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Pictures of the French Alps and Northeast FranceThe French Alps, one of the most awe inspiring mountain ranges in the world stretching from Lake Geneva in the north almost to the Côte d'Azur forming a natural border with Italy. Historically this area was divided into Savoy in the north and Dauphiné to the south. Savoy is known for Mont Blanc, the highest peak in Europe with the town of Chamonix at its base. Grenoble is in Dauphiné.
Napoleon Bonaparte Crossing the AlpsNapoleon Bonaparte is perhaps the most famous person to cross the Alps. The crossing was memorialized by Jacques Louis David.
The Alps are a sportsman's dream with some of the best ski resorts in the world with good snow from December to April. In the summer, as the skiers move up to the glaciers, the flower covered hillsides attract hikers. Also popular are rafting, mountain biking, hang-gliding and horse riding. With training you can also try parapente (floating down from a peak on a steerable parachute) and skydiving. Try the tram from Chamonix to the top of Aiguille du Midi, the highest cable car in Europe and watch France, Italy and Switzerland spread at your feet, then ski or snowboard the 13 mile long Vallie Blanche as it drops 9200 feet. Plan to take an experienced guide! Or, in the summer, plan a 2 day guided climb of Mont Blanc. SavoySavoy is two departments, Haute-Savoie and Savoie. Through most of history the area was ruled by the Duke of Savoy and only became part of France in 1861 as part of the agreement that formed the Kingdom of Italy. As a result, the Savoyards have their own identity and dialect. Chamonix has been a resort spot since the 18th century and is surrounded by 9 ski areas.
Dauphiné and GrenobleDauphiné is bordered by Italy on the east and the Rhône River to the west. The area was controlled first by the Celts and then the Romans. It became independent in the 11th century and took as its name dauphin (dolphin). By the 13th century dauphin had become a title of the ruling house of La Tour du Pin and their territory, Dauphiné. They controlled all the passes of the southern Alps. The university at Grenoble was started in 1339. By 1350 Dauphiné was sold to the French king, Charles V who started the tradition of giving rule of this possession to his eldest son who then bore the title dauphin. Dauphiné was made part of France by Charles VII in 1457. Grenoble, the intellectual and cultural capital of the region, is in the valley between Chartreuse Massif and Vercors plateau. Fort de la Bastille was built in the 16th century to protect the city. Its position above the old city provides good views of the area.
StrasbourgStrasbourg was annexed by Louis XIV of France in 1681 (the rest of Alsace had been incorporated earlier). Only a short distance from the France-German border, you will find street signs in both languages and foods, wine and culture reflect both. Strasbourg is home to the 16th century University of Strasbourg and is an administrative center for the European Union. The center of the city is the Cathédrale Notre-Dame or Cathédrale de Strasbourg which reaches 466 feet in the air. It was built over a period of 260 years, completed in 1439. It amazes by decoration as well as size with the reliefs on the 3 portals, the Swiss astronomical clock with automata marking time, the Angel pillar and stained glass windows.
AlsaceThe vineyards of Alsace stretch along the foothills of the Vosges from Strasbourg to Mullhouse. There are twenty wine trails along the route du vin which can be walked in an hour or 2 with opportunities to taste the wine. Alsatian wines are the only ones in France to be named for the grape variety rather than the area or appellation. Best known are the Riesling and Gewürztraminer, also Alsatian Pinot Gris. Look for Trimbach, Dom. Schlumberger, Hugel. Alsace shares many food traditions with neighboring Germany: charcuterie (prepared meats), with sauerkraut, foie gras d'oie, kougelhopf (cake with almonds and sultanas); also escargots (snails).
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Copyright © 2009 Last Modified: January 28, 2010
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