Читать книгу The River Rhone Cycle Route. From the Alps to the Mediterranean онлайн

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The shore of Lake Geneva in Montreux is lined with floral displays (Stages 4 and 5)

The Swiss R1 Rhone Route, part of the extensive Swiss Veloland network, is complete running from the river’s source near the summit of the Furkapass for 321km to the border between Switzerland and France at Chancy, west of Geneva. En route it follows a deep glacial valley with snow-capped mountains rising on both sides, some of the highest in Switzerland, to reach Lake Geneva. Attractive cities and towns such as Montreux, Lausanne, Geneva and Evian line the lake, which is both a popular tourist destination and one of the most prosperous parts of Switzerland.

After crossing into France, the ViaRhôna is followed, firstly through a deep limestone gorge between the Jura mountains and the Savoy Alps, then after passing through Lyon, France’s second city, through another wider gorge along the geological fault line between the Alps and Massif Central to reach the Mediterranean. The main cities along this valley, Lyon, Valence and Arles, have history going back before Roman times and much evidence of Roman civilisation including the ruins of temples, arena, amphitheatres and bath-houses. Other cities, particularly Vienne and Avignon, were important medieval religious centres with large cathedrals and clerical palaces.