This region is made up of the Rhône and Drôme departments, each watered by a river of that name. The landscape of this area varies from rolling hills, villages of golden stone, vineyards, lavender fields, and olive groves, to spectacular forests, lakes and mountains.
The Rhône department contains France’s second largest city,
Lyon, a veritable mine of history and culture. The promontory in the city centre is listed as a Unesco world heritage site. Amongst the plethora of sites to explore in the city are the passageways known as the
Traboules of Old Lyon and the
Roman Theatres.
The Rhône area is one of the most gastronomic regions in France, with its Beaujolais and Côte du Rhône vineyards, and plenty of local cheeses and dishes such as
tête de veau (poached calf’s head – not for the faint hearted),
quenelles (meaty dumplings), and
blanquette de veau (veal stew).
If you’re exploring the region, don’t miss the magnificent Gier Roman Aqueduct, and the fabulous mosaics at the Roman remains of
Saint-Romain-en-Gal. For natural beauty, head to the stunning
Pilat Regional Nature park.
More in
Rhone Guide