Grenoble
The beautiful university town of Grenoble, known in France as
the 'Capital of the Alps', is situated on the Drac and Isère
Rivers, and is surrounded by proud mountains, dramatic gorges and
hidden valleys. The city's history goes back 2,000 years and
visitors can still see the last remnants of the Roman wall which
fortified the city in 286 AD. Grenoble is also known in modern
history for its resistance efforts during World War II.
Today it is a prosperous, lively and cosmopolitan city,
well-known for its industrial and scientific advances and a base
for companies involved in the chemical, nuclear research and
electronics industries. More obviously to visitors, it is home to
40,000 students, many international. There are some excellent walks
among the mountains surrounding the city and there are ski slopes
within easy driving distance; head to the Parc Naturel Regional du
Vercors for stunning landscapes and outdoor activities. For many
tourists Grenoble is simply a stopover before heading further into
the Alps, but the city has plenty of attractions of its own. Before
visiting, take a scenic ride on the distinctive egg-shaped
suspended cable cars known as 'Les Bulles'. Grenoble also has some
great little museums including the Archaeological Museum, the Musee
de Grenoble and the Musee Dauphinois.
Grenoble
Guillaume Piolle
Aix-les-Bains
Aix-les-Bains is a popular and fashionable family holiday resort
and spa town located on the eastern side of Lac du Bourget, the
largest natural freshwater lake in France. Although the lake is icy
cold, visitors can sail, fish, play golf and tennis, or picnic on
the parkland at the water's edge. Taking a cruise on the lake for a
few hours is a must.
The main town of Aix is two miles (3km) inland from the lake and
has been built around its thermal springs. Many small hotels line
the streets, and streams of holiday visitors take to the baths each
day; in the evening, for a change of pace, they play the slot
machines at the Aix-les-Bains casino or attend tea dances. The
Musee Faure is a great art gallery boasting the second largest
collection of Rodin's work in France, as well as art by Bonnard,
Degas, Pissaro and Cezanne. The old Benedictine Abbey, Abbaye
d'Hautecombe, is also definitely worth a visit: this gothic
building is stunningly situated on the lake and can be reached
either by boat or by driving along the lovely, winding road. The
abbey houses some very significant tombs including that of the last
king of Italy.
Abbaye d'Hautecombe
Mathis73
Annecy
Situated 80 miles (129km) east of Lyon, the holiday destination
of Annecy has a magical setting on the shore of Lake Annecy, at the
foot of the French Alps. It has been called the 'Venice of the
Alps' because of the web of canals that cut through the Annecy old
town. Annecy is probably the best base for a holiday in the
Haute-Savoie region because of its location, conveniently situated
near many interesting towns and attractions.
Just six miles (10km) to its west is Gorges du Fier, a dramatic
river gorge; a gangway takes visitors through a narrow gully that
has been cut by a torrent of water over the eons. Emerging from
this labyrinth, visitors are greeted by a huge expanse of boulders.
The site is closed to the public between mid-October and mid-March.
Visitors can also take a cruise on the ice-blue lake for which the
town is famous. The area is great for hiking and one of the most
popular (though not easy) hikes is on La Tournette mountain, which
gives visitors astounding views of the lake and the Alps and boasts
some picturesque waterfalls. The trail is well marked and the
steepest rock scrambles have rails installed. La Tournette looms
over the small town of Montmin, a pretty 30-minute drive from
Annecy.
Address:
80 miles (129km) east of Lyon
Lake Annecy
Guilhem Vellut
Evian-les-Bains
Evian-les-Bains, on the southern end of Lake Geneva, is famous
for its mineral water, which has been bottled since the early 18th
century, when tests revealed that the water has astonishing
curative qualities and it began to be used for medicinal purposes.
Evian is a popular holiday spot with the French as well as foreign
visitors, with the majority of travellers coming to this chic
holiday resort principally to enjoy the creature comforts and spa
facilities of the deluxe Evian-les-Bains hotels. The town has been
a fashionable resort since the early 1800s, and much of its
architecture comes from that century and the 1920s, making it an
attractive city to stroll through.
Aside from the springs, there are many things to do in
Evian-les-Bains, including golf, sailing, hiking, river rafting and
rock climbing. The Lac Leman offers many activities and a visit to
Evian-les-Bains is incomplete without a boating excursion of some
kind to continue the liquid tradition of the place. One of the many
attractions visitors can reach by boat is Les Jardins de L'eau du
Pre Curieux where one can tour the gardens and water museum. The
Casiono d'Evian, the largest themed casino in Europe, is also a big
draw for some visitors.
Evian-les-Bains
Cristian Bortes
Briançon
Perched among the French Alps, Briançon is the highest town in
Europe. The town is divided into the lower town, where the Durance
and Guisane rivers meet and much of the modern amenities lie; and
the walled and fortified upper town, which was built in the 17th
century to defend the town from Austria and so contains the most
interesting historical sights.
