Lyon & French Alps Travel Guide - Attractions, Eating, Drinking, Shopping & Places to Stay

Lyon’s “Vieux Lyon” (Old Town) is a gourmand’s delight that is located at the confluence of the Rhone and Saone rivers. This city of beautiful Renaissance houses is one of the most important in France and has many historical attractions to see including the Roman City and the Notre Dame de Fourviere Cathedral. The French Alps lie to the north of Provence and the French Riviera and are within easy to reach of Lyon, Geneva, Grenoble and Nice. The region is one of the most popular skiing destinations in the world and is called the “snow-capped roof” of Europe. The resort of Chamonix was the setting of the first Winter Olympics in 1924. The capital of the region is Grenoble, a city where the first stirrings of the French Revolution took place. Other towns of note include Annecy, with its beautiful backdrop of Lac d'Annecy and Briancon, the highest town in France. TABLE OF CONTENTS: Lyon - Culture - Location & Orientation - Climate & When to Visit - Sightseeing Highlights - Notre-Dame de Fourviere - Old City - Croix-Rousse District - Lyon River Cruises - Lyon Business District - Bonaparte Bridge - Contemporary Art Center - City Hall - Tete d’Or Park - Silk Workers House (Maison des Canuts) - Water City (Rhone River Museum) - Museums in Lyon - Fine Arts Museum - African Museum of Lyon - Henri-Malartre Museum - Gallo-Roman Civilization Museum - Modern Art Museum - Recommendations for the Budget Traveller - Places to Stay - Hilton Hotel - La Residence Hotel - Hotel Berlioz - Radisson Blu Hotel - Hotel des Celestins - Places to Eat & Drink - Bernachon - Lyon Halls (Les Halles de Lyon) - Clostan Catering - In Cuisine - The Georges Brewery - Sushi Shop - Café des Federations - Places to Shop - Commercial Center La Part-Dieu - Galleries Lafayette - Victor Hugo Street - Reserve Naturelle - Bonnie & Clyde - French Alps - Culture - Location & Orientation - Climate & When to Visit - Sightseeing Highlights - Skiing in the French Alps - Chamonix - Aiguille du Midi - Mont Blanc - Recommended Ski Resorts - Courchevel - La Tania - Méribel - Val Thorens - Tignes - Morzine - Grenoble - La Bastille - Musee Dauphinoise - Archaeological Museum - Café de la Table Ronde - Château de Vizille - Annecy - Recommendations for the Budget Traveller - Places to Stay - Le Vert Hotel - Residhotel Grenette - Hotel Le Cottage - Chalet Hattiers and Chalet Chardons - Alexandra Hotel - Places to Eat & Drink - Lodge du Village - Chez Meme Paulette - Annecy - Brasserie Le Munich - The Marmot Arms - Dotty's Coffee House - Places to Shop - Shopping in Chamonix - Food Shopping in Grenoble - Other Speciality items in Grenoble - Shopping in Annecy - Shopping at Courchevel 1850