, Megève, Méribel,
Val d’Isère and Val Thorens, attract tourists from around the world.
The Auvergne-Rhône-Alpes region, which registered some 160.9 millions tourist overnight stays(1) in 2019, works tirelessly to offer more to its customers. Some 2.2 billion were invested in tourism, of which
€1,076 million in commercial accommodation (hotels, specialist accommodation, campsites and holiday villages, as well as gîtes de France holiday rentals) and €294 million for improvements in and
expansion of our network of ski lifts.
*(Source Atout France – Tableau de Bord des Investissements Touristiques 2019). (1) = Total number of French overnight stays (including children under 15 years of age) + foreign overnight stays in commercial
accommodation).
AN EASILY ACCESSIBLE REGION Centre-
Vers PARIS
Val de Loire
Bourgogne-
MOULINS Franche-Comté SUISSE
BY PLANE Montagnes La c L
éman
du Jura
ÉVIAN
• Lyon-Saint-Exupéry international airport: ALLIER
www.lyonaeroports.com
BOURG- HAUTE - SAVOIE
• Geneva international airport: www.gva.ch EN-BRESSE
GENÈVE
VICHY
• Clermont-Ferrand Auvergne international airport:
www.clermont-aeroport.com RHÔNE
AIN
ANNECY CHAMONIX
Two airports for the winter season: LOIRE
Mont Blanc
• Chambéry Savoie airport: www.chambery-airport.com CLERMONT- MÉTROPOLE 4808 m
DE LYON
• Grenoble Isère airport: www.grenoble-airport.com FERRAND
LYON
Nouvelle- SAVOIE
Aquitaine PUY-DE-DÔME CHAMBÉRY ITALIE
BY TRAIN Volcans
d’Auvergne
Vallée Les Alpes
International transport services – High-speed trains: ST-ÉTIENNE du Rhône
• Thalys and TGV from Brussels to Lyon: 3h45min ISÈRE
• TGV from Geneva to Lyon: 1h45min
CANTAL GRENOBLE
• TGV from Paris to Lyon: 2h (30 TGVs daily) HAUTE - LOIRE
TGV from Paris to ski resorts during the winter season: Moûtiers, LE PUY-
EN-VELAY
Bourg St Maurice, Saint-Gervais and Sallanches. VALENCE
ARDÈCHE
International links: www.oui.sncf AURILLAC
DRÔME
Provence-Alpes-
Côte d’Azur
Regional express links: www.ter-sncf.com PRIVAS Administration
LYON Préfecture de région
Drôme LE PUY-EN-VELAY Préfecture de département
BY ROAD MONTÉLIMAR
Provençale Altitude
3 000 m.
2 500 m.
Occitanie 2 000 m.
More than 1300 km of motorway make Auvergne-Rhône-Alpes
1 500 m.
1 000 m.
500 m.
250 m.
N
one of the most easily accessible regions in France: Transports
www.viamichelin.fr
Autoroute ou voie à caractère autoroutier
Route nationale ou route départementale
importante
15 km
Vers MARSEILLE, échelle au 1/2 000 000ème
NICE, CÔTE D’AZUR
soit 1 cm représente 20 km - édition 2021 Sources : GeoFLA® pour le fond cartographique,
INSEE pour la démographique (chiffres de 2016), ASTER pour le relief
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AUVERGNE VOLCANOES
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The Parc Naturel Régional des Volcans d’Auvergne, a
unique jewel in the crown of Europe and home to a
tectonic hotspot in the shape of the Chaîne des Puys and
Limagne fault, was recognised in July 2018 by UNESCO
OUR GREAT ALPINE LAKES
BREATHTAKING Lac d’Annecy is among the region’s most popular desti-
as an exceptional geological site. The Puy de Dôme, the
most famous of the sleeping giants and officially awarded
LANDSCAPES nations and is now considered to be one of Europe’s
“Grand Site de France®” status, tops out at 1,465 m, with
unequalled panoramic views across the 80 volcanoes of
purest lakes. The town of Annecy, the “Little Venice of the
the Chaîne des Puys. Its summit can be accessed in both
Alps”, is home to many picturesque canals. At the water’s
winter and summer via the “Panoramique des Dômes” rack
edge, the old town reveals its narrow streets and arched
railway. And at an altitude of 1,886 m, the Puy de Sancy is
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houses set against the backdrop of the Alps. Visitors can
the highest point in the Massif Central. Le Puy Mary, another
enjoy a cruise over lunch or while soaking up some evening
“Grand Site de France®” (1,758 m) in the Massif du Cantal,
entertainment. www.lac-annecy.com
is also a perfect example of France’s natural heritage.
ENTHRALLING ALPS Lac du Bourget, France’s largest and deepest natural lake, www.auvergne-destination.com
was the inspiration behind Lamartine’s famous poem Le Lac,
From the northern Alps to the westerly outreaches of drawing prestigious visitors like Queen Victoria, who stayed at the
the Massif Central, and as far as the foothills of the Jura spa resort of Aix-les-Bains. Today’s visitors continue to appreciate
mountains,theregionenjoysextraordinarilydiversemountain the calming and healing virtues of the thermal springs, as well
landscapes. Dominated by Mont Blanc, this ‘world up high’, as the activities available on the lake, which include boating,
as it was known in antiquity, is home to peaks, passes, valleys swimming and fishing.
and alpine pastures, from Chablais to Beaufortain, from www.aixlesbains-rivieradesalpes.com
La Tarentaise to Belledonne, and from La Maurienne
to Oisans. These sentinels shaped by time and by the Lac Léman, known worldwide as Lake Geneva, forms
elements, megaliths of stone and ice, from the Aiguille a natural border with Switzerland. On the French side,
du Midi to La Meije, beckon people to attempt the most the spa resorts of Thonon and Evian-les-Bains, and fishing
ambitious conquests, up high and close to the sun in the villages like Yvoire, dotted along its shores, give the area
everlasting snow. the feel of an Alpine Riviera.
