sightseeing & travel - France
For general information about traveling in France we recommend the following sites -
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Local Sites
- Michelin Green Guide books are very good, and can be purchased at Migros at Val Thoiry and most Kiosks. The Burgundy Jura is an excellent guidebook for our region - buy the English version at Amazon.fr.
- Pays de Gex – has lots of information especially under “Discoveries and Recreation” (Decouverte et Loisirs). “Practical Life” (Vie Pratique) lists weekly and seasonal markets.
- Savoie-Mont Blanc - covers what to do and where to stay on the south side of Lake Geneva.
- Col de Faucille is the highest peak on the Jura mountain chain
- Chateux Voltaire in Ferney-Voltaire is where the famous writer Voltaire lived until just before his death
- Fort Ecluse in Leaz/Longerie is a fortress dating back to 58AD - be prepared to climb lots of stairs! (See it's history below.)
- Source d’Allondon - this river begins on Chemin de la Source, Echenevex. Look for parking at the bridge. Walk about 1km to the little waterfall, and enjoy lovely open places to picnic.
Day Trips – within 100 km
- Annecy – Canals run through this lovely old town on Lake Annecy with art galleries, 12th century chateau, and flower baskets in summer. Fabulous fireworks display on Bastille Day (14 July).
- Cerdon Caves - Created from the slow workings of turbulent water in the great Ice Ages, the Cerdon Caves offer amazing sights during a 1½ hour guided tour. See tour times on their website.
- Chamonix – situated at the base of Mont Blanc - the highest peak in Europe - you can take a cable car (télépherique) to the Aiguille du Midi, Mer de Glace glacier. Site of 1st Winter Olympics in 1924 and world capital of mountain climbing.
- Evian-les-Baines – home of the PGA women's golf tournament, spas, and that water!
- Fort l'Ecluse, Leaz - Just a few minutes drive from Thoiry a great fortress sits perched on a mountain side. In his Commentaries on the Gallic War, Julius Caesar describes the defile as "narrow and difficult ... by which carts could be scarcely drawn one at a time, and moreover a very high mountain overhung it, so that very few could easily defend it." In 1184, a church and residence belonging to the Saint-Claude abbey was built on the site. During the Middle Ages tolls were collected for passage. In the 13th century a fortified house was built at the site by the Sire de Gex. In 1293 the house was ceded to Amadeus V, Count of Savoy. In 1601 the Treaty of Lyon placed Gex in the hands of the French crown. The fort was greatly expanded in the 17th century [continue reading....]
- Jura – downhill and cross-country ski, and snow shoe in winter - hike, boat, camp, hang glide, water ski and more in summer. Comté cheese is from this region - also taste the local beers. This enormous mountain range starts here at the Pays de Gex and ends between Delemont and Basel in Switzerland. Napoleons troups marched through the Pays de Gex on their way to the Col de Faucille.
- The Devil's Bridge Gorge (Les Gorges du Pont du Diable) - A path follows the river that cut through limestone which leads partly underground, then over bridges where you can view the torrent from above - a spectacular example of the last glacial period.
- Pérouges – Famous medieval town near Lyon with beautiful archways, and a tanners quarter. Check the pictures of the Pérouges Village.
- Lyon – the second largest city in France. The enormous Cathedral St. Jean Baptiste, built on a hill that overlooks the city, was renovated in 1988, and was visited by Pope John Paul II in 2000. A gastronomic capital of France, check out the fabulous restaurants on the rue de Mercière and environs. Also, see Gallo-Roman artifacts, Renaissance quarter, Historical Fabric Museum, silk and silkworks museum, marrionette shops in the old town.
- Mont Salève - Take the telepherique-du-saleve to the top of the mountain from Veyrier (in Geneva) or drive the beautiful, windy road from the French side, starting Saint-Blaise (near St. Julien-en-Genevoise).
Vitam Parc in Neydens is nearby - a place cool down and play in the water slides, bubbles and water jets, laser games and ball fountain. Your children will have a fantastic time with over 100 activities to choose from every week: climbing, watergym, fitness training, badminton and squash. Meanwhile for moms, there's the Wellness Spa with saunas, steam rooms, a balneotherapy pool heated to 33C and body care treatments. - Tunnel du Mont Blanc - this 17 kilometer tunnel takes you under Mont Blanc to Italy. We recommend buying a 10 pass ticket. There is no expiry date on the ticket, so if you don't use them all by the time you go, pass it on to a friend!
- Yvoire - Take a boat or drive to this charming medieval city on the south side of lake Geneva. Visit tourist shops, art galleries, eat ice cream, and the Jardin des Cinq Sens. The Domaine de Rovorée - situated 1.7 km from Yvoire, is an ancient castle set on 24 hectares with a medieval basement which leads all the way to the Geneva lakeside from where you can see the castle in Yvoire and the Swiss shore.
Longer Trips
The Most Beautiful Villages in France website has a wealth of ideas for wonderful vacations in France.
For those who enjoy trips to vineyards, the heart of the Burgundy (Bourgogne) wine region is about 2 1/2 hours north from here in the city of Beaune. Before you go, check here to learn about Burgundy wines and other places to visit in the region.
Other ideas...
The Most Beautiful Villages in France website has a wealth of ideas for wonderful vacations in France.
For those who enjoy trips to vineyards, the heart of the Burgundy (Bourgogne) wine region is about 2 1/2 hours north from here in the city of Beaune. Before you go, check here to learn about Burgundy wines and other places to visit in the region.
Other ideas...
- Aix-les-Bains - Spa resort on the Lac du Bourget; golf, casino, boat excursions to the Royal Abbey of Hautecombe
- Albertville - 1992 Winter Olympics museum
- L'Ardèche - Deep gorges and high plateaux, rafting, prehistoric sites
- Beaujolais - Vineyards and golden-stone villages
- Chambéry - Old quarter, Dukes of Savoie chateau, Savoie museum
- le Dombes - Land of a thousand lakes, ornithological park
- le Drome - Stone villages, sunflower and lavender
- Grenoble - Site of 1968 Winter Olympics, fine arts museum, Dauphiné and Stendhal Museum, Fort de la Bastille by cable for a panoramic view of the Alps. Follow the Route Napoleon all the way to Provence.
- Montélimar - Nougat candy capital of France
- Rouen - home of the ancient Kings of France, and the monument to Joan of Arc
- Normandy coast - This site names all of the beaches and is a good place to begin researching your vacation there.
Get a guide if you go here - it makes the history come alive. We recommend D-Day Battle Tours and Normandy Battle Tours. Canadians may want to book with Liberation Tours Canada, which highlights Canadian troup involvement in the WWs. - While in Normandy, don't miss the butter making capitol of France: Isgny-sur-Mer.
- St. Etienne - Museum of Modern Art
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