AUVERGNE-RHÔNE ALPES REGION
Departments : Ain, Allier, Ardèche, Cantal, Drôme, Isère, Loire, Haute-Loire, Puy-de-Dôme, Rhône, Métropole de Lyon, Savoie, Haute-Savoie.
Population: 8 million
Prefecture : Lyon
Surface area: 69,711 km2
Specialities: Beaujolais, Côtes du Rhône and Savoy wines, Lyon specialities (quenelles, cervelles de canut, saucisson.), potée auvergnate, Savoy specialities (raclette, fondue, tartiflettes, diots, crozets), cheeses (beaufort, reblochon, cantal, bleu d'Auvergne, Salers, saint-Nectaire...), green lentil of Le Puy, waters (Evian, Thonon, Volvic) verbena, chartreuse.
Sports clubs: Olympique Lyonnais, AS Saint-Etienne, Clermont Foot 63, Grenoble Foot 38 (football). ASM Clermont, Lyon OU, FC Grenoble, Stade Aurillacois, US Oyonnax (rugby union), ASVEL Villeurbanne (basketball), Chambéry (handball), Brûleurs de loup Grenoble, Pionniers de Chamonix (ice hockey)
Competitions: women's football world cup, ski competitions (Première neige criterium in Val d'Isère), Tour de France mountain passes, Critérium du Dauphiné.
Economy: (8th European region) high-tech industries, automotive (Berliet), metallurgy, rubber, plastics, chemicals, electronics, agri-food, textiles, digital, banks, universities, public services, winegrowing. tyres (Michelin). Design. New technologies (Inovallée) Winter and summer tourism.
Festivals: Fête des Lumières in Lyon, Nuits de Fourvière in Lyon, quais du polar in Lyon, biennale du design in Saint-Etienne, classical music festival in La Chaise-Dieu, etc.
Sights: Old Lyon and Croix-Rousse, Le Puy-en-Velay cathedral, Lake Annecy, Chambéry castle, winter sports in Isère, Savoie and Haute-Savoie, Cantal, spa resorts, Auvergne volcanoes. Caverne du Pont d'Arc. Château de Grignan. Grenoble Bastille. Vulcania. Parc des Oiseaux.
Website: www.auvergnerhonealpes.fr
DEPARTMENT OF DRÔME (26)
Population: 494,000
Prefecture: Valence (Pop: 63,700)
Sub-prefectures: Die and Nyons
Surface area: 6,530 km²
Specialties: stone fruits, aromatic and medicinal plants, lavender and lavandin, garlic. 19 AOC / AOP including 10 wines, 3 cheeses and 6 other products: Grenoble walnuts, Nyons black olives, Nyons olive oil, Provence olive oil, Haute-Provence lavender essential oils, Ardèche chestnuts. Drôme products also boast 9 red labels and 13 PGIs.
Sports clubs: Drôme HandBall Bourg-de-Péage, Valence HandBall, Team Drôme BMX, Saint Vallier Basket Drôme.
Competitions: Critérium du Dauphiné, Drôme Classic (UCI Europe Tour), Corima Drôme Provençale (gran fondo), Drômoise (granfondo), Les Chemins du Soleil Mountain Bike Raid (Marathon X Country international)
Festivals: Fêtes nocturnes of Grignan, Crest Jazz Vocal, Saoû chante Mozart
Economy: 44,300 establishments and 13,000 companies. Leather and luxury goods, agri-food, transport-logistics, etc.
Main tourist attractions: Crocodile farm (Pierrelatte), Château de Grignan, Postman Cheval Ideal Palace (Hauterives)
Websites and social networks: www.ladrome.fr / www.ladrometourisme.com / www.facebook.com/ladromeledepartement
Km 4.9
SUZE-LA-ROUSSE (POP: 2,100)
Suze Castle was built by the Princes of Orange on the site of a hunting lodge given by Charlemagne to his cousin Guillaume de Gellone in the 8th century. The fortress dominated the countryside. During the Renaissance, the La Baume family turned it into a residence for pleasure. Today, the château is home to a wine university. In 2012, a stage of Paris-Nice started from Suze-la-Rousse and ended in Sisteron, where Luis Leon Sanchez won.
