Tourist information on Rhone Alpes region in France
The Rhone-Alpes is a very popular region in France, especially when it comes to skiing, adventure sports and outdoor activities, as it is home to skiing resorts like Chamonix and Courcheval along with the deepest gorge in Europe and the famous lake Geneva, so it is a popular destination for a family camping holiday in France both in summer and in winter.
Travelling to the Rhone Alpes Region
There are quite a number of different ways you can get to the Rhone Alpes region and the first most obvious one is by road, which is of course the logical way if you have your own tent, caravan or motorhome. Taking one of the short ferry crossings to France and entering France at the port of Calais you could opt for the A16 to A6 route, but this will take you round Paris, and lots of people do not like navigating the periphery, as we have found out in the past!
Rhone Alpes Chateau de la Roche
Another route will bypass Paris altogether and take you through Reims in the Champagne Ardenne region and Dijon in the Burgundy region, so if you have a chance to stop on your way through, then these two regions are well known for their French wines and other specialities of cuisine.
However, if you do not wish to be driving in France, yet would like to spend a short break in Paris, the capital city of France, then travel on to the Rhone Alpes region, this is very easy to achieve, as you can get the Eurostar passenger train into Paris then take the high speed train to Lyon, which only takes just over 2 hours.
The other option is to take one of the cheap flights to France and there are many to choose from including Easyjet that go from lots of different destinations in the UK and this is a great idea if you want a skiing holiday in France where you can either get car hire or if you want to book one of the package deals where you are transported directly to the ski resort from the airport.
Information, tourist attractions and places to visit in the Rhone Alpes Region in France
To the North are the Burgundy and Franche Comte regions and then the East goes to the borders of Switzerland and Italy, with the famous Mont Blanc being on the border between France and Italy. To the South is the Provence Alpes Cote d’Azur region, which many refer to as the French Riviera, to the South West of the region is Languedoc Roussillon and to the West is the Auvergne region.
So now you know where it is, but did you know that this is the largest region in France? And in fact, due to numerous kinds of industry along with high tech companies and international companies such as Hewlett Packard making this region their base, the Rhone Alpes has become the second most prosperous area of France after the Ile de France region.
Rhone Alpes Chateau d'Annecy
The city of Lyon is the regions capital and this city is actually the second largest metropolitan area after Paris, which means it is a lively place with numerous shops, boutiques, bars and restaurants so you can experience the French food and atmosphere. Yet Lyon is also a very historic city that has been classed as a world heritage site, as the history of the city spans over 2000 years with lots of old architecture and historical buildings you can visit.
However, there are also lots of rural areas, but tourism has taken over in these parts and plays a very important role in the regions economy, as during the summer people go for the adventure sports and then in winter for skiing holidays, especially when you consider that two of the most prestigious ski resorts are located in the Alpine area of the Rhone Alpes.
Also, this region has the start of the Massif Central Mountain Range, which was created from volcanic activity and it is in this area that you will find the highest peak in Europe called Mont Blanc. But another claim to fame, is the fact that the Rhone Alpes is also home to the deepest gorge in Europe within the Ardeche region. And it is here that you will find the Pont d’Arc at the top end of the Ardeche gorges, which is the famous natural bridge that crosses the river that so many people have either visited or seen pictures of.
The Rhone-Alpes also contains some major lakes such as Lac Leman, also known as Lake Geneva and Lac du Bourget, which is the largest freshwater lake in Europe. In addition to this. there are the marshlands of the Dombes that are ideal for bird watching and here you will be able to discover the Beaujolais vineyards and then you have the Rhone Valley, which is where you will find the Cotes du Rhone vineyards. And who can go on a camping holiday to France without experiencing one or two glasses of the famous French wines!
So, in summary you have the French Alps for skiing and snowboarding, with resorts such as Courchevel and Chamonix, which are some of the best internationally renowned skiing holiday resorts in the world and the lively city of Lyon for its culture, shopping and its history to enjoy.
But along with the mountains, pretty and quaint spa towns characterise the rugged Ardeche, and the deeply scoured gorges along the River Ardeche offer some of the wildest and most beautiful scenery in France and the Ardeche area of the Rhone Alpes offers many different adventure sports such as rafting and climbing.
There are also lots of historical buildings you can visit such as an ornate gothic church, cathedrals and much more, plus, in the Rhone-Alpes region you will find lots of leisure parks, which is an ideal way of enjoying some time with the family. Whether you prefer fun fairs and theme parks like Walibi or the pirate amusement park with shows etc called Miripili, historic parks where old villages have been restored, wildlife parks such as Domaine des Fauves with its big cats and bird of prey or stretches of water to bathe in summer, just like the area by the natural bridge at Pont d’Arc, you will find all the activities in this area.
There is also a steam railway that takes you through the Ardeche and old spa towns along with wine tasting visits. But for those of you who prefer night life, you will find lovely restaurants, fantastic bars and clubs plus several casinos, where you can always try your luck in a luxurious setting and much more for a fun and fulfilling camping holiday in France.
Also, you will be pleased to know that there are many different types of French campsites in the Rhone Alpes that you could stay at on your camping holiday, like ones that already has a swimming pool complex to enjoy, or what about one of the French campsites with fishing available on site, but if you are travelling with children then you may want one of the campsites with kids club.
