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The French Alps
Breathtaking mountains and deep valleys form Alpine France which borders
Switzerland and Italy. In summer this is a wonderful place for walkers and
mountain bikers of all aptitudes, with countless kilometres of marked paths in
the valleys and foothills and endless opportunities for exploring the high
mountains, although here a guide is recommended. In the winter it is a skiers'
paradise containing some of the best high altitude ski resorts in Europe. In the
north the area borders the southern shores of Lake Geneva, or Lac Leman, with
every sort of water based activity in one of Europe's most beautiful settings.
Activities in the Alps:
Every type of outdoor activity (summer), Skiing, rock and ice climbing, botany.
Special attractions in the Alps:
Boat trips on Lake Geneva; Parc National de la Venoise with many marked paths;
monastery at Chartreuse.
Memorial of the Exterminated Jewish Children at Izieu, about 25 kms west of
Chambery.
Map of the Alps and the surrounding area.
Towns in the Alps:
Annecy. Popular and very pretty town with canal, chateau and
restaurants. Good access to walking, canal boat trips, cycling around Lake
Annecy. Near to Gorges du Fier, Pont de la Caille and trips to Mont Blanc.
Briancon. Fortified town near the River Claree, the Parc National des
Ecrins for dedicated walkers and the Parc Regional du Queyras for botanists.
Chamonix. At the foot of Mont Blanc, expensive and touristy, this town is
nevertheless a good base for walking, rock and ice climbing and it also has
access to schools and guides for these activities. For the more sedentary there
are cable car and railway journeys to the mountains and glaciers. Visit the
useful
Chamonix web site.
Evian. Elegant spa town with boat trips on the beautiful Lake Geneva.
Grenoble. Clean and lively modern industrial and manufacturing city with
a huge university population. Situated on the Isere river, dramatic views of the
city can be had by ascending the teleferique to the fort. An excellent centre
for visiting the Parc Naturel Regional du Vercors for relatively easy walking
and the monastery at Chartreuse.
Ski Resorts. Of course, you can spend a week or more in the mountains, or
you can stay in the valleys and drive to the resorts and ski for the day.
Arranging your own Drive Alive package is a good and economically attractive
alternative to the packages on offer from the winter sports specialists.
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