Suze-la Rousse Castle
Construction: 11th century.
Styles: medieval and Renaissance.
History: three great Provencal families owned this jewel: the d'Orange family, then the Baux family for six centuries, and lastly Marquise de Bryas who, on her death, bequeathed the château to an association that sold it at auction. In 1963, the château was acquired by the department. Its geographical position overlooking the countryside has ensured that for centuries its owners have enjoyed absolute peace and quiet in the heart of a 23-hectare park known as La Garenne, a reference to the pleasures of hunting and fishing in the days of the lords.
Characteristics: Situated at the top of the hill overlooking the village of Suze-la-Rousse, the three-storey castle is surrounded by a moat, which is currently dry. Medieval in appearance, it is accessed via a fixed bridge over the moat, leading to a main gate. This opens onto a rectangular courtyard with Renaissance-style facades. This courtyard also contains a kitchen with a double-access well and a former chapel. Opposite the main entrance is a reception room and a grand staircase giving access to the two upper floors.
Special features: a room for jeu de paume was built in the middle of the 16th century. During his stay at the château in 1564, Charles IX was able to play this game, which was very much in vogue at the time.
Current destination: the château houses a "wine university" where visitors can taste wines and learn about oenology.
Listed as: historical monument since 1964.
Km 31.1
NYONS (POP: 6,800)
A medieval town at the foot of a rocky outcrop, close to the Ventoux but protected from the winds by its location, Nyons has been nicknamed "Little Nice" because of its sunny climate. Famous for its famous black olives, Nyons is also well known for its heritage. Invaded by the Germans in the 5th century, by the Saracens in the 10th, a stronghold of the Princes of Orange and French in the 14th century, Nyons has a long history. This past is still visible today thanks to its Romanesque bridge and the Randonne Tower, crowned by a statue of the Virgin Mary, two of the town's most emblematic monuments. The curious visitor will be rewarded if he or she enters the old town through Porte Saint-Jacques, the only remaining vestige of the medieval ramparts. From the 13th-century Place des Arcades, you can walk up the main street lined with pretty grey houses with blue shutters. After the 17th-century church of Saint-Vincent, the Romanesque bridge comes into view. Nyons has hosted two stage finishes in the Critérium du Dauphiné: in 1986, when Jean-François Bernard revealed himself, and again in 2007.
Romanesque bridge
Construction: between 1341 and 1409
History: built at the end of the 14th century to plans drawn up by the Pontifes brothers, it was inaugurated the year it was completed by the Bishop of Vaison. Built in the pure Romanesque style, the bridge features a single arch 43 m long, rising more than 18 m above the Eygues river. It served as an entrance toll to the town. In 2009, the town of Nyons celebrated the 600th anniversary of the Romanesque bridge.
Listed as: Historical Monument since 1925.
Randonne TowerConstruction: 1270 and 19th century.
History: this is an amazing chapel with a pyramidal bell tower, topped by a 3.50-m high statue of the Blessed Virgin. Built in 1270 by the Baroness of Montauban, it was used as a keep and prison. Transformed into a chapel and renamed Notre-Dame de Bon secours in the 19th century, it contains a superb 18th-century multicoloured altarpiece.
Km 39.7
LES PILLES (POP: 250)
The village owes its name to the pyramid-shaped rocks or "pilum" that frame the cluse. The village's facade overlooking the river, rich in colour and diverse architecture, is listed as a Historical Monument. From the main street (Grande rue), you can admire the facades and gates, the oldest of which date back to the 17th century. The ruins of the 14th-century castle can also be seen high up.
