Description | Cuisine | Places of Interest

Young chef at our favorite place- Troigros in Roanne	Major City: Lyon, Roanne, Grenoble, St.-Etienne, Vienne Two hours from Paris by TGV train Known for the French Alps, excellent skiing, hiking, biking and outdoor activities Gastronomic capital of France with many famous chefs and our favorite, the Family Troigros in Roanne. Spas and resorts Rhone Wine Valley
Description
The Rhone-Alps region lies nestled beneath the impressive flanks of Mont Blanc, Europe's highest peak at 15,771 feet, and protector of the regions borders with Switzerland and Italy. It extends to the Rhone Wine areas west of Lyon.

The region presents an extraordinary natural environment. Stunning mountains offer some of the finest and most extensive skiing areas in the world including Three Valleys, Val d'Isère and Chamonix.  In this vast area one can stay content in an Alpine Village or join our suggested routes to the greatest chefs of  France in 2006 and 2007. 

The Rhone-Alps's two thousand-year history as a cultural crossroads has blessed the region with a rich blend of customs, architecture and sights of interest. The city of Lyon boasts an especially diverse architectural heritage dating from Gallo-Roman remains to stylish modern buildings. In this magnificent Renaissance old city, 27 museums and a multitude of shops specialize in everything from silk and antiques to marionettes.

Not far from Lyon lie the vineyards and golden-stone villages of the Beaujolais, the Dombes "land of a thousand lakes," the medieval village of Pérouges and the Roman ruins of Vienne with its yearly jazz festival.

Eastward, toward the Alps, one finds the university cities of Grenoble, full of art and folklore museums and Chambéry, with its Chateau of the Dukes of Savoy. Here also is Chartreuse, home of the Carthusian Monastery and famous for its distilled liquor. Several turn-of-the-century towns, Annecy, Aix-les Bains, Evian and Divonne-les-Bains, are as popular for their casinos and restaurants as they are for their spas.

Cuisine

But the Rhone-Alps' "pièce de résistance" is its famous cuisine. Five of France's 19 three-star Michelin chefs work their magic here, citing the quality of local produce, fish and game as the key to their success. Wish a warm reception, great cusine, a caring family and the best of Hotel and Dining?

Food in this region is an art and a science. The poultry, cheese, freshwater fish, mushrooms and wines are superb. The land of fine chefs and renowned restaurants in every price range. Savoie produces many fine cheeses such as Reblochon and Beaufort and is famous for its fondue Savoyarde. Cured meats and Gratin Dauphinois are other regional specialties.

Try our favorite, Troigros in Roanne, take the train, cross the street and be prepared for the greatest meal in France. 

Wines to enjoy and wineries to visit include:  Beaujolais, Côte Rotie, St-Julien, Saint-Joseph, Condrieu, Tain-Hermitage, Chiroubles and Julienas. To these we could easily add another twenty across the region.

Aix-les-Bains Spa resort on the Lac du Bourget; golf, casino, boat excursions to the Royal Abbey of Hautecombe

Annecy Canal-filled lakeside town, 12th century chateau, old quarter

Beaujolais Vineyards and golden-stone villages

Chamonix Site of 1st Winter Olympics in 1924, world capital of mountain climbing at the foot of Mont Blanc, excursions by cable car to Aiguille du Midi, Mer de Glace glacier

Drome Stone villages, sunflower and lavender

Grenoble Site of Winter Olympics, fine arts museum, Dauphiné and Stendhal Museum, Fort de la Bastille. Ride the cable cars for a panoramic view of the Alps

Perouges Lovely medieval village, Galette de Perouges

We are pleased to share some highlights of cities from www.francetourism.com.  You will also find us on their site under Washington State.

Enjoy Rhone Alps this year.