www.savoie-mont-blanc.com www.thononlesbains.com
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www.isere-tourisme.com www.evian-tourisme.com
CHAMONIX MONT-BLANC
Located at the foot of Mont Blanc, Chamonix is the
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favoured destination of alpine climbers and other mountain LAVENDER SCENTS
sports enthusiasts. This lively town is also the gateway to
unmissable sights like the Mer de Glace, a glacier which In June and July, lavender flowers blanket the fields in the
can be accessed via the small Montenvers rack railway, south of the region in an elegant blueish-purple. Originally
or the Aiguille du Midi and Brévant cable cars which climb used by the Romans to keep linen fresh and perfume their
to the region’s two highest peaks. On the Aiguille du Midi baths, lavender is now used for many different purposes. A
terrace, at an altitude of 3,842 m, the “step into the void”, visit to one of the lavender distilleries is a delightful way to
Europe’s highest tourist attraction, offers visitors a unique learn more about this plant and its many benefits.
experience: standing above a drop of more than 1000 m www.dromeprovencale.fr/decouvrir/lavande/
with panoramic views over the highest summits in Western
Europe. www.chamonix.com
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UNESCO _
RECOGNITION THE MANY PILGRIMAGE ROUTES
TO SANTIAGO DE COMPOSTELA
In addition to the Chaîne des Puys and Limagne
Fault, the only natural site listed and described on Throughout the Middle Ages, Santiago de Compostela was
the previous page, the Auvergne-Rhône-Alpes the most important of all destinations for countless pilgrims
region boasts a rich cultural and natural heritage with who travelled there from across Europe. To reach Spain,
UNESCO World Herit-age status and an incredible they had to cross France, where the many remarkable
wealth of reminders of the past, from prehistoric historic monuments now listed as World Heritage sites
served as milestones along the four trails they followed.
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times to modernity.
Our region is home to the following: the Basilica of Notre
Dame-du-Port and Notre-Dame Cathedral in Clermont-
LYON’S HISTORIC CENTRE _ Ferrand, and Hôtel-Dieu in Le Puy-en-Velay.
www.via-compostela.com
which includes the “Vieux Lyon”, the Colline de Fourvière, VICHY
Croix-Rousse and Presqu’île, was awarded UNESCO
World Heritage status in 1988. Its two rivers, two hills On 24 July 2021, UNESCO’s World Heritage Committee
and four riverbanks are what define the magical historic recognized the exceptional universal value of a network of
centre of Lyon, whose remarkable urban continuity was 11 major European spa towns. While all are different, they
recognised by UNESCO as an integral part of the world’s all developed around natural mineral springs that were the
heritage. Visitors can take in 2,000 years of history from catalyst for a model of urban organisation dedicated to
the Fourvière panoramic viewpoint. restorative, therapeutic, recreational and social functions.
www.lyon-france.com Vichy, the only French town included in this network, has
thus become the 46th French site designated part of
UNESCO’s World Heritage list. For this iconic town, a
world reference among thermal spa towns, reputed not just
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for its thermal springs, but also for its architecture, urban
planning and recreational facilities, this listing marks the
recognition of its intense local history and of a heritage
from a golden age created by the arrival and glamour of
spa-goers from around the globe.
LA GROTTE CHAUVET 2 - ARDÈCHE
The largest reproduction in the world!
Coming to explore Vichy means immersing yourself in a
remarkably rich heritage, both material and intangible,
Discovering Grotte Chauvet 2 – Ardèche means going
while savouring the quintessence of a certain French way
back 36,000 years in time to the origins of Art, learning
of living. www.vichy-destinations.fr
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something of the men, women and children who made use
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of the great natural caverns of the Grotte Chauvet.
A visit here takes you on a moving sensory journey.
On the tour, time is reversed. In the half-light, amidst
LE CORBUSIER’SARCHITECTURAL stalactites, stalagmites, limestone draperies and rock pools
4 UNESCO GLOBAL GEOPARKS
LEGACY as well as deposits of bones, feel the immediacy and life-
Beaujolais (certified in April 2018), Monts d’Ardèche (2014), like qualities of the animals drawn or engraved on the
an exceptional contribution to the modernist movement. walls. You can almost hear the lions roar, the bears growl,
Chablais (2012) and the Massif des Bauges (2011) are
17 sites are testament to the invention of a new the mammoths’ thudding steps, the presence of the woolly
architectural language that broke from the past—and territorial spaces with a geological heritage of international
rhinoceros, or then the charging of the bison and horses.
two of these are in Auvergne-Rhône-Alpes: Maison importance.
The depictions made by an artist with a deformed little
de la Culture in Firminy and La Tourette convent in finger are particularly intriguing…
Eveux. sitelecorbusier.com www.grottechauvet2ardeche.com
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OUR
ART DE VIVRE
In Auvergne-Rhône-Alpes, our heritage offers adventures that surprise
visitors at every turn. Roman ruins, medieval forts, the most beautiful
of villages, UNESCO World Heritage Sites, Renaissance monuments,
Romanesque marvels… all provide the ingredients for a fabulous journey
to the ends of our regional past. Contemporary art is everywhere to be
seen too, with our avant-garde architecture and many exciting museums,
not forgetting the Cité du Design in Saint-Etienne. Come and enjoy some
of the many international festivals that put the Auvergne-Rhône-Alpes’s
region’s exceptionally rich culture to the fore.
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LYON
Lyon, a European meeting point at the confluence of
the Rhône and Saône, is a great city on a human scale
that offers visitors a unique adventure through so many
centuries of French history and into France’s art de vivre.
From gastronomy to the town’s historical and architectural
heritage awarded UNESCO World Heritage status, via its
exceptional legacy in terms of silk, cinema and light shows,
the city has so many attractions that make it an enchanting
destination throughout the year, for anyone who loves
France and things French. Particularly proud to have been
awarded second place in the 2021 World Travel Awards,
the ‘‘Oscars’’ of the tourism industry, under the category
Europe’s Leading City Destinations, Lyon is also a French
leader in responsible tourism and can provide visitors with
many inclusive, sustainable activities.
www.lyon-france.com
Listen to the podcast dedicated to Lyon
www.auvergnerhonealpes-tourisme.com/podcasts
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SAINT-ETIENNE
Saint-Étienne and its urban area invite visitors to open their minds! This town has been reinventing itself; you can sense it, and
see it! The Cité du Design offers the perfect example of the city’s rebirth and its ferment of ideas.
