Rhone-Alpes Travel Guide
The Rhône is as mighty as the Saône is peaceful, and these rivers form a part of the countryside that most travelers experience only briefly as they rush to the Riviera on the Mediterranean Express. This land of mountains and rivers is Beaujolais country, home to Lyon, a fabulous stop for gourmets; it boasts Roman ruins, castles, and the Grand Canyon of France.
The district brims with time-mellowed inns and gourmet restaurants serving cuisine that's among the finest in the world.
Regional Cuisine -- Lyon and its environs are the gastronomic capital of France. Excellent ingredients are available nearby -- the best chicken and beef in France (from Bresse and Charolais, respectively), freshwater fish from the high lakes of the Savoy, and game from the dense forests.
Regional specialties are quenelles de brochet (pulverized brochet -- a local species of pike -- fashioned into cigar-shaped cylinders, served with white butter); Lyonnais sausages; many versions of chicken, especially garnished with truffles; and an array of pâtés and terrines, often made from wild game. Another excellent regional dish is pommes de terres lyonnaises (sautéed potatoes with onions).
As for wines, the vineyards along the Rhône are some of the oldest in France, established by the ancient Greeks. The better wines are sold under the names of the villages that produce them: Côtes-du-Rhône Ardèche, Côtes-du-Rhône Gigondas, Tavel, Châteauneuf-du-Pape, Muscat de Baumes-de-Venise, Condrieu, and Beaujolais. Beaujolais is the premier young wine of France. It's intended for early consumption -- the release of each year's vintage is a national event.
