img_logo_impression Geography

Geography

The Lyon metropolitan area, the largest in the Rhône-Alpes region, lies in a strategic location in the natural plain of the Rhone Valley. It is surrounded by the Beaujolais country in the north, the Monts du Lyonnais in the west, and the plains of the Dombes and Isère in the east and north.

The Rhône-Alpes Region

Centered in the natural river valley of the Saône and Rhone, the Rhône-Alpes region stretches across a vast territory 200 km long from north to south and nearly 180 km from east to west. With the Alps to the east and the Massif Central to the west, the region is noted for the diversity of its landscapes: plains, plateaus, medium and high altitude mountains.

In terms of waterways, the Rhône-Alpes region is among the best served in the country. An abundant water supply has made the Alpine valleys and rivers the major vectors for the development of energy production for the south-east zone of France.

The Rhone corridor has a continental climate marked by hot summers and hard winters. The mountain ranges (the Alps, south Jura, Massif Central) are subject to strong climactic variations.

The Rhône-Alpes region has a population of approximately 5 million people (9.5% of the French population). It is one of France's most industrialized regions and is home to some 50 world leaders in various economic sectors. Lyon is the driving force behind a dense and balanced network of average-sized towns (Grenoble, Chambéry, Saint-Etienne, Annecy...) which are developing close ties to enable the entire Rhône-Alpes region to position itself among Europe's most influential regions.


 The Rhône Département
The Rhône Département is the smallest in the Rhône-Alpes region. It stretches some 95 km from north to south and 65 km from east to west. It includes the Beaujolais country and Lyonnais hills, and its neighbors are the départements of Ain, Isère, Loire and Saône et Loire.

 The Lyonnais Hills
Located between the city of Lyon and the Saint Etienne basin, the Lyonnais hills cover about 40 kilometers. This hilly region, rising barely more than 900 meters, is a very popular get-away spot. These hills bear many traces of the past: megaliths, oratories, chapels and aqueducts. Today, the low valleys are occupied by market crops, vineyards and fruit orchards.

 Beaujolais country
Though the Beaujolais area is primarily known for its Nouveau wine, it is also a hilly zone with a granite base. The altitude is generally moderate, with the summit of Mont Rigaud reaching 1000 meters. Further south, near Lyon, the lower Beaujolais consists of very fertile sedimentary terrain. The region between Villefranche-sur-Saône and Chazay d’Azergues is known as "Golden Stone" country due to the ochre color of the stone buildings and land. Vineyards, pastures and forests abound in this area.