Paris Strasbourg FRANCHE-COMTÉ eneva Paris ke G La BOURGOGNE Col de la Faucille Évian-les-Bains 1 323 m Gex Loire Thonon- is SWITZERLAND Saône se Aéroport la Bres les-Bains hab Mâcon A39 Parc Naturel international C de Genève HAUTE-SAVOIE A40 Régional A404 Genève Morzine du Haut-Jura Annemasse Bourg- Nantua Bellegarde Les Gets s en-Bresse Bonneville i la A40 is o A41 Samoëns j c a u s A410 A40 Milan e n n ea A6 b Aéroport d'Annecy n B a a Roanne m s Chamonix l o o B i B R D AIN v Mont-Blanc u t Villefranche- a n g Annecy La Clusaz r o en-Beaujolais Ain e A M y Lac Megève St-Gervais u L f d Clermont-Ferrand RHÔNE oir A42 d’Annecy ssi y a Mont Blanc e l M M A89 Lac du Bourget r 4 810 m A89 A o ' n d A41 l Col du Petit t A432 Parc Naturel a s Belley St-Bernard Aéroport V d international Aix-les- Régional Albertville 2 188 m A72 u F LYON de Lyon - Bains L o M LOIRE y Saint Exupéry Chambéry- des Bauges n r Beaufortai e o Savoie A430 e o z n A43 s Les Arcs n n La Tour- Chambéry i t Montbrison a ta s is du-Pin A43 n re d St-Étienne- Lac A43 Ta La Plagne u Bouthéon Val d’Isère A47 d’Aiguebelette Moûtiers Tignes F Vienne o Parc Col de l’Iseran r Méribel Courchevel e 2 770 m z Parc La Côte- Parc Naturel SAVOIE National St-Étienne A48 A43 c St-André Régional Ar Lac de Grangent Naturel Les Ménuires de la Vanoise Grenoble-Isère e Régional de Chartreuse n Val-Thorens n St-Jean- A7 ISÈRE o du Pilat A41 d de-Maurienne e M Modane ll a re e u Col du Annonay B rie A49 Isè nne Mont-Cenis AUVERGNE Valloire 2 081 m Grenoble Col du Villard- L’Alpe-d’Huez Galibier Romans- de-Lans A51 2 645 m Tournon- sur-Isère Col du sur-Rhône Les Deux Alpes Lautaret Le Puy- 2 058 m s Parc National en-Velay i a Valence Parc Naturel Col de r Ois des Écrins a an Montgenèvre v Drac s i Régional 1 850 m - Milan Turin V Valence- u du Vercors d Chabeuil Loire s ARDÈCHE nt Die o Rhône Col de la M Privas Drôme Croix-Haute Parc Naturel Régional Vals-les-bains Gap des Monts d'Ardèche Diois Aubenas Col de Cabre Montélimar DRÔME 1 180 m Largentière D rôm e A7 p Vallon Pont d'Arc ro Ardèche v Nyons en ça le Digne- les-Bains L e Ventoux LANGUEDOC- Avignon ROUSSILLON Rhône Nîmes Nic Arles Nice - Italy Montpellier PROVENCE- Cannes ALPES- Aix-en-Provence CÔTE-D’AZUR Spain Côte d'Azur Marseille Mediterranean Toulon 25 km Sea ©latitude-cartagène From the Alps TO Provence p. 4 TO 9 - The height of innovation p. 10 TO 15 - From the earth to the stars p. 16 TO 21 - Art and Culture p. 22 TO 27 Nic - Winter sports and summer too p. 28 TO 33 From the Alps to Provence From Mont Blanc rising majestically Connecting one to the other is the stately above the Chamonix Valley to the serene River Rhône, hugged by ViaRhôna, a long countryside bordering Provence ribbon of greenways and cycle paths in the south, Rhône-Alpes is a region that will soon lead from Lake Geneva all of many faces. It boasts a palette of myriad the way to the beaches of the Mediterranean. hues, from the bright white Alpine peaks A hymn to nature ripe for exploring, like to the verdant lowlands of the Forez the vineyards of the Beaujolais, province west of Lyon, the stunning a favourite with wine buffs and foodies, turquoise of vast Alpine lakes to the pinkish the Ardèche Gorge, wending its way down purple of Drôme Provençale lavender to the Rhône from Vallon Pont d’Arc, — 5 fields, the ochre façades of Vieux Lyon and the shores of the Alpine lakes. to the flaming reds of autumn in the Rhône Valley orchards. Caring for nature Protecting the natural environment and rich biodiversity that thrives in our mountain areas is part of Rhône-Alpes’ proactive environmental policy. In addition to the region’s two national parks (the Vanoise and Écrins) and six regional — nature parks (Haut Jura, 6 Bauges, Chartreuse, Vercors, Pilat and Monts d’Ardèche), the The legendary countryside is protected by twenty-six national Alps and twelve regional nature reserves. From the Alpine giants to the eastern Dizzying heights fringes of the Massif Central and lower foothills of the Jura, the region offers an incomparable The lower-lying, gentler uplands diversity of mountain landscapes. of Haut Jura, the Vercors, the Pilat Dominated by Mont Blanc, and the Monts d’Ardèche offer more this ‘world above’, as it was known restful surroundings. Lulled in ancient times, stretches by the soft rush of distant waterfalls, in an endless series of peaks, cols, tree-lined paths lead to villages valleys and mountain pastures proud to