Km 48.5
SAHUNE (POP: 350)
The village is dominated to the east by Rocher de Bramard, a famous sphinx-headed mountain. The ruins of the old village and its castle are a reminder of its glorious past. Built on the heights and facing north, its inhabitants decided to abandon it from the end of the 19th century until the 1930s to settle along the river Eygues. For almost four centuries, Sahune was home to a breed of sheep known as the Sahune sheep. Its reputation led to the creation of markets where breeders sold their produce. Note the presence of the old parish church (17th century), the ruins of the feudal castle and the Saint-Joseph castral chapel (13th century, privately owned).
Km 61
RÉMUZAT (POP: 300)
Rémuzat lies at the bottom of Rocher du Caire, a long cliff facing east. The rising sun makes it a warm place to be in the morning, which has led to the reintroduction of griffon vultures to the site. A walk along the ridge allows bird lovers to get close to these discreet birds of prey, which had almost disappeared from French territory. They take to the air between 10am and midday when the weather is warm enough to search for carcasses. In the village, a House of Vultures provides all kinds of information about the bird.
SOUTH PROVENCE-ALPES-CÔTE-D'AZUR REGION
Departments: Alpes de Haute-Provence, Hautes-Alpes, Alpes-Maritimes, Bouches-du-Rhône, Var, Vaucluse.
Population: 5.1 million
Prefecture: Marseille
Surface area: 31,400 km2
Specialities: Mediterranean cuisine, pizza, pissaladière, panisses, chichis, bouillabaisse, petits farcis (stuffed vegetables), alouette sans tête (mea trolls), pieds et paquets marseillais (lamb feet), salade niçoise, pan bagnat, gardiane de taureau (bull stew), sea urchins, fish (sea bream, sea bass, red mullet, denti, marbled, pageots, pagres, sars), wines (rosés of Provence, côtes de Provence, côtes du Rhône, Palette, Bandol...).
Sports clubs: Olympique Marseille, OGC Nice (football), Rugby Club Toulon. Cercle des Nageurs de Marseille (swimming).
Competitions: football world cup, Euro 2016 football, rugby world cup, rugby test matches, Tour de France cycling, Paris-Nice, GP La Marseille, Haribo Classic, Tour du Haut-Var, Tour de la Provence, beach volleyball, beach football, rugby in Toulon. Mondial à pétanque in Marseille.
Tourist attractions: beaches and seaside resorts (Saint-Tropez, Nice, Saint-Raphaël, Fréjus, Cassis, Bandol etc...), Palais des Papes in Avignon, Arles (amphitheatre, Roman remains), Marseille (Old Port, Panier, calanques, château d'If, Mucem), Nice (Promenade des Anglais, old Nice, old port), Mont Ventoux, Cannes, ski resorts in the Hautes-Alpes and Alpes maritimes (Serre-Chevalier, Le Sauze, Orcières-Merlette, Isola 2000), Briançon (citadel), Aix-en-Provence.
Economy: 7% of French GDP, 3e region in France, 16e in Europe. Agriculture (wine, market gardening), service sector (80%), universities (Aix-Marseille, France's leading university, Nice, Toulon), ports (Marseille, La Ciotat, Nice), petrochemicals (Fos), logistics, Nice and Marseille airports, tourism.
Festivals: Cannes Festival (cinema), Avignon Festival (theatre), Chorégies d'Orange, Aix en Provence Festival (opera), Jazz à Nice, Marseille Festival (dance). Midem (Cannes), Marsatac (Marseille), Fiesta des Suds (Marseille), Plages électroniques (Cannes), Rencontres d'Arles (photography).
Website: www.maregionsud.fr
HAUTES-ALPES (05)
Prefecture : Gap
Sub-prefecture : Briançon
Population: 141,800
Number of municipalities: 162
Surface area: 5,549 km2
Specialities: Tourtons (doughnuts), Oreilles d'âne (a gratin made with cream, lasagne and spinach), honeys (mountain, lavender, all flowers...), wines (Tallard and Avance valley), fruits (apples and pears from the Durance valley), cheeses...
