The
land that lies between the tumultuous Rhône—a
river the historian Michelet called “a raging
bull”—and Europe's loftiest peaks, a
land that embraces glaciers and olive trees, ancient
cities and untamed wilderness, is still in the process
of forging its modern identity. Comparable in size
to Switzerland or Belgium, Rhône-Alpes is
France's second-largest region. It forms a counterweight
in the nation's southeastern sector to Paris--Ile-de-France
in the north. Though it is swiftly becoming a major
European crossroads, Rhône-Alpes is more a
political construct than a coherent cultural or
geographic entity—the Région Rhône-Alpes
is a very recent creation. Paradoxically, perhaps,
the stunning diversity of the region's topography
counts among its prime assets, and is surely its
primary attraction for travelers. Read
more...
For more information, visit the official website
of Maison
de la France
Left
image of the alps courtesy of La
Maison de France; Middle image of wine tasting
courtesy of www.vins-rhone.com;
right image courtesy of www.france-rhonealps-tourism.com.
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