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

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ViaRhôna (www.viarhona.com) is a dedicated cycle track being built to French voie verte standards (traffic-free, 3m wide, asphalt surface) all the way from the Swiss border to the sea. While this is about 75 percent complete, there are sections, particularly in Isère département and south of Pont-St Esprit, where quiet country roads need to be used. Heavy traffic is only encountered on one stage, when heading south out of Lyon (Stage 11). This can be avoided if desired by taking the train for 30km from Lyon to Vienne.

Throughout the route there are a wide variety of places to stay, from campsites through youth hostels, guest houses and small family run hotels all the way up to some of the world’s greatest five-star hotels. Local tourist offices in almost every town will help you find accommodation, and often book it for you. It is the same for food and drink, with eating establishments in every price range including two of France’s most famous (and expensive!) three-star Michelin restaurants (Paul Bocuse near Lyon and Maison Pic in Valence). In both Switzerland (where the birthplace and grave of César Ritz is passed on Stage 1) and France, where culinary skills are in evidence in almost all establishments, even the smallest local restaurants offer home-cooked meals using quality local ingredients. If you like wine, there are plentiful opportunities to sample local vintages in both countries as the route passes through the Swiss wine producing areas of Valais, Lavaux and La Côte and many French ones including Côte-Rôtie, Condrieu, Hermitage, Châteauneuf-du-Pape and Côtes-du-Rhône.