Major cultural events will be taking place in this, the only French town singled out by UNESCO for its exceptional dedication
to design, such as the upcoming Biennale Internationale Design Saint-Étienne, 6 April to 31 July 2022, or the Festival Positive
Education, in November. At any time of year, embark on your own creative and design explorations, wandering around
the Musée d’Art Moderne et Contemporain, which boasts the second-largest collection of modern art in France after Paris’s
Centre G. Pompidou, going back to the origins of Saint-Etienne’s design history by visiting the Musée d’Art et d’Industrie, or
then following more or less clearly marked trails taking you via the town’s experimental areas and street art. A bit more time
on your hands for a more substantial tour? Then the avant-garde ideas Le Corbusier put into practice in his architecture can
be discovered in Firminy, a neighbouring town boasting the most significant display of the great architect’s works in Europe.
Saint-Étienne is also a town used to hosting major sporting events. It will be a Tour de France stage town in July 2022 and a
host town for the Rugby World Cup in 2023. To enjoy some country air in the dramatic surrounds close to town, the Chartreuse
de Sainte-Croix-en-Jarez in the Pilat Range and the Loire Gorges are very much worth seeking out.
www.saint-etienne-hors-cadre.fr
Listen to the podcast dedicated to Saint-Etienne
www.auvergnerhonealpes-tourisme.com/podcasts
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LE PUY-EN-VELAY
A touch of Italy, a sense of the hot south, more than a hint of
the Renaissance… the streets of Le Puy-en-Velay, lined with
extremely fine mansions, reveal combinations created by a
rich and varied past that has enabled this city to forge its
own strong, fascinating, engaging identity.
In a stunning setting, its monuments perched on high
resisting the ravages of time, the town has many a surprise
in store for visitors. As a pilgrimage city, it marks the starting
point of the Via Podiensis, one of the four great historic
pilgrimage routes to Santiago de Compostela. Since 1998,
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Notre-Dame-du-Puy Cathedral, the Hôtel-Dieu, or historic
hospital, as well as seven sections of the pilgrimage route
between Le Puy-en-Velay and Ostabat have formed part
CLERMONT-FERRAND GERGOVIE, of a dedicated UNESCO World Heritage Site.
www.lepuyenvelay-tourisme.fr
ITS HISTORY SERVED UP ON A…
Historic capital of the Auvergne, located at the foot of PLATEAU
a row of volcanoes and at the entrance to the Chaîne
des Puys-Faille de Limagne area, the first natural site in Magnificently integrated into the Plateau de Gergovie on
France to be designated a UNESCO World Heritage Site, the heights just south of Clermont-Ferrand, the new Musée
Clermont-Ferrand boasts 2,000 years of history, revealed Archéologique de la Bataille de Gergovie, housed in
in its rich heritage. Medieval and Renaissance architecture sleek contemporary architecture, immerses you in striking
stands out as much in the historic centre of Clermont as manner into the Gallic Wars.
in that of adjoining Montferrand. Clermont’s Romanesque Here, in 52 BC, the chief of the Gaulish Arveni tribe, Vercin-
basilica, Notre-Dame-du-Port, a jewel of Auvergne-style getorix, won a remarkable victory over the invading armies
Romanesque art, is part of a UNESCO World Heritage of Julius Caesar. Thanks to the museum’s interactive and
Site covering the Santiago de Compostela pilgrimage engaging approaches, both young and old will be
routes, while the city’s strikingly original Gothic cathedral engrossed by the original experience offered up by the
built out of black lava dominates the area with its imposing place, combining epic culture and astounding countryside.
grandeur. http://www.musee-gergovie.fr
The industrial history of the place is well covered at
L’Aventure Michelin in Montferrand, telling the epic of the
renowned French tyres and the company’s world-famous
mascot, Michelin-man Bibendum, showing how the brand New in Le Puy-en-Velay
has always been ahead of its times. The story of the iconic Terre de Géants:
rugby team, ASM Clermont Auvergne, is retold at the a virtual adventure to take your breath away!
ASM Experience, within the very grounds of that temple Board an extraordinary flying machine alongside Alice
to the oval ball, the Marcel Michelin Stadium. Highlights and the giant Alec, guardian of the legends and secrets
on the cultural calendar include Rendez-vous du carnet of the county of Haute-Loire. This immersive, interactive,
de voyage, the Festival du Court Métrage, Europavox, the fun voyage is based around special effects produced by
Festival International des Textiles Extraordinaires (FITE) and engineers from the renowned Futuroscope film park.
Jazz en Tête, all helping show why this metropolitan area www.chapelle-numerique.fr
is vying for the title of European Capital of Culture 2028.
www.clermontauvergnetourisme.com
Listen to the podcast dedicated to Clermont-Ferrand
www.auvergnerhonealpes-tourisme.com/podcasts
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CHAMBÉRY
A town with a hint of mystery that you can enjoy unra-
velling! It’s a pleasure, walking through the interconnecting
alleyways, or traboules, to be found in this city’s colourful
historic centre, where you can sense the strong link with its
bigger Italian neighbour – for some six centuries, Chambé-
ry and Savoie (Savoy) along with Turin and Piedmont were
united under the reign of the House of Savoy. Exploring
Chambéry, look out for Turin-style colonnades, Italianate
trompe-l’œil paintings and Place des Éléphants, a square
with a monument that has become a symbol of the town.
It was erected in honour of General de Boigne who, ha-
ving acquired glory and a fortune in India, also became a
generous benefactor for Chambéry. The town’s Musée des
Beaux-Arts contains a prestigious collection of 16th- and
_ 17th-century Italian paintings.
