Lyon is a city in France located at the confluence of the river Rhône Saône river, 460 km south-east of Paris and 314 km north of Marseille. The department capital of Rhône and Rhône-Alpes region.
The geography is marked by the confluence of the Rhone Lyon (Rhône) and Sone (Saône) in the southern part of the historical center, forming a sort of peninsula or "presqu'île" two large hills, one west and one north of the historic center city and a flat plain on the east bank of Rhone. To the west Fourvière hill, where high Fourvière Notre-Dame, the bishop's palace, tower metal (a TV tower that mimics the last section of the Eiffel Tower and a funicular.
Annecy is a city in France, the prefecture of the Haute-Savoie department, in the Rhône-Alpes region. It can be seen north in the lake in Annecy, 35 kilometers south of Geneva. Walking through the old town of Annecy is a real treat.
Les Menuires is located at an altitude of 1,850 m in the Belleville valley. The resort is characterised by chalets made of wood and natural stone, which makes its appearance romantic. Being very family friendly and with many offers available for children, the resort is labelled "Famille Plus". In comparison to the its neighbour resort Val Thorens, Les Menuires offers considerably cheaper prices, however still provides all the comfort and necessities for a successful holiday in the mountains: snowy pistes, diverse leisure time offers such as, e.g. large sports and spa centre on 4,500 m² terrain and an extensive gastronomy offer. All this is only waiting to be discovered!
The winter sports resort Châtel is located at 1,191 m altitude in the Northern Savoyard Alps and close to the Swiss border. The traditional village has only developed to a real winter sports gem throughout the past few years and therefore still has a lot of its original charm. Châtel benefits greatly from the larger, neighbouring resorts of the ski area Portes fu Soleil: it offers perfect access to winter sports and further services, but at the same time it can provide tranquillity and relaxation many people are looking for during their holiday.
The small chalets are designed with lots of wood and the many churches and chapels dominate the resort character. The locals still lay a lot of emphasis on hand-made products and so you can find many small shops or visit the markets where you can find these originally made objects. Local festivities let you take part in this amazing traditional culture. A visit to the spa facilities in the newly built public swimming pool or the local farms is also highly recommendable.
The village Le Corbier (1,550 m) was shaped by the known architect Le Corbusier and is closely linked to alpine skiing due to its design. Situated directly next to the pistes, it offers you perfect access to one of the biggest ski regions in France, Les Sybelles, which offers 310 kilometres of piste. Especially families will find great conditions in Le Corbier which was awarded the rating "Famille Plus Montagne" in 2007. The resort presents itself as very child-friendly with a ski school for children, a ski area for children and extensive child care for every age group. Furthermore, you will find an optimal infrastructure for a comfortable ski holiday in Le Corbier: many restaurants and bars, a canopied shopping centre, a large indoor pool with an outdoor pool in the centre, a bowling alley, a cinema, as well as a nature ice skating rink.
Due to its central location in the heart of Trois Vallées, Méribel is particularly popular. From here there other ski areas of the world's largest interconnected region are easily reached. Typical for Méribel are the chalet buildings which are built in traditionally style and emit wonderful Alpine charm. Many accommodations offer ski-in option for easy access at the end of the day. The historic resort centre of Méribel is located in Méribel Village (1,400 m). This has nourished the district Méribel-Mottaret (1,750 m) with the local ski station. The traditional and quiet ski resort offers wonderfully forested area which can also be explored on an extensive network of winter hiking trails.
Ever since the alpine competitions of Olympic games in 1992, Val d'Isère, along with its neighbour Tignes, belongs to the top French winter sport resorts. The village features a historic centre dating back to the 16th century, and has kept its Savoyard charm right up until today. The newer buildings have also been built using natural materials such as wood and stone. The village has been a skiing village since 1934, when a few ski pioneers started a ski school and built a ski lift. Since then the resort has developed further. For 50 years now, the charming and welcoming winter sports resort introduces the annual winter season with first-class alpine racers speeding down the hills. The village centre has very little car traffic and a great infrastructure with many cafés, restaurants, shops and hotels, which offer the ideal atmosphere for a winter holiday.
