The Rhone-Alps Region
The region covers eight departments stretching from Montelimar in the south to Bourg en Bresse in the north, from the Massif Central in the west to the Swiss border in the east. The north of the region has a thriving economy and so is not one of the regions known for its cheap property and hasn't been invaded by the British looking for a second home. As it is a mountainous region, it is known for its ski resorts and that is where the tourists go. The airports are very busy at the weekend during winter but much quieter for the rest of the year. The south of the region is the departments of the Ardeche and Drome which are more popular tourist regions but still relatively unspoilt.
Easy to reach by air, Lyon is the main airport but some of the cheaper airlines are now flying into the smaller airports of St Etienne, Grenoble or Chambery. Of course, you can also fly into Geneva which is only minutes from the French border. It is also easy to get to by train. The fast trains put it only two hours from Paris and six from London. Motorway connections are excellent too, although to be avoided during the summer weekends when all the French go on holiday!