Natural Auvergne-Rhône-Alpes

Third step of our Régiontrip! Here we are in Auvergne-Rhône-Alpes.
The Auvergne-Rhône-Alpes region is famous for its big cities, its gastronomy but also for its numerous atypical landscapes and natural reserves.

The Auvergne-Rhône-Alpes region offers a wealth of natural resources. If you’re looking for peace, relaxation and a change of scenery, you’ve come to the right place!
There are numerous nature parks throughout the region. The most impressive are the natural parks of Vercors, Puy de Dôme and Puy de Sancy, home to the famous Auvergne volcanoes. Many hiking trails make it possible to climb them. You can even fly over them in a hot-air balloon. We can’t forget Le Puy en Velay, famous for being the starting point of one of the pilgrimage routes to Santiago de Compostela.

The Chaudeffour valley nature reserve, the Vanoise national park, the Baronnies Provençales and Chartreuse nature parks and the Aravis massif are also visible in the region.
Thanks to its advantageous location, the region boasts many world-famous ski resorts. Chamonix, the Mont-Blanc massif with its mythical Aiguille du Midi, as well as numerous resorts in the Alps such as Les Deux Alpes, Val d’Isère and Alpes d’Huez. Unfortunately, the health situation prevented us from going there this winter, but the resorts are ready to welcome us this summer.

As mentioned above, winter sports are accessible in Auvergne-Rhône-Alpes, but they’re not the only activities to mention.

There are numerous hiking trails, including Le Puy de Montchal and Lac Pavin. Puy des Goules and Sarcoui cave. Les Gardes and Pont du Cantal to name but a few.

The Ardèche gorges and its famous Pont d’Arc are also well worth a visit.

There are also family activities such as the Gévaudan park, with its many varieties of wolf, and the Vulcano theme park.
For history and architecture buffs, the Auvergne-Rhône-Alpes region has a lot to offer. The region abounds in relics from other centuries, such as the medieval town of Pérouges, the fortress of Polignac and, in the same spirit, the Château de la Roche. Then there are villages that have been completely preserved, such as Lavaudieu, Salers (named after the region’s cattle breed) and Royat, located above Clermont-Ferrand and known as the home of France’s oldest oak tree.
For fans of unusual activities, you can visit Le Palais idéal du facteur. It’s located in Hauterives in the Drôme region. This monument contains the original story of a letter carrier who built this stone castle with his own hands.

Auvergne-Rhône-Alpes has a prominent nature, but that’s not all.

It includes Lyon, France’s third-largest city. We recommend a visit to the old town and its Fourvière Basilica.

A few kilometers away, also known as Little Venice, you can visit Annecy with its canals and lake.

And don’t forget Clermont-Ferrand, with its Notre-Dame de l’Assomption cathedral and Place de Jaude.
For lovers of spa treatments, the Auvergne-Rhône-Alpes region is home toEvian les bains, world-famous for its spring water, and Vichy, famous for its thermal springs, which are open to curists in winter and to the public in summer.

The Auvergne-Rhône-Alpes region also has a picturesque gastronomic heritage, rooted in tradition. Famous for its famous cheeses such as Saint Nectaire, Fourme d’Ambert and Cantal.

What’s more, the region is famous for its hot dishes such as aligot, Potée Auvergnate and Saint Genix brioche, which I personally recommend.
This article would not be complete without mentioning the region’s winegrowing heritage. The Rhône Valley is France’s second-largest wine-producing region after Bordeaux. Many wineries are open to visitors, and there are numerous wine tours in the region.

Our tour of the Auvergne-Rhône-Alpes region comes to an end. I hope this diversity has inspired you to discover this region. And we’ll be back very soon for a fourth stage on the roads of our beautiful France.

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