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Why Visit Auvergne-Rhône-Alpes
Auvergne-Rhône-Alpes is one of the new regions of France, composed of the former regions of Auvergne and Rhône-Alpes.
For natural splendor and palette of colors, there’s nowhere else in France that can pack in so much: it is a land of volcanoes and snow-covered peaks; the land of fresh air and thermal spas; the region of crystal clear lakes and roaming rivers through deep gorges.
The Auvergne-Rhône-Alpes region is also known for its vibrant cities like Lyon, Saint-Etienne, Grenoble, and Clermont-Ferrand, and architecture enthusiasts will fall in love with Auvergne’s Romanesque churches and the region’s picturesque small towns.
The region Auvergne-Rhône-Alpes is divided into twelve departments: Ain, Allier, Ardèche, Cantal, Drôme, Isère, Loire, Haute-Loire, Puy-de-Dôme, Rhône, Savoye, and Haute-Savoye. It also has one métropole (Lyon).
Let’s explore the best things to do in Auvergne Rhône-Alpes, France.
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Places to Visit and Tourist Attractions in Auvergne-Rhône-Alpes, France
What to do in Auvergne-Rhône-Alpes? This list of best things to do in Auvergne-Rhône-Alpes includes sightseeing, pretty towns, history, and natural wonders.
What is Auvergne-Rhône-Alpes known for? The region is known for its spectacular nature, Romanesque churches, UNESCO cities, picturesque towns, and great food!
1. Visit Lyon
Lyon is France’s third-largest city and a major tourist destination. Founded 2,000 years ago, Lyon’s streets are a living museum with beautiful historical buildings and interesting museums and art galleries. Check out this Lyon itinerary with the best things to do in Lyon for two days.
Lyon is also the capital of gastronomy, so be sure you dedicate some time to learning about Lyon’s most popular foods and, most of all, taste them! This Lyon Old Town Food Tour includes 6 to 8 tasting stops in the Old Town and has excellent reviews.
One of the best places to visit in Auvergne-Rhône-Alpes, Lyon is also an excellent base camp to explore the countryside on day trips: places like Pérouges, Aix-les-Bains, or Annecy are great day trips from Lyon within a couple of hours’ drive.
2. Winter Sports
Looking for winter destinations in France? Head to the region Auvergne-Rhône-Alpes for a fun white holiday. Auvergne-Rhône-Alpes is the first European region for skiing, with 173 alpine and Nordic ski resorts. With large ski areas connected to village resorts, there is something for everyone.
The French Alps is home to the three largest ski areas in the world, well known for the quantity and quality of the snow and skiing itself.
Auvergne’s five mountain ranges are good for skiing too, and they are an affordable alternative to destinations in the Alps and the Pyrenées.
3. Chamonix and Mont Blanc
Don’t miss Chamonix, a charming ski town in the French Alps with must attractions like the Mer de Glace and the Aiguille du Midi. Due to its proximity to the Swiss border, Chamonix and Mont-Blanc are a popular day trip from Geneva (the Swiss city is located only a 1-hour drive).
L’Aiguille du Midi (3,842 m) is a mountain in the Mont Blanc massif, accessible by cable car. One of the top tourist attractions in Auvergne-Rhône-Alpes, L’Aiguille du Midi, is also the highest attraction in Europe, offering visitors a unique panorama that embraces the highest peaks of Western Europe and a great opportunity to get closer to Mont Blanc. You can also admire the Aiguille du Midi from the sky with this tandem paragliding flight facing the Mont Blanc.
The Mer de Glace (Sea of Ice) is the largest glacier in France, 7km long and 200m deep, and is one of the biggest attractions in the Chamonix Valley. A small cable car allows visitors to descend from the Montenvers train station onto the Mer de Glace glacier, where they can enter a man-made ice grotto.
Chamonix and Mont-Blanc are also great destinations for a summer holiday in the French Alps.
4. Annecy and Lake Annecy
The French Alps host 3 out of 5 of the biggest lakes in France: Lac Léman (internationally known as Lac Genève), Lac du Bourget (the biggest and deepest lake in France), and Lac d’Annecy.
