Rhone possesses one of the main rivers of Europe that runs throughout France and Switzerland.  Lyon is the wonderful capital city of both Rhone and the Rhone-Aples region.
Rhone acts as a significant road during the Roman times. Up until the 19th century, passengers traveled in “coches d’eau” by means of horses or under sail. Most travelers sail around Rhone with a tinted cross covered as a religious sign for protection against the hazards of the journey.

The trade on the upper river used the “bargues du Rhone” sailing barges. This sailing barge measures 30 meters by 3.5 meters with a 75-tonne capacity. As many as 80 horses were even employed in order to haul trains of 7 craft up streams.
Hence, the first untried steam boat was constructed at the place of Lyon by Jouffroy d’Abbans in the year 1783. The passengers of steam vessels are about 90 to 100 meters long and run at a speed of 25 kilometers per hour.

Aside from this, the south of France is dominated by the Rhone valley which has been carved out of its beautiful countryside. The attractive stretch of the valley river offers energy for the town that somehow features lesser enjoyment and relaxation rate.

In the year 1933, the CNR or “Compagnie Nationale du Rhone” was established at the time when the river flows in the city. Several progress in deepening the navigation channel as well as constructing scouring walls that has occured. During the year 1942 following the fall of Vichy France, the Italian military occupied southern France up to the Rhone eastern bank as part of the Italian Fascist expansionist agenda. In 1948, the people of Rhone started to lock barrages as well as canals so as to generate electricity and improve navigation. About 1/13 of the electricity supply in France is provided by power stations.  In the year 1852, four communes from Isere were incorporated to the Rhone and in 1967 twenty three of Isere and six communes of Ain were incorporated to Rhone. Lastly in 1971 one commune from Isere was incorporated to Rhone.

Navigation

Before highways and railroads were invented, Rhone was a significant transportation route and inland trade connecting the cities of Avignon, Atles, Vienne, Valence and Lyon from the Marseille, Sete and Mediterranean port of Fos. Traveling down the Rhone using barges would take three weeks but now it only takes three days. The Rhone River is defined as a class V waterway starting from the Saone River up into the sea. The Saone is also an inland waterway that connects the cities of Macon, Chalons, villefrance and the Rhone port.

Rhone is well-known for their strong current speed when river takes large amounts of water. The current speed of this river takes up to ten kilometers per hour. The ten river locks are operated everyday from 6:00 a.m to 9: 00 p.m. The night operation will be requested.

Course

Rhone is an inundation and has become a huge mountain river running through the southwest portion of the glacier valley and turns northwest towards Lake Geneva. It enters to Lake Geneva and close to the Swiss town of Bouveret. It also exits at the city of Geneva before entering France. The average annual discharge from the Lake Geneva is about 570 cubic meters per second.

At Arles, the Rhone separates itself in two arms to create the Camargue delta with all twigs flowing to the Mediterranean Sea. One arm is known as the “Grand Rhone” and the other one is called the “Petit Rhone”.

Geography

The rivers in this area include the Saone as well as the Rhone which unite the Rhone Lyon. The neighboring departments are Isere, Ain, Saone-et-Loire and Loire. Over 75 percent of the population lives inside the Lyon metropolitan area. Apart from the Villefranche-sur-Saone the largest cities of the Rhone department are all of the Lyon metropolitan area.

Lyon: 470,187 inhabitants

Venissieux: 56,487 inhabitants

Villeurbanne: 134, 500 inhabitants

Calluire-et-Cuire: 41,667 inhabitants

Vaulx-en-Velin: 39,466 inhabitants

Saint-Priest: 41,213 inhabitants

Villefranche-sur-Saone: 38,863 inhabitants

Bron: 38,600 inhabitants

Weather or Climate

The meteorological climate of Rhone is very great when it comes to the exposure and elevation. Snow sometimes lies in the mountains from the month of November up to April while at Lyon and in the valleys the temperature in winter is about 36 degrees Celsius and the climate in summer is about 70 degrees Celsius.

Culture

Good culture land is found in the valleys of Rhone and Saone. Oats, wheat, potatoes and rye are extensively cultivated but their significant product is wine. The productions of fabrics and silk together with their other industries are contracted in Lyon as well as its vicinity. Lyon is the capital of the Court of Appeals and Archbishop and the center of education.

The different AOC wine of the Rhone Valley region produced over 6,000 wine-increasing properties including 103 cooperatives and 1,837 private wineries. The Rhone Valley in southern portion of Lyon is famous for their vegetable gardens and fruits.
Rhone valley is the second main French quality wine manufacturing region and well known for a variety of white wines and dry red wines. A small value of sparkling wine is also created in this valley. Steeped in gastronomic traditions and rich history, this attractive valley must be in the itinerary of each wine enthusiast visiting France. The Ghateau Grillet is known for Viognier based uncanny white wine.

Cotes-du-Rhone: This displays the region and uses entire wine region in 171 communes.

Cotes-du-Rhone-Villages:  This village is an AOC wine that allows 95 communes with a higher minimum requirement for grape maturity. The application does not agree to display the name of the village.

Rhone Tourist Destinations

The Rhone valley role has changed a lot over the centuries. Nowadays, Rhone Valley embraced a role as an unbelievable tourist spot. Decorated with incredible views and chances for exploration, the Rhone valley is a must-see for guests or travelers who come to France.

The Ardeche valley is really worthy of exploration, hosting eye-catching scenery with spectacular caves imprinted out of limestone plateau. Within this cavern, some magnificent prehistoric discoveries have been made.

Along Rhone

The towns and cities along the Rhone Valley are listed below:

France 

• Vienne
• Lyon
• Tournon-sur-Rhone
• Montelimar
• Valence
• Viviers
• Pont-Saint-Andeol
• Broug-Saint-Andeol
• Roquemaure
• Beaucaire
• Avignon
• Arles
• Vllabregue

Switzerland

• Brig
• Sion
• Lake Geneva
• Visp
• Martigny, Switzerland
• Geneva