The sky is the limit in this region of France for things to do, from the towering summits of the French Alps to the spires and rooftops of the villages and towns.
Down in the south of the region, the Drôme is more sun drenched and the hills of the Ardèche are full of chirruping cicadas during the summer months.
In the départements of Savoie and Haute Savoie - buffeting the Italian border - the snow capped mountains rule whatever the season.
Six natural parks, 28 nature reserves, some of the most prolific lakeside scenery in France and six thousand metres of ski runs all add up to make the Rhône Alpes one of the most diverse holiday environments in France.
Non skiers take heart, there are plenty of specialist touring itineraries to choose from - for a few days, to over a week.
Wine lovers will want to make for the Beaujolais route which takes in nearly all of the major Beaujolais wine producers in the Rhône - and you can take a detour to those that produce some of the crisp white Pouilly wines; the Bresse route for food lovers or the silk road around Lyon.
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- Bourg en Bresse is famous for its chickens which are appellation contrôlée
- Dombes with its glacier is natural wonder
- Unspoilt medieval Pérouges is a film director’s favourite
...more about Ain
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| Ardèche |
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- Vallon Pont d'Arc's famous limestone arch is a favourite picnic spot
- Abundant caves and potholes to explore and prehistoric paintings
- Hermitage vineyards near Annonay and river rafting in the gorges
...more about Ardèche
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| Drôme |
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- Nougat centre Montélimar's narrow streets have changed little since medieval times
- Market town Valence is a good base for exploring the vineyards around Die
- Wine lovers head for the famous Hermitage vines planted more than 2000 years ago
...more about Drôme
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| Haute-Savoie |
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- Chamonix draws the crowds in winter and summer
- Annecy on the lake of the same name has been popular since Victorian times
- Evian les Bains on Lake Léman is better known than its prettier neighbour Yvoire
...more about Haute-Savoie
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| Isère |
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- Hi-tech centre Grenoble's modern art museum includes works by Monet and Picasso
- Lesser known ski resorts of L'Alpe d'Huez and Les Deux Alpes
- Parc des Ecrins is a mountain walker's paradise
...more about Isère
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| Loire |
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- St Etienne is the Ville Verte and has a good modern art museum
- For gastronomy head for Roanne – which has also its own AOC wine
- Medieval history in Montbrison – where time has stood still
...more about Loire
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| Rhône |
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- Lyon, France’s second largest city, is a centre for gastronomy and caters for all tastes
- Fine Arts Museum in Lyon is second only to the Louvre
- Beaujolais has a lot more to offer than the infamous Nouveau
...more about Rhône
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| Savoie |
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- Courchevel, Méribel and Val d'Isère - this is skiing country par excellence
- Spa town Aix les Bains popular with Victorians is still busy today
- Outdoor sports are all accessible from Chambéry
...more about Savoie
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