You may have arrived with your ski gear in tow and plans to explore the valleys, or you may be visiting on business – either way this is a prosperous and gorgeous part of the world.
Whether you stay in the mountains or venture to the cities of Lyon, Grenoble or St. Etienne, you’re guaranteed adventures that are a treat for the senses.
Primed for the powder
The Chamonix Valley encompasses crystal clear Alpine lakes, Mont Blanc and mountainous beauty in abundance.
At 4,810 metres high, Mont Blanc towers over the rest of Europe with a series of stunning peaks, glaciers and nature reserves.
Ascend to the Aiguille du Midi in a cable car where terraces at a height of almost 4,000 metres provide seemingly endless vistas of natural splendour. And, for the brave, take a ‘step into the void’ in a glass cage that juts out over a precipice.
Be a Lyon tamer
To the west lies Lyon, the third largest city in France, which has seen huge regeneration over the last few years, especially in the docklands area of La Confluence.
Visit the architecturally futuristic Musee des Confluences, which houses millions of objects and hosts fascinating exhibitions. Make time for the Musee des Beaux Arts, for a stellar collection of paintings from masters such as Picasso, Rembrandt and Monet.
Lyon is often regarded as France’s real capital of gastronomy, and the city is filled with bouchon Lyonnais – restaurants serving classic dishes from the area.
While many chefs have taken things in new and interesting directions, sometimes tradition is best, and at Le Garet, with its cosy feel, soft lighting and dark wood, you can tuck into a variety of French delicacies.
Viva Voltaire
Take in some of the rich history of the French Revolution and visit the town of Ferney-Voltaire. Once presided over by the philosopher, writer and key French Enlightenment figure Voltaire, this quaint commune is a peaceful destination close to the airport.
Delve further into the past of Ferney-Voltaire and its charismatic leader, and take the chance to visit his statue and house which remains open to the public from May to September.
Whistle-stop Geneva
Before picking up your hire car at the French side, consider a quick tour of Geneva itself. A wonderful and sophisticated lakeside city, it’s a meticulously planned place full of open spaces, cuisine from around the world and a strong commitment to feeding you lots of Swiss chocolate.
It packs in all the art galleries, museums and cathedrals you’d expect of a major European city, but as you’re only here for a short while, let’s cut to the chase: that chocolate.
Take a guided tour of the Favarger workshop, gorge on pralines at Du Rhone and pick up gifts at Tesucher, Auer and Stettler. These esteemed chocolatiers all have their own specialities, and it would be plain wrong not to try at least one of each.
Car hire at Geneva Airport (French Side) means you can access all these wonderful places and more, in a corner of the world where alpine views and stunning scenery make driving a delight.
