The landscape of green mountains near Originals Hotels

Cottage in Auvergne-Rhône-Alpes near Originals Hotels in winter

Your travel guide to Auvergne-Rhône-Alpes

Covering almost 27,000 square miles, Auvergne-Rhône-Alpes is the second most populous region in the whole of France. The administrative capital city of the region is Lyon with Grenoble and Saint-Étienne being other major urban centres. There are twelve departments within Auvergne-Rhône-Alpes, including Cantal, Savoie and Haute-Loire, to name but three. It borders Switzerland and Italy to its east and Provence-Alpes-Côte d'Azur to the south. With flowing countryside, high Alpine peaks and beautiful riverbanks, it makes for a superb holiday destination.

Auvergne-Rhône-Alpes: THE HOTELS

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Auvergne-Rhône-Alpes: The best cities

Lyon

Lyon is the third-largest city in France and undoubtedly represents one of the most popular holiday destinations for travellers of all ages.

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Clermont-Ferrand

With a population of something approaching half a million inhabitants in the wider metropolitan area, Clermont-Ferrand is one of the most attractive cities of central France.

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Montélimar

Located in the in the Drôme department of south-eastern France, Montélimar is a town of around 35,000 inhabitants.

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Grenoble

Grenoble is a large city nestled within the Auvergne-Rhône-Alpes region of south-eastern France.

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Annecy

Situated on the banks of the large Annecy lake, the city of Annecy is the most populous in the mountainous Haute-Savoie department of France.

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Saint-Étienne

Saint-Étienne lies about 60 kilometers from the city of Lyon in the Auvergne-Rhône-Alpes region.

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Auvergne-Rhône-Alpes: Be inspired

What to do, to see, to hear...

Eat

Lyon is known as one of the best cities in all of France for fine dining experiences so make sure you visit at least one fancy restaurant during your time in Auvergne-Rhône-Alpes.

Taste The Auvergne area, in particular, is known for its super wines such as Boudes and Madargue.

Enjoy Drôme is far enough south that you start to notice Mediterranean-like weather and a flora that resembles Provence so it is a good place to head if you like the sun.

Ski Skiing is enjoyed all across Haute-Savoie and you will find many resorts including the world-famous Chamonix Valley.

Relax Annecy is the perfect destination to enjoy a relaxed pace of life near one of the most stunning natural lakes in Western Europe.

Discover Lac Léman, otherwise known as Lake Geneva, is well worth a visit from its French side. You can sample the local mineral waters in towns like Évian-les-Bains which face the lake.

Transports in Auvergne-Rhône-Alpes

The A6 and the A7 are the main north-south routes via Lyon. The A40 passes through some high mountain territory on its way to the Mont Blanc Tunnel that connects Auvergne-Rhône-Alpes with Italy. Some fast trains stop at the major city intersections, like Lyon, while TER Auvergne-Rhône-Alpes runs most of the local railway services.

When to go to Auvergne-Rhône-Alpes

Winter sports fans flock to the mountains of Isère and Chamonix when the snows start to fall. However, both areas are equally as delightful in the summer when they are ideal places to go hiking. The end of August sees an annual street theatre festival in Aurillac, a pretty city in Auvergne. The gastronomic centre of Lyon holds a festival dedicated to food which takes place every September. This is followed by Lyon's very own dragon boat event later in the month.

What to do in Auvergne-Rhône-Alpes

There is plenty of action to be had in a diverse region like Auvergne-Rhône-Alpes.

CHAMONIX VALLEY

Head to Chamonix Valley in winter even if you have never skied before. If you don't want to try that, then you can always spend some thrilling time on a dog sled being pulled by huskies under expert tutelage.

CHAMBÉRY

Chambéry is a typical Alpine town which was once the capital of the old Savoy Duchy. You can tour it in a number of ways including hiring Segways as a means of getting about.

SAINT-ÉTIENNE

Saint-Étienne in the Loire department has a great nightlife so head here to experience the late night bars and nightclubs, such as Le Barberousse or Le Club if you enjoy revelling.

The best restaurants in Auvergne-Rhône-Alpes

Lyon

Les Apothicaires

Les Apothicaires, located on Rue de Sèze in Lyon, is a delightful place to enjoy high-quality food in a great environment. Traditional French cuisine is subtly blended with Latin American touches in a unique way.