Mountain Biking in French Alps

Mountain biking is conquering the world by storm and is making every adventure-hungry denizen go loco. Gone are the days when mountain biking is simply just a mountain biking without the thrill involve.

Today's MB has grown not only in its popularity but also in its own disciplines. Any mountain biker and those who are willing to spend time and money just to learn the sport have more than one hundred and one reasons to be jolly because there are more than styles to learn in mountain biking and perhaps to enjoy too.

Because of the intense popularity of the sports, it is no longer solely confined to just mountains and man-made course because even ski resorts are now making it possible to do MB following a yet another challenging course to take- the snow trail. Perhaps one of the most challenging and beautiful places to visit and challenge with a mountain bike is the French Alps.

MB in French Alps will surely take anyone a great ride that will truly make anyone to go back for more. A craving that is definitely hard to satiate.

The French Alps form a large part of the world-renowned the Alps. In fact, one of the most popular and perhaps one that has the highest peak is the Mont Blanc, which is also partially found in France specifically in the city of Haute-Savoi. There are more mountains that can be found in the French Alps, which naturally make MB in French Alps exhilarating and something that is always looked forward to.

MB does not only take the bikers to the most beautiful mountain of all the Mont Blanc, which is also known as the White Mountain or the White Lady but also it can take other popular mountains and ski resorts.

In order to attract more tourists to these ski resorts specially when winter is gradually turning into spring they have these resorts not only a rendezvous for ski enthusiasts but a haven for mountain bikers as well. The number of sports enthusiasts who are MB in French Alps are growing in leaps and bounds thanks to those thrilling ride that gives them the adrenalin that they were looking for.

MB in French Alps can lead the bikers into yet another electrifying ride to the Les Chemins du Soleil or better known as the Paths of the Sun. This course is following two different paths that meet each other at a certain point somewhere in pre-Alps of the southern portion of France.

Most of the bikers take the road to the Grenoble leading to the Sisteron trail because of its remarkable trail with a higher degree of difficulty, nevertheless the one that can truly satisfy one's hunger for heart pumping adventure.

So if you are looking for the greatest ride of a lifetime then mountain biking in French Alps will definitely give what you wanted.

For a place to stay during your tour check out some rhone-alpes chalets for rental.

Author: Rene Graeber

About the Author: If you want to get more information please visit my blog at http://wellness-for-my-boddy.blogspot.com

Article Source: ArticlesBase.com - Mountain Biking in French Alps

Rental Chalet in Haute Savoie. Rhone Alpes - France

Chalet Sigismond
Haute Savoie, Rhone Alpes
4 bedrooms, sleeps 10

Chalet Sigismond is a traditional, self catering Chalet situated 5km from Les Carroz. The chalet offers you 4 bedrooms sleeping up to 10 adults, 2 bathrooms, kitchen/dining room & living room.

Follow the link for more information, photographs and direct contact with the owner of this long term let Haute Savoie Chalet in the Rhone Alpes.

5 Things To Do In The Rhone Alpes, France.

Situated on the Italian and Switzerland borders, the French area of Rhone Alpes is a must visit place in all seasons. France rentals are very popular in the Rhone Alpes region. Packed with several entertaining activities to offer to the tourists, the Rhone Alpes is home to an entire wealth of economic, cultural and geographical treasures.

Some of the places that you cannot afford to miss include the mountains and the city of Lyon, apart from the striking Mont Blanc. There are also many rivers, famous vineyards and natural parks in the region that are worth visiting.

The first thing people come here to do is skiing and snowboarding. A large number of people head towards the Val d'Isere slopes for skiing and snowboarding especially during the winters.

There are several ski resorts in the area and even if you are not carrying your ski equipments with you, they can be hired from the resorts or stores or even be bought there. Some of the most popular ski areas in Rhone Alpes include Vallee Blanche in Chamonix, Les Arcs in Bourg Saint Maurice, La Tania in Courchevel, Les Allues in Meribel and St Martin de Belleville in Les Menuires

The second thing to do in Rhone Alpes is to enjoy its glorious nightlife. There are several bars, operas, clubs, pubs and cafe bars for the visitors to enjoy. The Place des Terreaux in Lyon is a public square that gets lit up in the night by beautiful 19th century fountains and is always founded crowded after sunset. Opera National de Lyon is an internationally renowned opera in Lyon.

