AAs well as providing some very general information, these notes reflect my own impressions following many visits to France.
They are, however, no substitute for the very good and interesting books which are available. William Pearson ©
They are, however, no substitute for the very good and interesting books which are available. William Pearson ©
AUVERGNE-RHÔNE-ALPES
The Massif Central mountains of the Auvergne are at the very heart of France. There are many extinct volcanoes, the last eruption being around 6,000 years ago. The mountains began forming around 70,000 years ago, but most have eroded, leaving rounded hilltops of hardened magma known as puys.
The rugged mountainous scenery is magnificent, with crater lakes, hot springs and wild river gorges, offering great opportunities for outdoor activities such as hiking, fishing, canoeing, white water rafting, and skiing in winter. After strenuous activity, enjoy the hearty regional cooking.
It is a sparsely populated region concentrating on agriculture and rural pursuits, and enjoying a slower pace of life. A large number of properties are built in local stone, and very attractive. For those who are interested in history, architecture and art, there are many churches, châteaux and museums.
In Allier is the Bourbonnais region, the birthplace of a major line of French Kings. Many of the châteaux, some formerly inhabited by the Bourbon Dukes, are open to the public. A darker period in its history was when the city of Vichy became the de facto capital of France during the Nazi occupation of the country. Since Roman times, Vichy has been well known for its thermal cures and its spring waters.
At the centre of the Auvergne is Clermont-Ferrand, one of the oldest cities in France, and the capital of the Puy-de-Dôme département. It is both a university and an industrial town, and boasts the corporate head office of Michelin.
Summer temperatures can be reasonably high, but it almost goes without saying that its mountain climate can be both very wet and cold!
Drôme Provencale is the name given to the southernmost part of the Drôme department. This area boasts the most famous olive oil produced in France, and is a premier growing area for aromatic plants and herbs, including lavender. There is some dramatic hill scenery including wonderful views of Mont Ventoux. Nyons, a lovely old Roman town, is well known for a dry sunny unpolluted climate, which can benefit those suffering from respiratory diseases. There are some delightful properties including old stone farmhouses, (called mas), sometimes with large areas of land.
To the north of the Drôme is the Savoie with its fine skiing areas such as Les Trois Vallées where you will find Albertville – host to the 1992 winter Olympics, Bourg-Saint-Maurice, the capital of the Haute Tarentaise region, Les Arcs, Tignes, Courcheval, Méribel, Val d’Isère etc. Properties range from small studios, to larger apartments and chalets. If you are looking for rental income, it is a popular area to purchase.
Activities in the area are not confined to skiing. You will be able to enjoy, amongst other leisure activities, depending on the season, golf, tennis, mountain walking, white water rafting, hang-gliding, mountain biking, and swimming. So, if you buy a property in this area, it can be enjoyed throughout the year.
If you would prefer a property in a lower lying area, look at some in the Plaine, in Aix-les-Bains and Chambéry for example.
To the north of the Savoie is the Haute-Savoie with Chamonix and the Portes du Soleil with places such as Châtel and Chapelle d’Abondance. This is a wonderful area for skiers, whilst towns such as Thonon-les-Bains and Evian-les-Bains offer stunning properties overlooking Lac Léman (Lake Geneva).
For sports enthusiasts, Evian offers, amongst other activities, tennis, golf, riding, sailing, swimming, mountain walking and, of course, skiing. For a more sedate pastime, those who enjoy a ‘flutter’ can visit the famous domed casino. For total relaxation, take the thermal baths and enjoy the natural mineral water treatments.
For accommodation along the banks of the lake and just inland, there are de-luxe to small private hotels and chambres d’hôtes, as well as many restaurants offering fine cuisine.
Access to this area is very easy, with Geneva airport an hour to an hour and a half away from the lakeside towns.
The Massif Central mountains of the Auvergne are at the very heart of France. There are many extinct volcanoes, the last eruption being around 6,000 years ago. The mountains began forming around 70,000 years ago, but most have eroded, leaving rounded hilltops of hardened magma known as puys.
The rugged mountainous scenery is magnificent, with crater lakes, hot springs and wild river gorges, offering great opportunities for outdoor activities such as hiking, fishing, canoeing, white water rafting, and skiing in winter. After strenuous activity, enjoy the hearty regional cooking.
It is a sparsely populated region concentrating on agriculture and rural pursuits, and enjoying a slower pace of life. A large number of properties are built in local stone, and very attractive. For those who are interested in history, architecture and art, there are many churches, châteaux and museums.
In Allier is the Bourbonnais region, the birthplace of a major line of French Kings. Many of the châteaux, some formerly inhabited by the Bourbon Dukes, are open to the public. A darker period in its history was when the city of Vichy became the de facto capital of France during the Nazi occupation of the country. Since Roman times, Vichy has been well known for its thermal cures and its spring waters.
At the centre of the Auvergne is Clermont-Ferrand, one of the oldest cities in France, and the capital of the Puy-de-Dôme département. It is both a university and an industrial town, and boasts the corporate head office of Michelin.
Summer temperatures can be reasonably high, but it almost goes without saying that its mountain climate can be both very wet and cold!
Drôme Provencale is the name given to the southernmost part of the Drôme department. This area boasts the most famous olive oil produced in France, and is a premier growing area for aromatic plants and herbs, including lavender. There is some dramatic hill scenery including wonderful views of Mont Ventoux. Nyons, a lovely old Roman town, is well known for a dry sunny unpolluted climate, which can benefit those suffering from respiratory diseases. There are some delightful properties including old stone farmhouses, (called mas), sometimes with large areas of land.
To the north of the Drôme is the Savoie with its fine skiing areas such as Les Trois Vallées where you will find Albertville – host to the 1992 winter Olympics, Bourg-Saint-Maurice, the capital of the Haute Tarentaise region, Les Arcs, Tignes, Courcheval, Méribel, Val d’Isère etc. Properties range from small studios, to larger apartments and chalets. If you are looking for rental income, it is a popular area to purchase.
Activities in the area are not confined to skiing. You will be able to enjoy, amongst other leisure activities, depending on the season, golf, tennis, mountain walking, white water rafting, hang-gliding, mountain biking, and swimming. So, if you buy a property in this area, it can be enjoyed throughout the year.
If you would prefer a property in a lower lying area, look at some in the Plaine, in Aix-les-Bains and Chambéry for example.
To the north of the Savoie is the Haute-Savoie with Chamonix and the Portes du Soleil with places such as Châtel and Chapelle d’Abondance. This is a wonderful area for skiers, whilst towns such as Thonon-les-Bains and Evian-les-Bains offer stunning properties overlooking Lac Léman (Lake Geneva).
For sports enthusiasts, Evian offers, amongst other activities, tennis, golf, riding, sailing, swimming, mountain walking and, of course, skiing. For a more sedate pastime, those who enjoy a ‘flutter’ can visit the famous domed casino. For total relaxation, take the thermal baths and enjoy the natural mineral water treatments.
For accommodation along the banks of the lake and just inland, there are de-luxe to small private hotels and chambres d’hôtes, as well as many restaurants offering fine cuisine.
Access to this area is very easy, with Geneva airport an hour to an hour and a half away from the lakeside towns.