Add to your tour by heading just out of town to discover
the Maison des Charmettes, the country home where phi-
GRENOBLE ALPES losopher Jean-Jacques Rousseau lived with his older com-
Grenoble boasts a truly exceptional geographical setting,
nestling below the iconic Alpine ranges of the Vercors, the
panion, Mme de Warens.
www.chambery-tourisme.com _
Chartreuse and the Belledone. This capital of the French Listen to the podcast dedicated to Chambéry ANNECY
Alps has long been a pioneering, innovative, ecologically- www.auvergnerhonealpes-tourisme.com/podcasts
minded town. It’s a perfect destination for a break Annecy is internationally renowned for its beauty and
combining city and countryside, offering a subtle balance harmonious place in such a stunning setting, as well as the
between culture, live arts, vast, unspoilt nature and outdoor quality of its lake waters. Protective measures put in place
activities, whatever the season. The town’s unmissable over 50 years ago have made its lake the purest in Europe.
bubble cable-cars whisk you up to the Fort de la Bastille, On which, those keen on getting into the great outdoors can
from where you can enjoy staggering views. make the most of a wide range of activities throughout the
A cycling-friendly city, you can easily get around Grenoble year, on Annecy’s waters and in the surrounding mountains.
Alpes by bike to explore its historic heritage, much of it Those keen on culture and heritage are well catered to,
unusual or well hidden, as well as its natural treasures. the whole area boasting a rich and absorbing history. The
A top destination for street art in Europe, Grenoble is a Annecy urban area has been awarded the much sought-
creative metropolis that stands out for the number and after label, Art et Histoire.
diversity of wall paintings created down the years for the Lac d’Annecy’s pure clear waters flow into the flowered-
various editions of its Street Art Fest’. bedecked canals that divide up the historic centre of
Chosen as European Green Capital 2022, Grenoble Annecy, the Vieille Ville, giving it its picturesque looks and
has been recognized as exemplary in switching to green its nickname of the Venice of the Alps.
technologies and working on sustainability and inclusion. www.lac-annecy.com
www.grenoble-tourisme.com
Listen to the podcast dedicated to Annecy
Listen to the podcast dedicated to Grenoble www.auvergnerhonealpes-tourisme.com/podcasts
www.auvergnerhonealpes-tourisme.com/podcasts
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BROU ROYAL MONASTERY
IN BOURG-EN-BRESSE
Whether mad about culture, history, architecture, art or
simply love, then make for this unique French monument!
The place came into being five centuries ago, thanks to the
passion of an exceptional woman, Margaret of Austria,
for her late husband. Admire the church, a masterpiece
of Flamboyant Gothic style. Inside its lace-like stone em-
bellishments stand three exceptional princely tombs. Learn
about the heart-breaking destiny of the powerful princess
who founded this place, as well as of the life of the monks
who once lived here. In the Musée des Beaux-Arts within
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the former monastery, travel through the history of art, from
the 15th century to the present. Whether with family or
friends or by yourself, discover the many sides to this place
year-round. Brou Royal Monastery encourages plastic, vi- A LITTLE BREAK
sual and performance arts for all with its surprising, lively
IN BEAUJOLAIS COUNTRY
programme of events. www.monastere-de-brou.fr
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Always ready to welcome visitors looking for an authentic
break, the Beaujolais area, in the heart of the Vallée de
la Gastronomie, surprises people with the great variety
of its landscapes, to be discovered following its Route
VALENCE
des Vins. A veritable playground for nature lovers, the
Thanks to its pedestrianized streets, well-shaded squares Beaujolais area has been designated a UNESCO World
lined with welcoming café and restaurant terraces and Geopark thanks to its geological diversity and unspoilt
colourful markets, the city of Valence has kept its old-style natural spaces. This diversity is particularly evident in its
charm. Exploring its streets, admire the Cathédrale Saint- varied vineyards, divided up into no less than 12 distinct
Apollinaire, the many faces carved out of stone covering appellations, plus 10 crus (particularly fine wine-making
the façade of the Maison des Têtes and perhaps the city’s areas). The best way to discover the area and taste its
most famous monument, the Kiosque Peynet, a bandstand fruits is to follow the Route des Vins du Beaujolais, learning
linked to a romantic French cartoon couple. As to green not just about the frothy festive fun around the November
spaces, head for Parc Jouvet, right by the town centre. Beaujolais Nouveaux tastings, but also about the many
Valence is also home to the intriguing Musée Art et characterful wines produced here, including ones that
Archéologie and the Centre du Patrimoine Arménien. age well. Along the Beaujolais Wine Route, unearth many
It’s well deserved that, along with the adjoining town of hidden treasures: gorgeous golden-stone villages; the
Romans, the two have been awarded the status and title of perched village of Oignt, a member of the association
Pays d’Art et d’Histoire de Valence Romans Agglo. Les Plus Beaux Villages de France; Beaujeu, the Beaujolais
www.valence-romans-tourisme.com area’s little historic capital; and Villefranche-sur-Saône,
boasting Renaissance splendours. Really discovering the
Listen to the podcast dedicated to Valence Beaujolais area also means meeting the men and women
www.auvergnerhonealpes-tourisme.com/podcasts here who cultivate the art of welcoming visitors with such
joy. www.destination-beaujolais.com
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villages worth exploring. There are very many character-
packed villages and little fortified towns scattered all
around the region, perfect for visitors to enjoy wandering
around. Here are some further examples: Bourbon
l’Archambault in the county of Allier, recognized since
Roman times for its thermal waters, while its thermal baths
are a listed historic monument; Sainte Urcize, perched on a
basalt outcrop at 1,000m in altitude on the Aubrac Plateau;
Crémieu, on the flat plain 40km east of Lyon, boasting an
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impressive architectural heritage and fortifications, the
earliest parts dating back to the 12th century; Chanaz,
a beautiful traditional settlement beside the Canal de
Savière linking the Rhône to Lac du Bourget; the perched
TO SOME OF OUR FINEST VILLAGES villages in the south of our region, including Saint-Vincent-
de-Barrès, its fortifications on a limestone outcrop in the
Whether perched, fortified or nestling at the bottom of a shape of a drop of water; or Charlieu in the Roannais area,
mountain valley, or then ports built by fishermen, the villages with the remnants of a magnificent Benedictine abbey at
of the Auvergne-Rhône-Alpes region reflect the varied its heart.
territories and histories of our region. No fewer than 24 of
www.les-plus-beaux-villages-de-france.org
them have become members of that august association,
Les Plus Beaux Villages de France, including, www.petitescitesdecaractere.com
notably, two newcomers, Chatillon-en-Diois in the southern
_
Vercors, boasting medieval façades, and Polignac, in the
county of Haute-Loire, renowned for its imposing fort set
firmly atop an old volcanic platform. Without naming all
24, let’s also mention Salers, a medieval fortified village
amidst the Volcans d’Auvergne, and Usson, a winemakers’
LA CHAISE-DIEU
village built out of black lava, clinging to a volcanic outcrop
Get to the heart of the exceptional history and architecture
in the county of Puy-de-Dôme, or then, moving across to
of La Chaise-Dieu Abbey via a discovery trail lasting some
the Alps, Bonneval-sur-Arc, its houses roofed with stone
two hours, making use of an audio-visual-guide, or then
tiles and nestling at the bottom of the Haute-Maurienne
accompanied by an expert accredited guide in person.