A large number of visitors come here to enjoy the world class opera performed here. Le Hot Club is a premier Jazz club in Lyon which features live performances many times in a week. Le Twenty in Grenoble is one of the trendiest cosmopolitan cafe bars featuring specialties like several cocktails mixed in Chartreuse.

The third thing to do in Rhone Alpes is to enjoy the live performances conduced here from time to time. Theatres Romains de Fourviere in Lyon is a renowned theatre, remnant from the dominant era of Roman Empire. The ruins of the two amphitheatres are more than 2000 years old. Amphitheater of the Three Gauls in Lyon is more than 2000 years old monument of the Roman organization. The Roman Theater in Vienne is a Roman theatre seating around 13000 people. It also serves as an architectural building and an ancient ruin.

The fourth thing you must not forget to do in Rhone Alpes is to explore its history and culture. Standing on the Fourviere Hill, the Basilique Notre Dame de Fourviere was constructed in late 19th century with grave exterior and ornate interior. The Cathedral Saint Jean Baptiste is a 12th century cathedral made in Gothic style with impressive windows of stained glass. Hotel de Ville is the city hall of Lyon with blue domed pavilions and a tall clock tower.

The fifth thing you should not miss in Rhone Alpes is enjoying its wine. The best known wine producing regions of France are situated near Lyon which are Beaujolais in the north and Cotes du Rhone in the south.

The diversity of the Rhone Alpes region of France make it very popular for self catering holidays all year round. Renting a holiday home would give the tourist the time and freedom to explore and partake of all that is on offer in this region of France.

About the Author:
Andrew Gibson is M.D of Direct Holiday Bookings. France rentals are popular with families staying in self catering holiday homes in Rhone Alpes. They also have a great selection of self catering apartments to rent in Rhone Alpes as holiday rentals.

Photograph: La Tannerie. Ski Chalet for rental in the Rhone Alpes.

Ski Chalet For Let - Rhone Alpes

La Tannerie Ski Chalet
Peisey Nancrois Vallandry Ski Resort
Savoie, Rhone Alpes
Available for seasonal or yearly, full or part lets.
6, 9 or 15 bedrooms sleeping 2 to 32 people.

Charming, renovated farm building retaining all of the atmosphere of a wooden and stone built lodge. Located right next to the ski lift going to Vallandry and Paradiski link La Plagne les Arcs this amazing property also boasts a large sauna.

Follow the link for more details and direct contact with the owner of this ski chalet in the Rhone Alpes.

The French Alps

With the ski season rapidly approaching, now is the time to begin looking for ski accommodation in the French Alps. Over the next few weeks we'll be introducing you to the Rhone Alpes and her departments and adding a list of ski chalets in the French Alps.

Discover Chambery

by Jeff Steiner

Chambery, located in the heart of the French Alps is the once capital of Savoie. It sits just near Lac du Bourget (Bourget Lake), looked upon by the Alps that surround it. Chambery is a city that can be both visited in the winter and summer. In the winter there are a number of ski resorts within easy driving distance. In the summer those same Alps that were skied, become hiking and backpacking trails and campgrounds.

The center of Chambery is the ‘old town’ it includes a Chateau, once the residence of the dukes of Savoie, a 15th century Cathedral and a fine arts museum. There is also a ‘Fontaine des Elephants’ (Elephants Fontaine) built in honour of the Comte de Boigne, who bestowed upon the city much wealth. A large portion of his personal wealth came from India, hence the Elephant Fontaine.

The center of Chambery offers not only tourist attractions but also many shops for buying your favourite French goods. If you are lucky it might be market day and you can buy some fresh local produce. Like so many cities in France Chambery is not only charming, it is also small enough to be walked comfortably. You will be able to see the center without getting sore feet! But if you do have that fear there is a tourist ‘train’ that will take you through the center and let you visit with as little walking as possible.