Sport: France's second-largest department in terms of number of sports people per inhabitant, with almost 500 clubs and some fifty disciplines ranging from alpine skiing to ice hockey (Diables Rouges of Briançon and Rapaces of Gap), cycling (cyclo, mountain biking), team sports (football, rugby, handball, basketball), athletics, swimming, etc.
Economy: Tourism, Agropastoralism, Wood industry, Crafts, Departmental aeronautics industry, etc.
Competitions: Women's Alpine Skiing Southern Regional European Cup in Orcières, Speed Skiing World Cup in Vars, Embrunman Triathlon, Trail Gapen'cimes, Mondial de l'Escalade Briançon, Alps Epic MTB, Windfoil and KiteFoil French Championships in Serre-Ponçon.
Culture and heritage: Vauban fortifications at Briançon and Mont-Dauphin (UNESCO listing). Lac de Serre-Ponçon, Massif des Écrins (Barre des Écrins and Meije), major mountain passes (Izoard, Lautaret, Galibier, Vars, Granon, Noyer...). Departmental Museum in Gap. Alpine botanical garden at Le Lautaret. Religious sites of Notre-Dame du Laus and Boscodon. The villages of Saint-Véran (Queyras) and La Grave (Haute-Romanche) have been awarded the Most Beautiful Villages in France label. Embrun Cathedral. Plateau de Bure and Iram astrophysics observatory (Dévoluy). Château Charance estate and park (Gap)
Festivals: Festival Tous Dehors...Enfin de Gap (May), Outdoormix Festival (Embrun), Trad'in Festival (Embrun), Chaillol Music Festival, Messiaen Festival (Haute-Romanche).
Websites: www.hautes-alpes.fr / www.hautes-alpes.net / www.phenomenalpes.com
Km 73.4
ROSANS (POP: 520)
Rosans is a hilltop village built around its imposing Romanesque tower. Its layout still follows the plan imposed by the fortifications that protected it from the constant wars between Provence and Dauphiné. The village is dominated by its 12th-century "Saracen" tower, remarkable for its diamond-cut stone structure and listed as a World Heritage site in 1932. Several gates give access to the fortified village. The main gate is close to the Château de Lesdiguières, and it is still possible to walk along the ramparts. In Saint-André-de-Rosans, the village has preserved the remains of an old Benedictine priory founded in 988, with superb Romanesque friezes and mosaics discovered in 1998 and since restored.
Km 76.9
MOYDANS (POP: 44)
Baronnies Provençales Observatory
Located in the Baronnies Provençales Park, between Gap, Sisteron and Nyons, in an area that is still free from light pollution, the OBP's facilities offer a wide range of activities for everyone, from beginners to experts, either on site or remotely via an innovative Internet connection to telescopes. Several types of instruments are available for discovery evenings, astronomy training courses and even a professional Altazimutal telescope that is fully automated and accessible to all via the Internet. This telescope is the only instrument of its size in Europe (82 cm in diameter, 3 tonnes) available for hire on the Web.
Km 87.3
L'ÉPINE (POP: 190)
L'Épine is an old village laid out along a narrow central street where you can see many historic traces such as lintels and old roofs. A castle once stood at the top of the hill. All that remains is a 19th-century mill. For over two centuries, the pumpkin fair in September has been one of the highlights of the year.
