Skiing, spas and gastronomy

The Rhône-Alpes region in the southeast of France is probably most famous for winter sports, as it includes part of the Alps, the largest ski area in the world, and Mont Blanc, the tallest mountain in the Alps. 

Its diverse landscape allows for plenty to do or see no matter the time of year, however, such as hiking in Le Cirque du Fer national park, swimming in Alpine lakes, canoeing in the Ardèche gorges, exploring the medieval castles in the Rhône Valley, or indulging in spa treatments at Évian-les-Bains.

There’s culture, too, in the capital city of Lyon and St Etienne, famous for its design biennale. Plenty of delicacies that have become known around the world originated in the Rhône-Alpes, such as fondue, tartiflette and Valrhona chocolate, as well as cheese such as Gruyère and Comté. Add wines such as Beaujolais and Côtes du Rhône and plenty of Michelin-starred restaurants, and it’s not hard to see why this is a gourmet’s paradise too.