Chambery makes a good base for exploring the French Alps especially during the winter as it is within easy driving distance of such ski resort towns as Grenoble, Albertville, La Clusaz, Courchevel, Alpe d’Huez, Chamonix and Val d’Isère. In the summer other outdoor activities are possible including hiking and camping. As Chambery is close to three national parks, Parc national de la Vanoise, Parc Naturel Régional de Chartreuse and Parc Naturel Régional du Massif des Bauges. Other close natural attractions include, Lac du Bourget and Lac d’Aiguebelette. Two other popular summer lakes are Annecy Lake, within an hour’s drive and Lake Geneva, two hours’ drive.

Getting to Chambery is easy as it has a modern airport; the official name is Aéroport de Chambéry. The airport code is CMF. At the moment there are a number of ‘no thrills’ airlines like Flybe and Jet2.com have regular service to Chambery. These ‘no thrills’ airlines fly from selected major European destinations like Amsterdam and Bruxelles along with such UK destinations as Birmingham, Exeter, Manchester and Southampton.

Chambery can also be accessed by car from the A41 Autoroute Exit 13, Chambery Nord. Chambery is a little over an hours drive from Lyon and about a seven hour drive from Paris. Chambery also has train access. If you plan on coming from Paris the best thing to do is take the TGV (high speed train), it only takes about an hour and a half and then transfer to a regional train in Lyon that goes to Chambery.

Chambery can also be used as a base to visit other European cities and countries like Geneva, Switzerland and Turin in Italy. Each are within in a two hour drive.

About The Author
Jeff Steiner has created a number of sites about travelling in France. Including The Practical Guide to Chambery Airport - http://www.chamberyairport.net/ which offers more information about the Chambery Airport including airport access, car hire, bus transfer…

Check out Lets Rent Property In France for French long term lets and Holiday gites in France.

The Bargains In The French Mountains

By Jim Barnaby.

Those looking to invest in property in France may have to be pretty savvy about it, experts have warned. In such a popular market, especially for British buyers, there are bound to be regional variations in price, making it important for those hunting bargains to do their research before looking to make a purchase.

Yet the bargains are still there. Liz Oliver of property specialists Francophiles told the Guardian at the weekend that "France is still very good value," adding that "if you are prepared to go inland a little bit, prices drop significantly".

Investors may indeed choose to head inland, away from the Cote D'Azur with its sunshine or the Brittany coast with its proximity to Britain, but to where? One option is to head to areas famous for their wineries, but another is to go to the mountains. The Guardian article lists the Pyrenees as an area to find bargains, along with Champagne-Ardennes, Poitou-Charente, and Limousin.

Read the rest of Jim's article at Let's Rent Property In France

Short term property rentals & Gites in the Auvergne

Auvergne is located in the centre of France on the Massif Central. Because of its central position it has Bourgogne to its north, Centre to its northwest and west, Midi-Pyrenees to its southwest, Languedoc-Roussillon to its south and Rhone-Alpes to its east. The Auvergne region is composed of the four departments Puy de Dôme, Haute Loire, Cantal & Allier.

Two well known cheeses, Fourme and Bleu d'Auvergne come from the department of Cantal. The Auvergne Mountains are the source of the Dordogne River which flows for a distance of 300 miles passing through the Limousin region on its route.

Click below to view properties in a department within Auvergne

Puy de Dôme | Haute Loire | Cantal | Allier | view all...

Short term property rentals in the Rhone-Alpes

Established as recently as 1980, Rhone-Alpes is located in south western France and accounts for most of the French Alps. The region is bordered by Burgundy, Franche-Comté, Switzerland, Italy, Provence-Alps-Côte d'Azur, Languedoc-Roussillon, and Auvergne.

The winter resorts of Avoriaz, Chamonix-Mont-Blanc, Chamrousse, Courchevel, Flaine, Megève, Morzine and Tignes, Val d'Isère, which features numerous ski trails and other recreational opportunities, account for most of Rhône-Alps' income. However, coal mining, oil refining, manufacturing of metal products and synthetic fibres as well as the vineyards found along the slopes of the Rhône Valley also contribute.

Click below to view properties in a department within Rhone-Alpes

Ain | Ardèche | Drôme | Isère | Loire | Rhône | Savoie | Haute Savoie | view all...