Rhône-Alpes Overview

As the Alps-bound train leaves the rolling countryside and begins its long climb into the mountains, riders abandon their newspapers to watch a stunning transition: hills give way to craggy peaks, calm rivers to rushing torrents, and lazy cows to dashing mountain goats. High in the Alps, vast snowfields and glaciers look down on mountainsides blanketed with wildflowers. The region’s stunning beauty draws not only those who want to admire it but also those who want to experience it up close: world-class athletes descend on the area each year to hike, bike, ski, and climb its majestic peaks. A trip to the region isn’t complete without at least a glimpse of Mont Blanc—Western Europe’s highest peak—but the gentler ranges of the Chartreuse and Vercors, dotted with tiny glacial lakes, provide an equally rewarding visit. Summer and winter visitors will find the most dependable weather and, naturally, the biggest crowds.

The region offers ancient attractions alongside the ultramodern, natural next to manmade wonders. Lyon, France’s third-largest city, is the regional hub. In Annecy, architectural achievements take a back seat to those of Mother Nature; the pristine Lac d’Annecy is fringed by mountains, making the city a paradise for hikers and sailors. Higher up in the mountains, skiing is the main attraction, but the hotels in Chamonix and Val d’Isère are also packed in the summer when outdoors enthusiasts come to scale the rugged peaks.