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Administrative region of France
Photo: via Wikimedia Commons, CC BY-SA 2.0 fr
Auvergne-Rhône-Alpes is a large region in southeastern France. It is popular with all kinds of visitors, from mountaineers and winter sports enthusiasts, to gastronomes, wine buffs, and those looking for a city break. To the west, Auvergne is a mostly rural area of medium volcanic mountains (the Massif Central) and an abundance of interesting churches. Visitors to the Rhone Valley in the centre of the region can enjoy a temperate climate, rocky canyons, extensive vineyards and the urban area of Lyon, one of France's most important cities. In the east, the stunningly beautiful French Alps are havens for all manner of outdoor activities, not least skiing.
By train
Paris to Lyon was the first TGV (Train à Grande Vitesse, high-speed train) route to be unveiled all the way back in 1981, and it is still the SNCF's flagship route.
By car
From Paris, Lyon is around 5 hours in good traffic on the A6 autoroute (motorway), while Clermont-Ferrand is around 6 hours via the A10 and A71 autoroutes.
By train
e. the former Rhône-Alpes), the main provider of rail services is TER Auvergne-Rhône-Alpes. The network is extensive, but the service can be rather slow if you're going a long way.
Choose an airport to see hotels, stations, taxi ranks and car rental desks around it.
Colombier-Saugnieu, Rhône · International · LYS
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one of France's top skiing areas at a relatively low altitude.
at 4,810 m, is the highest summit in the European Union.
international skiing destination on the Franco-Swiss border.
stunning rock pinnacle topped with antennae, often hidden in clouds. Look out for eagles.
a massif on the French-Italian border with large ski resorts.
a prealpine massif with diverse landscapes and some wilderness areas away from the pistes.
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