Cradled by forested peaks, Lac d’Annecy is France’s second-largest glacial lake, and it claims to be the cleanest lake in Europe. Lac d’Annecy is also one of the most popular spots in France for paragliding, with incredible views of the Lake and the surrounding mountains: La Tournette, the Dents de Lanfon, the Massif des Bauges, and more.
Located on the lake’s northern shore, the city of Annecy is a picturesque place to walk around, with beautiful medieval buildings, canals, and plenty of relaxing and romantic spots to explore. The city is also the starting point of many wonderful hikes and other fun activities in and around Lake Annecy, such as canyoning, mountain biking, and stand-up paddling.
5. Volcans d’Auvergne Regional Natural Park
The Chaîne des Puys is one of the most spectacular places to visit in Auvergne-Rhône-Alpes. Stretching over an area of 45 km in the northern Massif Central, it includes as many as 80 dormant volcanoes.
A paradise for hiking and walking, the Chaîne des Puys has been granted World Heritage status by UNESCO since 2018, becoming mainland France’s first natural heritage site.
The range’s highest point is the iconic lava dome of Puy-de-Dôme, which stands at 1,465 meters high. Today, it is possible to reach the summit in just 15 minutes thanks to an electric train that winds up to the top. From there, there’s an amazing bird’s eye view over the Volcans d’Auvergne Regional Natural Park, the Dorez Mountains, and the Mountains of Cantal.
6. Picturesque Small Towns
The Auvergne-Rhône-Alpes region is dotted with many picturesque small towns and 22 villages labeled “most beautiful villages of France.” If your time is limited and you cannot explore them all, be sure to visit Pérouges – one of the best day trips from Lyon – and Yvoire, on the French south shore of Lake Léman.
7. Gorges de l’Ardèche
The Gorges de l’Ardèche, locally known as the “European Grand Canyon,” is located in the French department of Ardèche. It forms a thirty-kilometer long canyon running from Vallon-Pont-d’Arc to Saint-Martin-d’Ardèche.
In addition to a rich historical and archeological site, the canyon is one of the most popular tourist attractions in Auvergne-Rhône-Alpes for adrenaline junkies, drawing over a million visitors per year for hiking, canyoning, and kayaking.
In Gorges de l’Ardèche there’s the famous Pont d’Arc, the symbol of the Ardèche department. This is a unique geological phenomenon 54 meters high and 60 meters large, dug by the Ardèche River and turned into a stone archway past the River. Known as the “natural gateway to the Gorges de l’Ardèche,” it is a must-see during a kayak or canoe tour down the River.
8. Romanesque Churches of Auvergne
Architecture enthusiasts will enjoy visiting the Romanesque churches of Auvergne, the oldest Christian buildings built to last (after 800 AD). There are beautiful examples of Romanesque churches and cathedrals in Clermont-Ferrand, Issoire, St. Nectaire, Brioude, and St. Saturnin.
9. Spa Towns of Auvergne
Auvergne is a great destination for well-being activities and health treatments, with water coming out of the ground at high temperatures. Thanks to the richness of its volcanic soil, Auvergne contains a variety of thermal sources to treat many conditions, perfect for a quick recovery during the cold winter.
Among the ten spa towns in the Massif Central, Vichy is the most famous, but there are other popular names like Châteauneuf-Les-Bains, Mont Doré, or Chaudes-Aigues. The latest is the hottest in Europe, with water coming out of the ground at 82°C!
10. Château de la Roche
The castles of Auvergne-Rhône-Alpes are not as spectacular as the Loire Valley Castles, but this does not mean that they are not beautiful!
Amongst them, Château de la Roche stands out as one of the most picturesque castles in the Auvergne-Rhône-Alpes region due to its wonderful setting. Located in the Loire department, on an island in the lake formed by the Villerest dam, this is a 13th-century castle that went through a deep restoration in neo-Gothic style in the 1900s.
One of the most beautiful castles in France, Château de la Roche hosts today many costume events, treasure hunts, and other fun family activities.
Address: 123 Allée du Château A la Roche, Saint-Priest La Roche. Click here for more information and bookings.
11. Palais Idéal, by Facteur Cheval
Le Palais Idéal (Ideal Palace) is a monument built by the postman Ferdinand Cheval from 1879 to 1912. This Palace is a hymn to nature, with touches of Hindu and Egyptian architecture. It also has some elements inspired by the Bible.