Briançon is a paradise for outdoor sports enthusiasts. Part of
the massive Serre-Chevalier ski area, which also includes
Saint-Chaffrey, La Salle le Alpes, and Monêtier les Bains, it
enjoys up to 300 days of sunshine per year. But the town is a
popular tourist area in summer as well, drawing visitors to see its
citadelle, forts, and sundials, as well as to enjoy activities like
hiking, kayaking and rock climbing. Briançon is also the site of
one of the most thrilling stages of the Tour de France. Situated
only six miles (10km) from the Italian border, Briançon has a
distinctly Italian feel compared to other towns in Provence. There
are a number of good pizzerias and some lively bars popular with
tourists, but few French restaurants.
Briancon
Raffaele Sergi
Talloires
The small village of Talloires has fashioned a booming tourist
industry from the very best in raw ingredients: medieval
architecture, charming locals, and picturesque surroundings ripe
with opportunity for both summer and winter sports. Lake Annecy is
filled with holidaymakers swimming, sailing and waterskiing in the
summer and land-based activities like golf, hiking, paragliding,
horseback riding and tennis are also popular. In the winter,
Talloires takes advantage of its location near several popular
French ski resorts, including Megève, Espace Diamant, and La
Clusaz.
The area of Talloires has been settled since Neolithic times and
the village has a rich history and a number of old buildings. The
abbey dates back to 1016, although the current structure was built
in 1681. Tufts University has its European Center in the
11th-century structure that was once the Benedictine priory in
Talloires. For those more interested in historical sightseeing than
outdoor activities strolling the streets of the town is rewarding.
And visitors should be sure to sample the delicious local cuisine
as well, as the town has some top-notch restaurants.
Talloires
Scott Williams
The French Alps offer lots of sunshine, but cold weather from
November to April when the ski season is in full swing. The resorts
are generally high and the snow is excellent, although the weather
is relatively mild in comparison to the North American resorts. The
northern French Alps, which are exposed to westerly winds blowing
in off the Atlantic, often receive a lot more snow in winter than
areas further to the east, which have a drier and colder
continental climate. In the summer months, the northern French Alps
enjoy a warm, temperate climate, with fairly frequent summer storms
that keep the region lush and green. The alpine spring is very
beautiful with wild flowers blooming all over the mountain
pastures. The southern part of the French Alps is generally dry but
the highest areas do receive sufficient snow in winter to provide
excellent skiing conditions. During the summer months the cool,
sunny weather attracts hikers and climbers.
The French Alps are a year-round holiday destination. The skiing
season runs from November to April and the slopes can get crowded
over Christmas and Easter holidays. The best time to visit the
French Alps for hiking is between July and September when the
weather is sunny and predictable and the high snows have
melted.
Chambéry – Savoie Airport
Location: The airport is located 6 miles (about 10km) north of
Chambéry.
Time: Local time is GMT +1 (GMT +2 between last Sunday
in March and last Sunday in October).
Car Rental:
Car rental companies include Avis, Budget, Hertz, National and
Sixt.
Airport Taxis:
Taxis available outside the arrivals area. A trip into Chambéry
should cost about €20, and take about 15 minutes.
Facilities:
Facilities include ATMs, bureaux de change, restaurants and
cafés, Internet access, duty-free shop, VIP business centre and a
nursery area for children.
Parking
300 free parking spaces available.
Grenoble-Isere Airport
Location: The airport is located 28 miles (45km) from
Grenoble.
Time: GMT +1 (GMT +2 from last Sunday in March to last
Sunday in October).
Parking
Parking at costs €9 for the first hour, and escalates to €35 for
the first day and an additional €30 for every day thereafter.
Aix-les-Bains and Evian-les-Bains are both very popular resort
towns in the French Alps. Aix-les-Bains is a spa town, located on
the banks of Lac du Bourget, loved for its thermal springs, and
Evian-les-Bains, situated on the southern tip of Lake Geneva, is
famous for its mineral water. Both are hotspots for healthy spa
holidays and offer a variety of outdoor activities among other
things. Annecy is also a popular lake-side village, often called
'the Venice of the Alps' in tribute to its picturesque canals.
Annecy is a good base for hikers as there are so many spectacular
trails in the Haute-Savoie region.
Another hikers' paradise is the mountain village of
Briançon, the highest town in Europe, which boasts a lovely
historical old town in addition to its natural splendours. Some of
the ski resorts are also perfect bases for hikers and climbers in
the summer months and two of the best for this purpose are Chamonix
and Samoëns. Samoëns is one of the smaller French ski resorts and
is a pretty medieval village which has been declared an historical
monument.
Grenoble, the biggest city in the region, is also a
good base for active excursions into the countryside as this
beautiful city is surrounded by dramatic mountains and valleys.
Grenoble is a vibrant university city which dates back over 2,000
years and offers great sightseeing options for tourists, including
some interesting museums.