Km 95.9
SERRES (POP: 1,300)
Now a large village built in a semicircle at the foot of a rocky peak, Serres was once Provençal, belonged to the Kingdom of Naples, became part of Dauphiné in 1298 and saw Catholics and Protestants clash. The Romanesque church (12th century) and the remains of the towers and walls of a fortified castle (14th century) date back to medieval times, when Serres was a fortress protected by ramparts. The old town is a fascinating place to visit. You have to climb a steep staircase, pass in front of a square tower with a clock and the remains of a Guire gate dating from 1556, before arriving in the main street. From here, you can take a trip back in time to discover some of the wonders of the past, such as the former Hôtel de Lesdiguières, which belonged to François de Bonne, Duke, Marshal and Constable of France in the 17th century, and boasts a superb blend of Baroque façade and Renaissance windows. Take a stroll through the narrow streets to discover the beautiful Romanesque-Provençal church, while at the very top of the old town, along the footpath of les Fades, you'll find the little Bonsecours chapel, a Jewish tomb (14th century) and a fine view of the Roman tiled roofs of Serres, with the pleasant Buëch valley as a backdrop. Serres was the start for a stage of the Critérium du Dauphiné in 1985.
House of Lesdiguières
Construction: 16th century.
Style: Baroque and Renaissance.
History: François de Bonne de Lesdiguières, Duke, Marshal and Constable of France, was a regular visitor to Serres, which was given to the Protestants as a place of safety and from which his secretary and biographer Louis Videl (1598-1675) originated. His presence there is attested in 1582 and 1588. Tradition has it that he lived in several residences in town, including the house known as Lesdiguières.
Characteristics: the house is built on a narrow plot: it has one room on the street per floor, distributed by a winding stairway illuminated by a skylight, accessed from the main street via a vestibule. The limestone masonry shell is rendered and bears a rich gypsum decoration. Dendrochronological dating suggests that it was felled in 1587. The façade was remodelled around 1926-1927 and restored in 1986.
Listed as: historical monument since 2000.
Km 112
VEYNES (POP: 3,350)
At the confluence of the Glaizette and Petit Buech rivers, Veynes has been the railway town of the Hautes-Alpes ever since the Etoile de Veynes lines were built over 130 years ago. It was around 1875 that the train entered the department at Veynes, followed by the construction of an engine depot and a roundhouse in 1885. The railway hub of the Southern Alps, set up by the Compagnie des Chemins de fer de Paris à Lyon et à la Méditerranée (PLM) and its engineer Adrien Ruelle (a native of the town), it remains today, as it was yesterday, the crossroads of four lines linking Veynes to Marseille, Grenoble, Briançon and Valence. In Veynes, an eco-museum now tells the whole story of this economic, industrial and human railway adventure.
Km 123.6
LA ROCHE-DES-ARNAUDS (POP: 1,350)
The village is situated on the Petit Buëch, between Pic de Bure (2,709 m, the highest point in the commune) and Céüze. As you wander through the pretty maze of narrow streets in the old village, you'll come across the castle of the Lords of Flotte, a 15th-century church, the former home of the Pénitents Blancs (White Penitents), an archaic statue of Saint-Pierre, a mill and a host of small bridges and fountains. In 2007, Pierre Para, a former telephony instructor and engineer with the Eaux et Forêts, rebuilt a 100-metre-long tri-cable forest cableway on his land at La Roche-des-Arnauds. This machine was used by foresters nearly a century ago to transport logs across the mountain
Km 134.4
Gap
Immerse yourself in the captivating blend of history and natural beauty as you explore Gap. The largest city in the Haute-Alpes region, Gap offers plenty of winding historic streets and cultural landmarks to take in, chief among them the Gap Cathedral, designated a French National Monument.
The city is known as France's sportiest city, and among its facilities are an ice rink that's home to the popular Rapaces team. Plus, as the gateway to the French Alps, Gap is an ideal starting point for outdoor enthusiasts. Explore scenic hiking trails and partake in exhilarating winter sports activities.
But if you're looking for something more relaxing, there's still plenty to enjoy in Gap, with its numerous squares being the perfect place to enjoy some al fresco dining and nightlife.
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Km 145.7
COL BAYARD (POP: 1,250 M.)