boast their age-old from the Chablais to the Beaufortain, traditions. A source of inspiration the Tarentaise to Belledonne and fresh air, the sunny hills and the Maurienne to the Oisans. of the Lyonnais, Forez, Vivarais, Like sentinels fashioned by time Bugey and Beaujolais are crammed and the elements, these giants full of natural treasures. of stone and ice, from the Aiguille du Midi to La Meije, are the realm of sunshine and eternal snowfields, there to be conquered by those who dare. Urban attraction A shoppers’ paradise Rhône-Alpes’ main cities are a showcase of French creative flair and a favourite haunt of shopaholics. In Lyon, the creations of brilliant local fashion designers vie for attention with the goods in the Village des Créateurs alongside top luxury brand boutiques, — while the city’s Les Halles 7 Paul Bocuse indoor A European crossroads at the gastro market is a haven SOAKING UP THE ATMOSPHERE for foodies. confluence of the rivers Rhône The shoemaking capital and Saône, Lyon is a major destin- Romans draws the eye Another of the region’s great cities, ation thanks to its architectural with Marques Avenue, finery and gastronomic reputation. Saint Etienne is not just famous a shoppers’ paradise, Once capital of the Gauls, the city for its football team. This former and the shopping centres is home to a wealth of interest mining city has successfully at Part-Dieu and designated World Heritage Sites transformed itself, establishing Confluence in Lyon and by Unesco: Fourvière Hill with its a reputation as an international Bonne and Grand’Place in Grenoble pull in the basilica and Gallo-Roman remains; centre of design and joining Unesco’s prestigious Creative Cities Network. crowds. And every the medieval Vieux Lyon quarter; Sunday morning It’s a must-see. If you want to get Bellecour, Europe’s largest bargain-hunters flock pedestrianised square, and more. up high, head for Grenoble, to Les Puces du Canal Places of historical importance the Porte des Alpes and the Bastille antiques market that contrast with the forward- Fortress. This bastion clinging in Villeurbanne. looking character of a major city to the mountainside is accessible undergoing a metamorphosis, in the city’s amazing ‘bubbles’ boasting new developments such cable car, and from this vantage as the Confluence district, point the visitor is treated which has inspired top architects. to unrivalled views over the city with the Alps stretching beyond. A few kilometres from Chambéry, the proud, elegant capital of Savoie home to the famous Fontaine des Eléphants, Annecy is a town that never fails to charm. The Venice of the Alps is the perfect place to linger, exploring the cobblestone passages of the old town and the shore of Lake Annecy, shimmer- ing like silver on a summer’s day. Lastly, Valence, at the meeting point of the Rhône and Isère Valleys, forms the gateway to the Midi… ViaRhôna, the riverside way The ambitious V2 cycle route project will ultimate- ly connect the shore of Lake Geneva with the beaches of the Medi- terranean. The banks of the Rhône are becoming — a new-found haven 8 of motor-free travel, gradually transformed into greenways and cycle Water , water lanes, with several sections already in use. everywhere This stunning riverside journey explores a wealth of natural and heritage interest along the way Bossons, Tête Rousse, Grande 7,000 kilometres and will run for almost Motte… From the glaciers 700 kilometres, 450 of the Alps to the fish-stocked of them in Rhône-Alpes. lakes of La Dombes, water in all of watercourses its forms is present throughout Overarching the region’s countryside. The Blue The Loire, France’s longest river, Gold is everywhere, forming may begin its long journey across beauty France’s largest natural reservoir. the country from the Monts du Vivarais, but the region’s great At the bottom of the Home to three of the country’s artery is the Rhône. This vast Ardèche Gorge, in five largest bodies of water, watery backbone irrigates magnificent surround- all eight of the region’s départe- ings where the land Lakes Annecy, Bourget and Geneva, meets the water, ments, from Ain to Drôme and Isère Rhône-Alpes forms a watery the Pont d’Arc is landscape of remarkable diversity. to Ardèche, their names in turn a natural attraction Black or crystal clear, wild or tamed, a tribute to the smaller yet major visited by thousands Paladru, Monteynard, Nantua, rivers that course through of kayakers every year.