According to his memories, in April 1879, the rural postman stumbled against a stone during his daily tour, failing to fall on the road. It was a curious and beautiful stone that he would call “the stumbling block.” During the following days, always along his daily tour, the postman found other singular stones, more beautiful than the first one. He then decided that if nature could make “sculpture,” he could also become an architect.
The Palace Idéal has been listed as a Historical Monument since 1969. It is considered the only representation of Art Naïf in architecture.
Address: 8 Rue du Palais, Hauterives. Click here for more information and bookings.
12. Les Monts du Forez
Les Monts de Forez is a natural region located in-between the départements of the Loire and the Puy-de-Dôme. These granite mountains offer walkers multiple hikes through meadows, forests of fir and beech, and high plateaux.
The highest point in the Forez Mountains is Pierre-sur-Aute (1,634 meters). Months du Forez is a great opportunity to relax and enjoy nature and precious moments in rural France.
13. Saint-Michel d’Aiguilhe
This Romanesque chapel in Le Puy-en-Velay, crowning the top of a volcanic core, is dedicated to Archangel Michel, and it’s been a popular pilgrimage route since Medieval times. The chapel can be reached via 268 stone steps that wind up the side; after all, everybody knows that Saint-Michel likes the heights!
On the way to the top, there are two more chapels dedicated to the other archangels, Gabriel and Raphael, and an interesting exhibition detailing this place’s geological and religious history with videos and models. Saint-Michel d’Aiguilhe is a wonderful place to visit, with great views of Le Puy’s Ville-Haute and the surrounding countryside.
Food in the Auvergne-Rhône-Alpes Region
Enjoy unique French wines and delicious local products in Auvergne-Rhône-Alpes. The region is home to three world-famous wine regions – Beaujolais, Côtes-du-Rhône, and Savoie – and 10 AOC wines (Appellation d’Origine Controlée). It also offers the largest cheese platter in France, with twenty-one AOC cheeses and two cheese routes.
The region Auvergne-Rhône-Alpes has ninety Michelin-starred chefs, including nine chefs with 3 stars. Three cities in the region – Lyon, Clermont-Ferrand, and Annecy – are part of the top ten places to eat best in France.
Auvergne-Rhône-Alpes Travel Hub
Here are more places to visit in the Auvergne-Rhône-Alpes region.
Auvergne-Rhône-Alpes by Plane
Lyon-Saint-Exupéry (LYS) is one of the top five airports in France, with many international flights to Europe, Africa (Algeria, Morocco, Senegal, Tunisia), Asia (Turkey, Armenia), Middle-East (Emirates, Qatar), and America (Montréal in Canada). If you don’t plan to visit Paris during your next trip to France, consider booking a flight directly to Lyon – Click here to book your flights to Lyon
Auvergne-Rhône-Alpes by Train
Visiting France by train is straightforward. Top destinations like Lyon, Annecy, Grenoble, Saint-Etienne, and Clermont Ferrand are mostly served by fast trains. The territory is also crisscrossed by secondary roads, served by regional trains (Auvergne-Rhône-Alpes TER trains) – Book your train tickets to Auvergne-Rhône Alpes
Auvergne-Rhône-Alpes by Car
The region Auvergne-Rhône-Alpes is a great place for memorable French road trips. With a car, some good tunes, and the best company, you are set for one of the best adventures in your life. Driving in France is very easy, and with the car, you can go off the beaten path to get the most out of the Auvergne-Rhône-Alpes region.
Recommended road trip itineraries in Auvergne-Rhône-Alpes:
If you don’t have a car in France, I recommend booking in advance through platforms like Discover Cars. This site takes all major rental companies, such as Hertz, Avis, etc., and compares prices for you. Check out my best tips for renting a car in France.
Don’t leave for Nice without travel insurance!
Safety Wing works well for long and short trips (starting with a minimum of 5 days). SafetyWing covers COVID-19 for new policies purchased, and unplanned quarantine is covered, too.
And there you have it, the best things to do in Auvergne-Rhône-Alpes, France, for every kind of traveler. If you want to learn about other French regions, head to this guide to the Regions of France, where I have summarized the highlights of each region.
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