The Rhone Valley France

The Rhone Valley, France

The Rhone Valley is a crossroads between northern and western Europe and the southern coast of France, Italy and Switzerland. Lyon, the capital of the region, is the second largest metropolitan area in the country behind Paris. Two major rivers, the Rhone and Saone, converge at Lyon, and the Rhone is a major waterway. One of the main TGV lines runs through Lyon from Paris to Marseille. Additionally, several autoroutes converge here from all directions. A new high speed train line is under construction to Turin, Italy.

On the western part of the Rhone-Alpes region is the Rhone Valley. To the east are the Alps and to the west is a smaller mountain range, the Massif Central. Northward, in central and northern France are the Loire River and Paris. To the south is located the Mediterranean as well as the French Riviera along the coast. In addition to Lyon, other major cities in the Rhone Valley include Saint-Etienne, Valence and Bourg-en Bresse. The rivers help to moderate the temperature, keeping it cool but not too cold in the winter, although it can get quite warm in the summer.

The Rhone River valley is a well-known wine producing region. There are two distinct sub-regions that produce wine, the Northern Rhone and the Southern Rhone. The northern sub-region runs from around Vienne to Valence and is known for syrah wines. The southern sub-region has a more Mediterranean climate and runs from the village of Montelimar south past Orange and produces both white and red wines.

The city of Lyon has a diverse and fascinating economy as well as a long cultural history dating back to Roman times. It has been called the silk capital of the world and has long been known for its silk and textile industry. Interpol has its headquarters here, as does EuroNews, the multilingual TV channel.

Lyon has long served as the intersection between Italy and the Mediterranean in the south and Paris and northern Europe at the other side of the continent. Thus, it developed its silk trade and fashion industries in concert with those of Italy and Milan. It also has been a major banking center for southern France and is now one of the leading gastronomic areas in Europe. Traditional food in Lyon is served in the many bouchons, or bistros, and is focused around meats such as sausages, duck and pork. The French football team, Olympique Lyonaisse, has emerged in recent years as a powerhouse in the country and Europe. The city serves as a major educational center, with a number of schools and universities.

St. Etienne, the second largest city in the region, is located 60 kilometers the southwest of Lyon on the edge of the Massif Central. It became important as a major arms producer during the French Revolution and Napoleonic wars. In the 20th century it was the capital of the French bicycling industry for many years and currently is home to bicycle wheel manufacturer Mavic. Today the city is known for its museums, one of which, the Musée d'Art Moderne, has one of the finest collections of Modern Art in the world.

Valence is a small city about 100 kilometers south of Lyon that is developing as a high tech center. Several of Europe’s major high-tech companies have set up shop here and there are several schools focusing on this sector. 60 kilometers to the north of Lyon is Bourg-en-Bresse, another small city that is focused on producing agricultural products, mineral waters and other light industrial products.

Because of its primacy as a transportation center, getting to the Rhone Valley is quite easy and there are many options for travelers. Saint-Exupery International Airport (LYS), formerly Lyon Satalos Airport, is 20 kilometers east of Lyon. It is the fourth busiest airport in France and has many international flights daily. The TGV has a major stop in Lyon and there is regional train service to other cities nearby. Lyon has its own public transportation system, allowing residents and visitors to easily get around the city. Several major autoroutes converge in Lyon as well, including the A6 to Paris, A7 to Marseilles, A42 to Geneva and A43 to Grenoble.

There is a wide variety of residential options for those who are interested in purchasing a home or property in the Rhone Valley. Lyon is the major metropolitan area and has the most to offer, beginning with apartments and flats for very reasonable prices. For larger sizes, houses in and near the city are going to cost substantially more, but there are plenty of options to choose from. Outside of the city there are country homes and villas for those who want to live the country life. Also, because the area is near the Alps it is a good place to invest in a vacation home that can be used year round.