Auvergne-Rhône-Alpes is a large region located in the south-eastern part of France. It is known primarily as a center of skiing and active tourism because the Alps cover a large part of its area. The capital of the region, Lyon is one of the largest cities in France.
The southern part of the region is occupied by the Alps, with their highest peak Mont Blanc located on the border with Italy. One of the most beautiful trekking routes in Europe, Tour de Mont Blanc, leads around the peak. There are popular ski stations in the alpine valleys and glaciers, which offer great conditions for winter sports and excellent accommodation facilities. The most famous of them are Tignes, Chamonix, Saint-Gervais-les-Bains, La Plagne and Val d'Isere.
The Alps also invite you to mountain hiking on shorter routes and to stays in numerous spas, including Vichy, La Bourboule, Châtel-Guyon, Mont-Dore and Saint-Nectaire. In the vicinity of Grenoble, which is the most important city in this part of the region, there is also the famous Marian shrine La Salette.
The capital of Auvergne is Lyon with the UNESCO-listed Gothic-Renaissance Old Town and numerous museums. In the region you can also find other valuable monuments, such as the ancient amphitheater in Vienne, the Saint-Apollinaire cathedral from the 11th century in Annecy, the Chapelle St. Michel d'Aiguilhe and the medieval castle Chateau de Murol.
