More towns in the region are coming soon.
Top 20 must-see sights in the region
A selection drawn from all the towns already covered in this guide.
Lac du Bourget
The largest natural lake in France, immortalised by Lamartine, ideal for boat trips and swimming.
See on the map →Château d'Annecy
The former residence of the Counts of Geneva, then the Dukes of Genevois-Nemours, now a museum overlooking the old town.
See on the map →Royal Monastery of Brou
A 16th-century Flamboyant Gothic complex, with a church, carved tombs and three remarkable cloisters.
See on the map →Château of the Dukes of Savoy
The former residence of the Counts, then Dukes, of Savoy, now the seat of the prefecture, with its Sainte-Chapelle.
See on the map →Notre-Dame-de-l'Assomption Cathedral
A unique Gothic cathedral built of black Volvic stone, the distinctive silhouette of Clermont-Ferrand.
See on the map →Cable Car and Bastille Fort
France's first urban cable car (1934), linking the town centre to the military fort with a 360° view over the Alps.
See on the map →Notre-Dame de Fourvière Basilica
A 19th-century basilica overlooking Lyon from the Fourvière hill, with a panoramic view over the city.
See on the map →Cité du Design
A former arms manufactory converted into a design hub, with its contemporary "Platine" building.
See on the map →Saint-Apollinaire Cathedral of Valence
An 11th-century Romanesque cathedral, a stop on the Way of St James pilgrimage route.
See on the map →Vichy Opera House
A Belle Époque opera house with an Art Nouveau façade, an architectural jewel of Vichy's spa quarter.
See on the map →National Thermal Baths of Aix-les-Bains
A historic spa establishment carrying on a tradition of water cures dating back to Roman times.
See on the map →Palais de l'Île
A former prison built on an islet of the Thiou in the 12th century, a symbol of Annecy and the town's most photographed landmark.
See on the map →Old Town of Bourg-en-Bresse
Lanes and timber-framed houses of the historic centre, around Rue du Palais.
See on the map →Fontaine des Éléphants
An iconic 1838 monument honouring General de Boigne, nicknamed the "four backsides" by locals.
See on the map →Notre-Dame-du-Port Basilica
A UNESCO-listed Romanesque basilica ranked among the masterpieces of Auvergne art.
See on the map →Grenoble Museum
One of the richest regional museums in France, renowned for its modern and contemporary art collections.
See on the map →Old Lyon
The largest Renaissance quarter in Europe, UNESCO-listed, with its traboules and colourful façades.
See on the map →Museum of Modern and Contemporary Art
One of the richest regional collections of modern art in France, with Warhol, Léger and Soulages.
See on the map →Parc Jouvet
A 19th-century French-style garden on the banks of the Rhône, with ponds, a bandstand and views of the Vercors.
See on the map →Parc des Sources
A grand covered spa park once thronged with those taking the waters, surrounded by galleries and bandstands.
See on the map →