DESTINATIONS RELOADED
DESTINATIONS RELOADED Crossing The Alps © GTA MYA Major routes through the Alps allow visitors to discover this fabulous area regardless of the preferred travel mode: walking on the GR5, the great alpine hiking trail, or on the Via Alpina; on a bike, for an epic adventure through the passes of the Tour de France following La Route des Grandes Alpes or a more hedonistic route over the Lavender route; on a mountain bike on Chemin du Soleil and its 1,000 km of mountain bike trails or on special route suitable for electric bikes. USPs LA ROUTE DES GRANDES ALPES, A PRESTIGIOUS TOURIST ITINERARY Fully open from June to October, La Route des Grandes Alpes is the most beautiful mountain road charges available to drivers, motorcyclists and cyclists. From the banks of Lake Léman to the shores of the Mediterranean Sea, this incredible tourist road invites one to travel through territories of exceptional natural and cultural heritage. Following these winding roads, the visitor will find breath-taking landscapes at altitude, and cultural and local specialties in the valleys. • Meeting and sharing experiences with other travellers and local inhabitants. • The possibility to modulate one’s circuit à la carte, in linear or looped format. • Services adapted to travellers: types of accommodation, price levels, meals, assistance... depending on activities and budgets. Lyon (LYS), Grenoble (GNB) Thonon-les-Bains St. Mont Blanc: the “Roof” of Europe… and Summit of French Tourism With majestic nature and a territory of discoveries and adventures, Mont Blanc is more than the summit of France and the highest point in Europe: it is quite simply legendary. A tourist destination par excellence, Mont Blanc and its 14 municipalities and resorts draw their potential from their multiple, common and shared richness in terms of tourism: natural and architectural heritage, traditional know-how, gastronomy and local products, cultural life, winter and summer sports, hiking, shopping, events, with a strong appeal right throughout the year. USPs • Key attractions: outstanding sites offering unique experiences. • Open-air sports and leisure activities throughout the year. • Heritage and culture: local men and women to explain, guide, and reveal all the riches of their heritage. Discover, after 20 minutes of ascent, the Summit of the Aiguille du Midi, more than 3,800 m above sea level. The more adventurous can try the unique experience of the “Pas dans le Vide”, inaugurated in December 2013. The Destination Mont Blanc, it’s also the little red rack railway that leads to the Sea of Ice or the Brevent cable car, at 2,500 m altitude, which allows one to observe Chamonix and the mountains. By joining the Megeve altiport, one can also soar over this land of peaks, needles and domes with a small plane. Lyon (LYS), Grenoble (GNB) Chamonix Station 26 France: Destinations to (re)discover france.fr
Auvergne: Nature At Its Most Impressive Auvergne’s volcanoes: sleeping giants in the heart of France The Chaîne des Puys is a volcanic area stretching out for more than 30 km and located in the centre of Europe’s largest regional nature park: the Parc Naturel des Volcans d’Auvergne (the Auvergne Volcanoes Nature Park). There’s nothing more relaxing than hiking or simply strolling freely through this marvellous open, natural area. One of Auvergne’s most famous volcanoes, the Puy de Dôme, offers an unbeatable view across the Chaîne des Puys and the surrounding landscapes. In the heart of the Auvergne Volcanoes Park, Vulcania is a theme park where children and adults can learn about earth sciences in a fun and interactive environment. Attractions include “5D” films, motion platforms, interactive exhibitions and Le Ballon des Puys, a tethered helium balloon offering a 150m high view of the Chaîne des Puys. Vulcania is the front door to discover the volcanoes of Auvergne, according to the Lonely Planet guide. ® Gérard Fayet 4 Seasons In The Pyrénées The wintry charms of the Pyrénées and its 38 ski resorts are well-known. A huge variety of activities is available, from skiing or snowboarding in the different resorts, to climbing icy waterfalls for the more adventurous, paragliding, snowshoeing, and even family sleigh outings. Summer is also renowned for the many walking trails which are among France’s most popular. But the Pyrenean year is more than just these two star seasons. In the spring, when the melted ice reinvigorates the waterways, the Pyrénées turns into a trout fisherman’s paradise. And don’t miss the beginning of autumn adorned with red garlands for the Indian summer, like nothing you’ve ever seen before – the blessed season for mushrooms. Autumn is also a rare time for communion with nature, when you can hear the stag bell in the Louron or Barousse valley, and catch sight of herds of doe. © Pyrénées / A. Molteni USPs • The “Panoramique des Dômes”, a train with panoramic windows providing amazing views of the 80 volcanoes of Auvergne. • The natural lakes in the craters are “must-see” natural features. •The natural site of the Volvic Impluvium (where the region’s famous mineral water takes its source) offers hikes and summer activities for the whole family. USPs • Variety: the soul, nature, culture, sharing of ways of life, breath-taking landscapes, stories to tell. • Unity: link between Mediterranean, Atlantic, France and Spain: a unity of places and a meeting of peoples. • Nature: the mountain is a source of vitality and wellbeing (preserved nature, clean air, spring water, natural lifestyle, healthy foods). Lyon (LYS), Clermont Ferrand (CFE) Montluçon, Clermont-Ferrand Tarbes-Lourdes (LDE), Toulouse (TLS) Pau or Perpignan Stations france.fr France: Destinations to (re)discover 27