Valley, and Yvoire, a fishing village on the French side of
Admire the cloisters and abbey church dedicated to
Lake Geneva, not forgetting Pérouges, a medieval fortified
St Robert, in the midst of which stands the tomb of Pope
village in the Dombes that has rediscovered its trading
Clement VI, surrounded by 144 finely carved wooden
power thanks to the number of artists and craftspeople
stalls, while a famed fresco of a Danse Macabre, or Dance
who have set up shop there.
of Death, features above. Marvel at the iconographical
Grignan, in the county of Drôme, is also a member of sophistication shown in the series of 14 Flemish tapestries
the national association, Les Plus Beaux Villages de from the 16th century on display here; they’re unique in
France. Located between the sweet towns of Montélimar the world. Be surprised by the startling Salle de l’Écho,
and Nyons, Grignan is renowned for its castle, once a its acoustics entertaining young and old alike. All told,
stronghold of the powerful regional Adhémar family, the you’ll learn many fascinating things on your tour of this
old medieval fort transformed down the centuries into the extraordinary place. www.chaisedieu.fr
largest Renaissance castle in southeast France. It serves
as the backdrop to sumptuous theatrical shows during
Grignan’s summer evening Fêtes Nocturnes.
- 11 -GASTRONOMY
& WINE
Auvergne-Rhône-Alpes is a region
renowned for its gastronomy and
regional produce. Alpine pastures,
orchards and vineyards help make
this the richest ladder in France!
- 12 -_
LA VALLÉE DE LA GASTRONOMIE
FRANCE®
DICOVERING A LAND OF PLENTY
La Vallée de la Gastronomie-France® is a unique type of
destination, conceived to take your senses on a journey!
Exceptional produce from the land involves exceptional
encounters. It involves landscapes and climate. It involves
patience and skill. The Vallée de la Gastronomie-France®
takes you to the sources from which good taste springs,
The Vallée de la Gastronomie-France® brings together
inviting visitors to live, savour and share unforgettable
different parties involved in tourism around the sharing of
experiences. All along the Saône and Rhône Valleys and
passion and excellence.
right down to the Mediterranean, it reveals a diversity
It offers the public gastronomic and viticultural experiences
of terroirs, or specific local lands, that have created a
in extremely diverse landscapes and cultures of exceptional
gastronomic and viticultural heritage that has contributed
quality, developing the economy and attractiveness of the
to building the reputation of that French-style art of living
regions and counties concerned.
recognized by UNESCO’s listing of the French Gastronomic
Meal as part of humanity’s intangible cultural heritage.
French gastronomy owes its reputation to the many chefs
Find all the offers at:
who have worked tirelessly to share their skills, and to have
www.valleedelagastronomie.com
these recognized.
For the first time in the history of French gastronomy, four
exceptional French regions or counties, Auvergne-Rhône-
Alpes, Bourgogne-Franche-Comté, the Bouches-du-Rhône
and the Gard, have gathered together their strengths and
attractions to launch a new tourist destination dedicated
to gastronomy and the discovery of regional wines and
produce – the Vallée de la Gastronomie-France®.
Its aim is to propose a selection of culinary offers and
remarkable experiences, highlighting the exceptional
variety and richness of the regions and counties concerned,
and responding to the search by today’s travellers for
authenticity. .
- 13 -_
A RICH AND VARIED ARRAY
OF LOCAL PRODUCE
Among the region’s exceptionally large range of produce
awarded Appellation d’Origine Protégée or Appellation _ _
d’Origine Contrôlée status – 67 in total – count Bresse DID YOU KNOW?
chickens, Ardèche chestnuts, Grenoble walnuts, Nyons ROUTES DES FROMAGES
olives, Le Puy lentils, Mézence bœuf Fin Gras (exceptional
beef) and, above all, 17 AOP cheeses, including Saint- In the Auvergne STARRED RESTAURANTS
Nectaire, Cantal, Bleu d’Auvergne, Fourme d’Ambert, The Route des Fromages d’Auvergne was created 25 Auvergne-Rhône-Alpes counts as the 2nd most prized
Salers, Beaufort, Abondance and Picodon, meaning that years ago. It encourages visitors to meander along gastronomic region in France, with 99 Michelin-starred
this region can boast of presenting the largest AOP cheese magnificent roads to take in the areas where Salers, Saint- chefs in the 2021 Michelin Guide.
platter in France! To accompany all these products, foodies Nectaire, Bleu d’Auvergne, Fourme d’Ambert and Cantal
can choose from a dazzling array of wines, from Beaujolais, cheeses are produced, making up a prestigious cheese
Côtes d’Auvergne, Côtes du Rhône, Saint-Pourçain and board, full of character and variety. There are 38 stops 33 MINERAL WATERS
Savoie wines, served alongside such famed regional mineral proposed that are connected with these five, star cheeses, Vichy, Badoit, Châteldon, Volvic and Evian count among
_
waters as Vichy, Badoit, Châteldon, Volvic and Evian. including cheese-making farms, cheese-making dairies the most famous names from the region.
and cheesemongers.
www.fromages-aop-auvergne.com
BREWERIES
RESTAURANT ASSOCIATIONS In Savoie Mont Blanc
ENCOURAGING THE APPRECIATION Auvergne-Rhône-Alpes is the leading French region by
The circuits here enable visitors to go to cheese-producing
number of breweries, counting 280 scattered around the
OF REGIONAL CUISINE farms, dairies and cheese-ageing cellars.
place. That number includes 160 craft breweries, more
Eight cheeses – Abondance, Beaufort, Chevrotin, Emmen-
than in Belgium.
