Winter is just around the corner, how about enjoying it in an area where some of the best ski resorts are found, surrounded by mountains and ancient villages? Yes, we are well aware that the Covid-19 crisis has halted travel, but it doesn’t mean that you can’t plan for the future. The French Alps offers a plethora of beautiful ski resorts, which include the option for hiking, climbing, adventure sports and cultural visits to the nearest cities. You can sit back in some of the most exquisite catered ski chalets also.
Annecy
This alpine town located in the French Haute-Savoie is a place genuinely surrounded by magic. Some know it as the “French Venice”, and when you know it, you will understand why. Located at the foot of the French Alps, everything here is colour, light and nature; its narrow cobbled streets decorated with lanterns, flowers and small shops will make you find yourself in a real movie. In summer, you can enjoy its spectacular lake and its water activities, and in winter its charming Christmas market and its snowy landscapes will make you fall in love. Tip: do not miss the climb to the castle to enjoy its spectacular views. Annecy will captivate you entirely, like a fairytale!
Pérouges, the medieval city
The small town of Pérouges is included in the list of the most beautiful villages in France and is only a 40-minute drive from Lyon, which makes it one of the best excursions to do near the city. Its cobbled streets and its houses with flower-decorated balconies make it a place where walking is the best way to go sightseeing. Pérouges is an ancient city of weavers and winemakers, so it is highly recommended to taste the wine and taste the local products. It is also recommended that you visit the old house of the Duke of Savoy, where you can learn more about the city and its history.
Aix-les-Bains
Also located in the French Savoy, Aix-les-Bains is a great representative of thermal tourism in France. As you walk through its pedestrianized streets full of shops and small restaurants, you will be able to enjoy its local tourism, palaces that date back to the Belle Époque and that narrate its glorious past since Roman times. If you decide to visit it, it is best to do it by car, as it is only one hour and twenty from the centre of Lyon.
Grenoble
Grenoble is known in France as the capital of the French Alps, and it is due to its location. It is surrounded by three mountains: Chartreuse, Vercors and Belledone. It is also the flattest city in France, and if you visit it, you will realize that you rarely have to climb up a really steep hill. The nerve centre for tourism is the Bastille, a fortress located in the Chartreuse massif and from which you can enjoy spectacular views of the city and also see how the Cours Jean Jaurès is drawn, the longest avenue in France, with ten kilometres in a straight line.