The Col Bayard was the first Alpine pass to be climbed by Tour de France riders, having been ridden for the first time in 1905. Frenchman Julien Maitron was first at the summit. The pass, which marks one of the borders between the Southern and Northern Alps, has since been climbed 25 more times, most recently in 2015, when Joaquim Rodriguez led the way.
Km 152.7
LA FARE-EN-CHAMPSAUR (POP: 420)
The village lies between the left bank of the Drac to the east and the edge of the Bois-Vert national forest to the west, on the slopes of the peaks that separate the Champsaur from the Dévoluy. It is made up of five hamlets, the main one being Les Barraques, which has developed commercially thanks to its privileged location on the Gap-Grenoble route. On 6 March 1815, on his return from Elba, Emperor Napoleon stopped off at the hamlet of Les Barraques on the Route Napoléon. La Fare-en-Champsaur was the birthplace of the famous Robert dictionary, since its author, Paul Robert, was a native of the village: the family home is still frequented by his family. Another local personality was Antoine Taix, who emigrated to California at the age of 19, became mayor of San Juan and made a fortune. He made numerous donations to his native village.
Km 166.3
COL DU NOYER (1664 M)
The Tour de France has ridden it four times since 1970. The last time, in 2010, Belgian Mario Aerts was in the lead.
Km 170.9
DÉVOLUY (POP: 1,000)
Since 2013, Dévoluy has included the communes of Agnières-en-Dévoluy, La Cluse, Saint-Disdier and Saint-Étienne-en-Dévoluy. It takes its name from the massif where it is located, made famous by the Super Dévoluy and Joue-du-Loup ski resorts, now part of the Dévoluy ski area. In the village, the Gicons chapel, known as the "Mother Church", has been a listed monument since 1927. This small Romanesque church, whose construction date is unknown (11th or 12th century), comprises a three-bay nave with round arches and a semi-circular apse, flanked by a side chapel topped by the bell tower and extended by an apse. The building, which has been altered several times, was abandoned for a long time, but is now being restored by a local association. But the municipality is most proud of its natural sites, such as the spectacular Pic de Bure (2,709 m), which René Desmaison climbed with great difficulty in 1961. The plateau is home to a major astronomical observatory. At the foot of Pic de Bure is the resort of Super-Dévoluy, which has produced skiers such as Cyprien Sarrazin, but was also the finish of the queen stage of the 2013 Critérium du Dauphiné, won by Samuel Sanchez and where Chris Froome consolidated his leader’s jersey. In 2016, the resort hosted the final stage of the Dauphiné, won by Steve Cummings as Froome once again took the overall win.
SAINT-PAUL-TROIS-CHÂTEAUX
Experience the magic of the French countryside in Saint-Paul-Trois-Châteaux, a gem tucked away in the heart of the Drôme region. Steeped in centuries of history, the passage of time is marked in the town's stone walls, ancient streets and architectural treasures. In particular its imposing cathedral, which dates back to the 12th century.
Saint-Paul-Trois-Châteaux is not just a treat for the eyes but a feast for all the senses. At its weekly market the air is filled with the fragrant aromas of fresh local produce and the region's famous
truffles. And every other day of the week, the town's charming boutiques and cosy cafes invite you to spend some time and relax. Every corner of this idyllic town echoes with quintessentially French charm, making it a destination that's not to be missed.
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SUPERDÉVOLUY
Embark on an adventure in Superdévoluy, a haven in the French Alps that welcomes nature lovers and wintersports enthusiasts alike. In the ski season, experience the sheer beauty of the region in style as you gracefully navigate the slopes of Superdévoluy, a premier destination for skiing enthusiasts. In the summer, explore enchanting hiking trails that lead to breathtaking viewpoints, revealing the pristine landscapes that define the area.
Indulge in the local flavors at charming mountain eateries and immerse yourself in the breathtaking alpine atmosphere. The Col du Noyer offers a scenic route, treating visitors to unparalleled vistas, while the village of Le Dévoluy enchants with its traditional allure and quaint chalets.
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