• Bouchons Lyonnais : www.lesbouchonslyonnais.org tal de Savoie, Raclette de Savoie, Reblochon de Savoie,
• Bistrots de Pays : www.bistrotdepays.com Tome des Bauges and Tomme de Savoie – and 74 sites
• Bistrots Beaujolais : www.beaujolais.com ORGANIC PRODUCE
are involved, helping you learn about all the stages in
• Les Toques d’Auvergne : www.toques-auvergne.fr cheese-making following the quality regulations of AOP Auvergne-Rhône-Alpes has historically figured among the
_
• Les Toques Blanches Lyonnaises : and IGP production. www.fromagesdesavoie.fr top three French regions in terms of organic production. At
www.toques-blanches-lyonnaises.com the top of the league now, the region stands out notably
for its 3,477 producers and distributors awarded organic
certification (+9% on 2021).
LES TOQUES D’AUVERGNE
This association groups together chefs in the Auvergne
who wish to share the region’s authentic products and
culinary traditions. It’s been going some 40 years
already. The association was created in 1980 and its
members have consistently acted with the same energy.
Their secret? They’re all motivated by a passion for
their career and by friendship. There are around 50
members, scattered across the Auvergne, attached to their
land and proud of it. They’re also resolutely focused on
transmitting traditions as well as incorporating modern
touches. association regroupe des Chefs auvergnats
qui ont envie tis sur l’ensemble du territoire auvergnat,
ancrés dans leur terroir et fiers de l’être et sont également
résolument tournés vers la transmission et la modernité.
www.toques-auvergne.fr
- 14 -_
SO MANY ATTRACTIONS IN TERMS
OF WINE TOURISM
400 WINERIES SIGNED UP
in the campaign (either having signed a charter or gained
an accreditation) to ensure a high-quality welcome for
wine tourists to the region (source: Unions Interprofession-
_
nelles des Vins)
10 AOP VINEYARDS
THE VINEYARDS OF AUVERGNE-
RHÔNE-ALPES All along the routes through these vineyards, passionate of which three are world famous
wine-makers and seasoned oenologists share their know- (Beaujolais, Côtes du Rhône and Vins de Savoie)
From the Alps to the border with Provence via the how with visitors, happy to lead them through a wine
Auvergne’s volcanoes, Auvergne-Rhône-Alpes boasts tasting!
lands of exceptional diversity, going from mountain summits Eleven wine-making areas in our region are now accredited 11 ACCREDITED DESTINATIONS
to lush plains, from great lakes to sweeping lavender fields. with the Vignobles & Découvertes label, indicating their Carrying the Vignobles et Découvertes label, out of
The generous sun here ripens the grapes to perfection, commitment to offering the best of welcomes to wine 70 across France (source: Atout France)
while the rich subsoils give the grapes all the minerals they tourists. All the parties involved, be they wine-makers,
need to develop their flavours to the full. These advantages accommodation providers, restaurateurs, cultural sites or
have made the region’s wines internationally renowned. others, are committed to ensuring that visitors enjoy the
Located at the heart of our region, Lyon is the gateway best of times exploring the wine theme, be they amateurs To learn all you could wish about our vineyards,
to three great wine-making areas, Beaujolais, Côtes du or great wine connoisseurs. grape varieties, ways of wine making, top wine-
Rhône and the vins de Savoie, which have helped the www.atout-france.fr producing plots (or crus) and more, head to some
city gain its reputation as a world capital of gastronomy. of the many sites dedicated to wine that are open
Further west, around Clermont-Ferrand, all those millennia to the general public, for instance: in the Beaujolais,
of volcanic activity far back in the past threw up granite, the Hameau Duboeuf and the Oenothèque du
basalt, marl and different mixes of clay which now help Château de Pizay; in the Côtes du Rhône, the
create our volcanic wines in the five growing areas of Maison Chapoutier École de Dégustation and the
AOC Côtes d’Auvergne. Cave de Tain Cooperative, or the Domaine de
The region has 10 vine-growing areas in total – Montine further down the Rhône Valley; or then,
the Rhône Valley, Beaujolais, the Vins de Savoie, in the Ardèche, Néovinum, dedicated to Ardèche
the Coteaux du Lyonnais, the Vins du Bugey, the wines.
Vins du Diois, the Côte Roannaise, the Côtes du
Forez, the Côtes d’Auvergne and the Vins de Saint-
Pourçain – and 43 AOC/AOP wine areas, plus 11
IGP wine areas.
- 15 -TO OUR SOURCES
OF WELLNESS
Our region boasts 24 thermal spa
resorts, some of them internationally
renowned, such as Evian or Vichy. Proud
of their rich histories, these resorts are
now resolutely focused on the future,
proposing distinct packages, either for
wellness of for preventive health.
- 16 -_
AIX-LES-BAINS
The tourist area of Aix-les-Bains Riviera des Alpes runs
alongside Lac du Bourget, the largest natural lake in
_
France. The town, on a human scale, boasts many tourist
attractions, all in a truly exceptional natural setting.
www.aixlesbains-rivieradesalpes.com
VICHY Aix-les-Bains has the distinction of being home to
two thermal establishments capable of providing
France’s queen of spa resorts owes it reputation in good complementary therapeutic treatments.
part to Emperor Napoleon III. When he came for a course Les Thermes Chevalley, behind the avant-garde
of treatments to help with digestive troubles, he ordered architecture, provide the latest treatments to improve
_
works on a grand scale that would profoundly alter the mobility. The 1,600m² aqua-thermal space includes pools
town’s image and encourage the construction of a whole and areas for thermal treatments. www.valvital.fr
thermal heritage that now stands out as the finest in the As to the Thermes de Marlioz, the speciality here is towards
Massif Central region, what with extravagant thermal baths, caring for respiratory issues, helping visitors breathe better, EVIAN-LES-BAINS
a grand casino, grand hotels, an opera house, villas in an offering treatments for children as well as adults. Located in
eclectic range of styles, a race course, a golf course and 10 hectares of grounds, this thermal complex includes two Set beside Lake Geneva, between the lakeside and
more, not forgetting the 140 hectares of gardens designed hotels and two restaurants, plus the spa. mountains, Evian is internationally recognized for the
_
to link the Emperor’s chalets to the pavilion built around the www.domainedemarlioz.com quality of its water. The town boasts a distinguished history
famed Les Célestins Spring beside the Allier Lake. As of as a thermal spa resort and has preserved its beautiful
July 2021, a group of eleven European thermal spa towns, heritage on the theme, the drinking kiosk and Griffon de
including Vichy, the only such town chosen in France, has la Source Cachat for example bearing witness to this past.
