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Auvergne-Rhone-Alpes, region of east-central France created in 2016 by the union of Auvergne and Rhone-Alpes. It is bounded by the regions of Centre, Bourgogne-Franche-Comte, Nouvelle-Aquitaine, Occitanie, and Provence–Alpes–Cote d’Azur and by Italy and Switzerland. The capital is Lyon.
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45.7588894.8413891 Lyon— capital of the region and one of France's largest cities45.8991676.1294442 Annecy— charming old town and stunning lake, with a wealth of canals44.9252782.4397223 Aurillac— the end of August brings the annual street theatre festival45.5663895.9208334 Chambéry— once the capital of the Duchy of Savoie, and the birthplace of the Rights of Man46.0076.683121 Le Grand Massif- one of France's top skiing areas at a relatively low altitude.45.8326226.8651752 Mont Blanc - at 4,810 m, is the highest summit in the European Union.46.1747576.8060543 Portes du Soleil- international skiing destination on the Franco-Swiss border.45.73.2166674 Puy-de-Dôme- stunning rock pinnacle topped with antennae, often hidden in clouds. Look out for eagles.Auvergne-Rhône-Alpes has a huge diversity of landscapes due to its climactic and topographic variation. The topography of the region consists of two areas of high elevation, divided by the Rhône Valley, which runs north-south. The western mountains are part of the Massif Central. It is an area of high hills and plateaux, mostly made of old, acidic ...
French is the first language of nearly everyone living in the region, and locals will appreciate all efforts at speaking French even if your proficiency is not great. Like elsewhere in France, Auvergne-Rhône-Alpes has its own regional languages which still cling on despite an almost complete lack of support from the government. Native to the Alpine...
By train
Paris to Lyon was the first TGV (Train à Grande Vitesse, high-speed train) route to be unveiled all the way back in 1981, and it is still the SNCF's flagship route. Journey times from the appropriately named Paris Gare de Lyon are an impressive 2 hours, much quicker than driving. Lyon is also only 1 hr 45 from Marseille, and around 3 hours from Lille, which has many connections all over northern Europe. Many other destinations in the eastern half of the region are accessible from Paris at aro...
By car
From Paris, Lyon is around 5 hours in good traffic on the A6 autoroute (motorway), while Clermont-Ferrand is around 6 hours via the A10 and A71 autoroutes. The A89 brings traffic from the west - Bordeaux and the rest of Nouvelle-Aquitaine, while the A7 is the main highway bringing traffic from the south, that is to say Marseille and the rest of Provence-Alpes-Côte d'Azur. There are two tunnels through the Alps from Italy, both leading from Turin. The A6 passes near Dijon, which is a hub for a...
By car
The main motorways (autoroutes, denoted by A##) and routes nationales(denoted by N##) of Auvergne-Rhône-Alpes are: 1. A6: Bourgogne-Franche-Comté, from Beaune/Paris, Mâcon, Lyon (A42, A43, A46), continues as A7 2. A7: continuation of the A6 Lyon, N88, Vienne, Valence (N532), Montélimar, Provence-Alpes-Côte d'Azur, towards Marseille 3. A40 / N205: from A6 near Mâcon, A39, Bourg-en-Bresse, A42, Geneva (A41), Cluses (for Samoëns, Le Grand Massif, Portes du Soleil), (continues as N205), Saint-Ger...
By train
Aside from the TGV, which links the main cities and ski resorts in the eastern half of the region (i.e. the former Rhône-Alpes), the main provider of rail services is TER Auvergne-Rhône-Alpes. The network is extensive, as you can see on this network map, but the service can be rather slow if you're going a long way. You will find the train to be very good value, however. The few towns which don't have direct rail access are served by SNCF buses (autocars) which link in with the train network...
Mountains! There are literally hundreds to explore, across two primary ranges: 1. In the west, the Massif Central is a medium-height range with lush green slopes and extinct volcanoes to explore. In fact, the Auvergne is the largest volcanic region in Europe, though the volcanoes themselves are all dormant or extinct. The Puy-de-Dôme is the most we...
In the summer, the region is well known for paragliding, hiking, climbing and canoeing. Particularly attractive are the areas around the Ardèche, Mont-Blanc, Vanoise and Vercors.
The regional wine scene is dominated by the Rhone Valley (Côtes du Rhône). Wines of this appellation generally use Grenache grapes for reds and rosés, and Grenache blanc for whites. More premium varieties have a legally-required higher Grenache content, because the French government has its priorities sorted. The superior versions are called Côtes ...
The accommodation base in Auvergne-Rhône-Alpes is extensive and varied. Every town has at least one hotel, while large cities such as Lyon and resorts such as Chamonix have dozens. The self-catering (gîte) options are abundant as well, from cozy cottages and urban apartments to luxury chalets. The French are keen campers, and so most villages in ev...
Lyon, the capital city in France’s Auvergne-Rhône-Alpes region, sits at the junction of the Rhône and Saône rivers. Its centre reflects 2,000 years of history from the Roman Amphithéâtre des Trois Gaules, medieval and Renaissance architecture in Vieux (Old) Lyon, to the modern Confluence district on Presqu'île peninsula.
Nov 9, 2023 · This map shows regions and region capitals in France. Size: 1100x1007px / 271 Kb. Author: Ontheworldmap.com. Regions And Capitals: Region. Capital. Auvergne-Rhône-Alpes. Lyon. Bourgogne-Franche-Comté.
Jan 18, 2024 · A "Best-Of-The-Alps" resorts, the world capital of mountaineering and the mecca for open-air activities, it is also the perfect place for world-class excursions (Aiguille-du-Midi, Mer-de-Glace). Authentic Alpine town with a thriving cultural scene, world-class sporting events, and an amazing variety of recreational activities.
Oct 12, 2023 · Planning a visit to Grenoble, the capital of the Alps? Here's a list of the best things to do in Grenoble as suggested by a local.
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Jan 6, 2024 · Lyon is the capital of the Auvergne-Rhône-Alpes region, so I highly recommend booking your hotels here in advance! Quick Picks for Your Stay. Here are the best hotels in Lyon for different budgets, all in Presqu’Ile: Best Luxury hotel: Intercontinental Lyon. Best Mid-range hotel: Mercure Lyon Centre. Best Budget hotel: Hôtel Vaubecour. Contents.
