Description

Rhône to Alps: Ardèche rugged rivers; Lyon: France's 2nd city: cathedrals, roman theaters; Nyons : olives; Grenoble: Musee Stendhal & stunning Vercors park; Chambery: capital of Savoy; Annecy, Aix-les-Bains: lakes and spas.

Weather
Lyon. July: max 35C/96F, min. 12C/55F. January: max 13C/57F, minimum -7C/19F. Grenoble. July: max 35C/96F, min. 7C/46F. January: max 11C/53F, min. -9C/15F

Food
Beaujolais wines; Fougasse aux Gratons (pigs stomach stuffed with vegetables); Montsegur - marrow bread; Nyons "tanche" olives; Pormonaise (smoked sausage with cabbage); Savoie cheeses, Grenoble walnuts!

Travel
Airports at Lyon, Geneva, Annecy, Chambéry, Grenoble, St-Etienne.

Trivia
Visit one of France's greatest follies at Hauterives, built by the local postman. His Palais Idéal admired by surrealists André Breton & Max Ernst.