Rhone-Alpes holiday apartments, homes and villas

Why choose a holiday home in Rhone-Alpes?

The doctor and the crystal-hunter were speechless. At nearly 16,000 feet atop what is now known as Mont Blanc, they were the first to stand upon Europe's highest peak. Since that August day in 1786 when Paccard and Balmat made history, millions of people have visited the Rhone-Alpes region of France.

If you golf, rides horses, or cycle you may find yourself in Ain on the Swiss border. You could encounter extreme sports practitioners in the market town called Bourg en Bresse. A day of travel might begin with Pogne de Romans, a rum and orange flour flavored Brioche made with eggs.

You can whet your appetite for adventure in Ardeche with white water rafting in narrow gorges and spectacular canyons. Castles, caves, vineyards and spa towns are blended with growers who produce the chestnuts used in gratins, soups, and ragouts throughout the country.

Cuisine lovers flock to Montelimar in Drome where the lavender, sunflowers, and lime groves come in second to its 17th century almond nougat. It's difficult to depart the medieval center, crammed with specialty shops, unless you are continuing south to Nyons for tasty olives and apricots.

In Haute-Savoie you can drink Evian water from the source, explore the principal ski area in France, and bicycle through gracious spa towns. You will find yourself comparing the charms of Chamonix and the city of Grenoble in Isere.

Chamonix hosted the first Winter Olympic Games in 1924, Grenoble entertained the world in 1968, and Albertville in Savoie produced the 16th edition of the winter games in 1992.

You can enjoy plenty of activity on France's largest freshwater lake where they have mastered the art of "the royal treatment". Queen Victoria frequently enjoyed scones with tea at Aix-les-Bains on Bourget Lake.

It may be fair to say that this area of France dominates the world of skiing and snowboarding with its vast diversity of resorts and amenities. Imagine having the time to explore and experience it all like a "local".

Contribution post: 18 July 2010