Back in the 1920's there was a baron and his lady wife who were responsible for turning Megève into a tourism hotspot. The baron Maurice de Rothschild and his wife Noémi initiated the building of the first luxury hotel right in front of the legendary Mont Blanc. The idea behind that was to create a new French ski resort which could match up to its mundane Swiss predecessors. St. Moritz was seemingly not what this pair was looking for. Together with the lead architect Henri-Jacques Le Même they created an elegant ski resort which turned into a first-class meeting point for the rich and the famous in the 1950's. Until today Megève has maintained this idea of luxury and extravagance and surely is the most elegant ski resort in the Savoyard Alps. Even ex-president Nicolas Sarcozy spent his holiday here with Carla Bruni.However the resort has also kept a lot of its village charm with its beautiful wooden chalets. Especially the resort centre with the small alley and squares, numerous wells and fountains and the quaint old houses is worth a stroll. A walk across the monastery grounds with the many little chapels is a unique experience, especially in winter. And all this in front of the impressive mountain Mont Blanc. This famous mountain, together with many more 4,000 metre peaks, forms an incredible backdrop which rises to all sides of the high Alpine valley of Megève.
The small resort of Avoriaz is located at an altitude of 1,800 m and is on the French side of Les Portes du Soleil's ski region. The completely traffic-free settlement was built on a former alpine pasture in 1960; here cars are replaced by horse-drawn carriages. The architecture, as well as the resort's modern design, fit perfectly into the surrounding area and also create a very cosy atmosphere. Its elevated location lends to a climatic advantage, mainly that there is plenty of snow and sun. A big plus is that the pistes are easy and quick to reach, as you can access the ski area from almost every apartment straight away - after a short descent through the heart of the village. From the modern valley station you can reach the wide pistes, which promise enjoyable descents and ultimate fun.Also , the new water park "AQUARIAZ", which is one of the biggest and highest in the world has been opened. It offers areas for all age groups, e.g. jacuzzi, a half-pipe slide , a climbing wall over the water and much more! The park does not only amaze you by its unique plant world and mountain scenery, but also through its sustainability. In addition, Aquariaz has a comprehensive evening and night-time programme, so that alongside families, young skiers get their money’s worth in various pubs, bars or discos.
Évian-les-Bains or Évian is a city located in the northern part of departametului Haute-Savoie, Rhone-Alpes region in France's south-east. It is an exclusive resort, situated on Lake Geneva (Lac Léman fr.), which has hosted kings for two centuries as Edward VII, George V of England and Farouk of Egypt, and celebrities - Countess Marcel Proust and Anna de Noailles.
Evian springs were unknown at the time of the French Revolution. But interest in First Empire did for the resorts as a scientist to analyze the sources of Evian in 1807 and 1808. The conclusion was that the Evian mineral waters have curative properties remarcaile and began to be used medicinally.
At the upper part of the river Arly, located in a wide valley, lies the cosy, little village Praz sur Arly, not so far from Megève and Chamonix. Mountain enthusiasts will love the view of the Mont Blanc, which can be enjoyed from here. Due to the very traditional character and many children's facilities, the resort is very popular with families. The quality seal "Famille Plus" confirms this. However, not only the little ones will feel at home here. Due to the connection to the neighbouring resorts Crest-Voland Cohennoz, Flumet, Notre Dame de Bellecombe and Les Saisies the ski are comprises a total of 185 km of pistes. Lots of diversity guaranteed!
The friendly resort La Norma, at 1,350 m, is situated directly between the Massif de la Vanoise and the l’Arc Valley in the Savoyard Alps. Its charm is very impressive, and not only because La Norma is traffic-free and located on a forested high plateau. The entire surrounding area offers a first-class panoramic view, which can be particularly enjoyed in the mountain restaurants.The little village’s cosy character is upheld by the adorning wooden houses and small shops. La Norma – idyllic snow enjoyment!The cosy resort centre is perfect for enjoying a stroll and also is ideally located directly at the pistes and lifts. The little ones will feel right at home in this child and family-friendly resort, and numerous activities are awaiting our older guests on the slopes. A particular highlight is ice climbing on a frozen waterfall near La Norma! In the evening, you can let yourself be spoilt in various restaurants, stroll leisurely through the lit village, or dance till the early hours in a disco.
