The French Alps are renowned for their stunning scenery complete with beautiful mountains, rolling foothills, and pristine lakes and rivers. Well-known resorts such as Chamonix and Val d’Isere make the French Alps a world famous destination for skiing, with Chamonix, host of the first Winter Olympics in 1924, known as its capital. Its prize peak is Mont Blanc, which, at 4,807 m (15,771 ft), is Europe’s highest. Summertime invites hikers and bikers with incredible lung capacity to challenge the mountain.

Grenoble, a sophisticated city in the lower Alps, crackles with electricity from a high population of international students. The fortified 16th century Bastille above the town offers entrancing views of the landscape. Musee Dauphinois, below the Bastille in an ancient convent, contains exhibits ranging from Alpen life to visions of the future. The picturesque community of Annecy is endowed with vibrant gardens and shimmering lakes. A number of spas pamper and treat, with Evian-les-Bains and Aix-les-Bains being among the most visited.