Rhône-Alpes

Variety is the key word here, with landscapes ranging from the clay plateau of Dombes and its lakes to mountain peaks in Savoie, not to mention Mediterranean flora in the Drôme.
Dominating the Saône Valley, the Dombes plateau and its cluster of lakes extend to the outskirts of Lyon. To the west, the vineyards carpeting the Rhône Valley produce excellent wines that have won international acclaim while the east prides itself on the imposing Mont Blanc. The south, too, offers some splendid sights: spectacular gorges in the Ardèche, raised plateaux in the Vercors and fragrant lavender fields in the Drôme.
The Alps constitute the largest skiing resort in the world, with a total of 6,000 kilometres of pistes and trails. In winter, its slopes are visited by tourists as well as by professionals. In summer, the mountains are the setting for more restful hobbies like touring La Vanoise Lakes, hiking in the Ardèche Cévennes or exploring the countryside around Mont Aiguille. Such contrasts are also illustrated by the changing moods of the rivers. The furious, swirling cascades of the Cirque du Fer à Cheval are a far cry from the calm, lapping waters of the Geneva, Annecy and Le Bourget Lakes.
The artistic and architectural heritage of the Rhône-Alpes region bears witness to the successive waves of colonisation that swept the area: prehistoric caves, medieval castles belonging to the Dukes of Savoy in Chambéry, Cistercian abbey of Aiguebelle in the Drôme, Renaissance quarter in Lyon.
Sightseeing can prove to be an exhausting activity. But you will soon perk up after sampling some of the local delicacies: gratin dauphinois, raclette or fondue, poached balls of spinach and eggs (ravioles) from Romans, sausages or tripe washed down with a glass of Beaujolais, Côtes du Rhône or Mondeuse.

Get more tourist information: http://www.rhonealpes-tourism.co.uk/