Lyon & French Alps Travel Guide - Attractions, Eating, Drinking, Shopping & Places To Stay

Lyon's "Vieux Lyon" (Old Town) is a gourmand's delight that is located at the confluence of the Rhone and Saone rivers. This city of beautiful Renaissance houses is one of the most important in France and has many historical attractions to see including the Roman City and the Notre Dame de Fourviere Cathedral. The French Alps lie to the north of Provence and the French Riviera and are within easy to reach of Lyon, Geneva, Grenoble and Nice. The region is one of the most popular skiing destinations in the world and is called the "snow-capped roof" of Europe. The resort of Chamonix was the setting of the first Winter Olympics in 1924. The capital of the region is Grenoble, a city where the first stirrings of the French Revolution took place. Other towns of note include Annecy, with its beautiful backdrop of Lac d'Annecy and Briancon, the highest town in France.