VALS-LES-BAINS
become a dedicated UNESCO World Heritage Site. Evian also has many iconic features and cultural facilities,
www.vichy-destinations.fr Set in a wild, unspoilt corner of southern Ardèche, Vals- including the Villa Lumière, the Palais Lumière, the Maison
Visiting Vichy, wellness fans will love Europe’s largest health les-Bains is an archetypal Belle Époque thermal spa resort Gribaldi, the theatre and the casino, not forgetting its
clinic spa, offering the widest range of programmes and attached to its traditions and history. It’s a perfect place to funicular railway. www.evian-tourisme.com
personalized treatments. www.vichy-spa-hotel.fr re-invigorate yourself in peace. www.aubenas-vals.com
The wellness space in the Thermes d’Evian provides unique
Listen to the podcast dedicated to Vichy The brand-new thermal spa SEQUOÏA REDWOOD covers multi-sensory experiences using Evian thermal waters to
_
www.auvergnerhonealpes-tourisme.com/podcasts 1,500m² and leads you into majestic surrounds combining help visitors relax, recharge their batteries and stay feeling
_
wood, water, space and light. With its wonderful natural young. www.lesthermesevian.com
setting paying homage to the forests of the Ardèche, this
place will appeal both to visitors keen on the environment,
SAINT-GERVAIS MONT-BLANC
appreciating its natural aspects, and to those who love the BRIDES-LES-BAINS
French art de vivre. www.thermesdevals.com
Saint-Gervais, the French commune, or local authority, that
At the foot of the 3 Vallées ski area, Brides-les-Bains is a
includes the iconic Mont Blanc, marvellously combines the
thermal spa resort whose hot waters are recognized for
attractions of a sporty resort, summer as well as winter, with
their properties in helping combat weight gain. All those in
those of a thermal spa resort. www.saintgervais.com
the local tourist business support the thermal spa, including
Les Bains du Mont-Blanc provide a unique sensory restaurateurs, hoteliers and more. Brides is also a winter
experience via a mix of indoor spaces and others open sports resort linked to the largest ski area in the world.
to the skies, the varied décors along the way inspired by
Le Grand Spa Thermal boasts innovative, high-quality
the long journey taken by the naturally hot thermal waters
facilities. It supports the recognized know-how developed
here to reach the surface. In addition to this, a unique extra
here to combine weight loss with reinvigorating methods,
thermal space, The Forest in the Rain, invites you to enter an
using targeted treatments and courses encouraging an
immersive journey into the plant kingdom.
overarching approach to improving well-being.
www.thermes-saint-gervais.com
www.brides-les-bains.com
- 17 -THE GREAT
OUTDOORS
Much of the French Alps, along with Mont Blanc, the volcanic craters of the Chaîne
des Puys, three-hundred-year-old oak forests and lavender fields galore – all told,
Auvergne-Rhône-Alpes is a vast, amazing playground welcoming visitors who
can take part in all manner of activities in the great outdoors here. A paradise
for cyclists, boasting 14 superbly laid-out véloroutes (cycle routes), countless
iconic passes featured in the Tour de France and six Grandes Traversées VTT
(major mountain-biking trails), the region also proves ideal for hiking holidays,
with over 33,000km of waymarked trails, including renowned ones such as the
Tour du Mont Blanc, Santiago de Compostela pilgrimage ways, the Robert Louis
Stevenson trail and the Grande Traversée des Alpes.
- 18 -_
THE GRANDE TRAVERSEE DES ALPES
This counts among the most beautiful hiking trails in the
world. From the lush green banks of Lake Geneva backed
by snowy peaks to Savoie’s Alpine meadows and on to the
perched villages behind the coast in the Alpes Maritimes,
this trail runs 620km through the finest French Alpine
_ landscapes. To complete this hike, you need to count three
to four weeks. www.grande-traversee-alpes.com
SANTIAGO DE COMPOSTELA
PILGRIMAGE WAYS
_
IN THE FOOTSTEPS OF THE HUGUENOTS
The Via Gebennensis or Voie de Genève crosses our
region from Geneva to Le Puy-en-Velay, offering stagger- Hiking trail GR®965, known as Sur les Pas des Huguenots
ing views of the Alps, the Jura, the Rhône Valley and the
(In the Huguenots’ Footsteps), is a European cultural hike
Parc Naturel Régional du Pilat along the way. Then the
_
following closely an historic route taken by Huguenots
stages through the county of Haute-Loire, passing via the
(early Protestants) fleeing into exile from France around
Massif du Meygal and high plateaux leading on to Le Puy-
1685 to 1690, after Louis XIV revoked the Edict of Nantes,
en-Velay count among the most magnificent of all. Starting
from Le Puy-en-Velay, the iconic Via Podiensis calls on repealing tolerance of French Protestantism. The French
portion of the hike starts at the Musée du Protestantisme GRANDE TRAVERSÉE DU MASSIF CENTRAL
many pilgrims and walkers to continue southwestwards. If
Dauphinois in the village of Le Poët-Laval in the Drôme. It A GROWING LEGEND
short on time, why not dedicate some fine weekends to
jumping from one section of route to another, picking out follows several valleys to reach the county of Isère and OF A MOUNTAIN-BIKING ROUTE!
iconic places full of history. Also consider the Via Arverna, then enters Savoie between Grenoble and Chambéry,
meandering through the Chartreuse Range. It’s 374km in Set up in 1995, the Grande Traversée du Massif Central,
a trail that isn’t as well known. Leaving from Clermont-
total – count roughly 29 days of walking. or GTMC to those in the know regarding iconic mountain-
Ferrand, its unspoilt track leads you through southern
www.surlespasdeshuguenots.eu biking routes, is a specialist cycle trail that can satisfy the
Auvergne, passing fine Romanesque churches; then it takes
most ardent of mountain bikers, or serve as a dream for
you meandering through Upper Auvergne, with a section
those thinking about going roaming! It has been substantially
through the Cantal Mountains, reaching 1,700m in altitude,
extended since 2018, doubling in distance. This updated
the views breathtaking. www.via-compostela.com
_
version, 1,380 km in length and by far the longest mountain-
biking trail in France, is entirely signposted and accredited
by the French Cycling Federation (FFC). It will thrill mountain
THE TOUR DU MONT BLANC bikers and gravel bikers used to tackling such major cycling
adventures, but will also appeal to those new to roaming
A must-do, unique hiking trail. From Chamonix, you head out who’d like to tackle the route on an electric mountain bike
on a circular walk around the edges of the highest peak in (VTTAE in French), an option growing rapidly in popularity.
Linking the large lakes of the Morvan area in Burgundy to
Western Europe, passing via Italy and Switzerland as well
the hot sandy beaches on France’s Mediterranean shore,
as through France, tackling majestic passes, crossing lush
the GTMC leads mountain-bikers right down through the
Alpine meadows and typical villages. The statistics: 170km
whole of France’s Massif Central, from north to south.
in total; 10,000m of shifts in altitude; seven to ten days of
www.la-gtmc.com
hiking. All told, an amazing introduction to major mountain
hiking! www.autourdumontblanc.com
- 19 -_
VIARHÔNA,
THE CYCLE ROUTE BESIDE
THE RIVER RHONE
_
ROUTE DES GRANDES ALPES®
Following the River Rhône closely for much of its 815km,
the ViaRhôna cycle route encourages all kinds of cycling This cycle route links Lake Geneva to the Mediterranean
tourists to ride between Lake Geneva and France’s around Nice. Following it, you can cross the French Alps
Mediterranean beaches. Along the way, riders can enjoy from north to south, or from south to north. To make this
an exceptional range of landscapes. The extremely varied cycling adventure more accessible to a wider number,
aspects of southern France are all on show for keen consider the possibility of electric bikes. Following in the
cyclists, from Alpine scenery to dramatic riverside spots tracks of many a Tour de France race, tackle the most iconic
_
and vineyards, plus the route crosses splendid towns such French Alpine passes (Iseran, Galibier, Izoard, Madeleine,
as Lyon, Valence, Arles and Avignon as well as many etc.), immersing yourself in the grandest of landscapes,
perched villages, not forgetting the lavender fields and experiencing an unforgettable trip by bike through our
olive groves as you reach Provence. Beyond simply cycling French mountains.
CYCLE ROUTES & GREENWAYS along, riders can make the most of the many riches of all 720 km in total (included 372 km in Auvergne-Rhône-
(VÉLOROUTES & VOIES VERTES) the areas crossed by the route, going at their own pace, Alpes) - positive climbs: 17 104 m
enjoying the fun facilities available to families with children Count between eight and fourteen days
If you’re keen on cycling, you can enjoy a concentrated too. The route alternates between stretches on separate www.routedesgrandesalpes.com
_
summary of France discovering our region by bike. With greenways, away from motorized traffic, and stretches on
almost 2,690km of routes, you’ll be spoilt for choice, quiet roads shared with motorized traffic.
whether you opt to cycle through Alpine scenery or It might be said that ViaRhôna offers a range of atmospheres
picturesque villages, beside rivers or vineyards, across along the way: a cultural atmosphere, taking you through
volcanoes or lavender fields… It’s so easy to relish cycling FURTHER CYCLE ROUTES
all the stages in French civilization, from prehistory to the
in these parts on the véloroutes, well-laid-out cycle routes present; a natural atmosphere, allowing you to explore
crossing our region, parts on quiet roads shared with Via Fluvia (V73), the cycle route linking Loire and Rhône.
unspoilt nature in these parts; and a viticultural and
motorized traffic, other sections along greenways (voies A gentle route leading you along 120km to link these two
gastronomic atmosphere, encouraging you to try out
vertes), dedicated to cycling and other non-motorized magnificent French rivers that never quite cross paths. The
the Rhône’s great variety of wines and to savour all the
modes of transport. section between Lavoûte-sur-Loire and Annonay provides
_
delicious local produce to be found round and about.
60km of well-laid-out route that are accessible to all levels
You can opt either for a roaming holiday, following
of cyclists and prove easy to cycle along.
the mighty Rhône along its length, or then for a cycling
www.viafluvia.fr
break based around a particular area or French county,
VIA ALLIER (V70) making the most of the greenways that branch off the main Véloroute du Sillon Alpin (V62/V63) : ) linking Va-
ViaRhôna route, leading you to explore further exciting lence to Lac du Bourget and Lac d’Annecy, crossing val-
This route offers a great combination of beauty, countryside areas just beyond the great river. leys around Chambéry and Annecy and going through the
and heritage sites… along with increasingly physically www.viarhona.com Grésivaudan, in total offering 365km of cycle route with
demanding parts. Starting from the town of Nevers and www.facebook.com/viarhona Alpine scenery.
435km in total length, this new cycle route follows the
River Allier on a journey across five French counties, or La Voie Bleue (V50) goes from the Luxembourg border
départements – the Nièvre, the Cher, the Allier, the Puy-de- to Lyon, this 700km cycle route following the Moselle, the
Dôme and the Haute-Loire. Canal des Vosges and the Saône. It links up with ViaRhôna
The route is generally gentle, offering easy cycling along at Lyon. www.lavoiebleue.com
the first part, a section of greenway around Vichy providing
Véloire (V71) presents cyclists with another view of the
a particularly good option for families with children. But as
Loire, leading them through verdant countryside dotted
you continue south along the Via Allier, the slopes increase,
with villages and castles along its 140km. Starting from the
the way leading you into sporty sections crossing the
thermal spa resort of Montrond-les-Bains, you follow the
Auvergne’s volcanoes, taking you to an altitude of 1,200m.
great river via small roads meandering through traditional
You finish by tackling the gorges carved out by the wild
hedge-divided fields. leroannais.com
Allier River near to its source. www.via-allier.com
- 20 -You can also read
