To Sisteron with my sister

For my mid-winter break, Christy and Roland came to France to visit me as well as the beautiful countryside and ski slopes! I took the train to Lyon to see them off the plane, and then we briefly drove through the old part of the city and the view of the city from the cathedral. 

We spent about a day in Grenoble walking around, eating tasty pain au chocolat, and going up the téléphèrique to the Bastille. It was quite windy and cold, but I still enjoyed walking around town.

Ninji graffiti on the side of a building!

Téléphèrique to the Bastille on a chilly February day

After a day in Grenoble, we then headed to explore the southern Alps where there was more hope of clearer and things none of us had ever seen before. We took little side roads in the car and tried to see the little French villages along the way down to a small town called Sisteron where we had a hotel booked. Sisteron is a medieval city with a citadell and gorgeous rock formations around it. It is located south of Gap and north of Digne-les Bains.

A little town and some snow on the curvy road in the southern Alps

The town of Corps, small and cute, nestled high in the mountains. It was ch-ch-chilly!

Pretty door

White cows - France has lots of them

Finally able to see some peaks after driving a couple hours south of Grenoble

We made it to Sisteron by mid afternoon, and parked the car near a little trail going up a nearby hill.

Trees we saw walking up

Sisteron through a tangle of trees at the top of the hill

Beautifully painted compass/map that identified surrounding landmarks

Christy and Roland at the top of the hill with French countryside in the background

Tiny little Sisteron - the citadel is higher up on the left

Rock formation across the river from town lit up

Arrow to the Citadelle. I feel like I am in Lord of the Rings... kind of; I don't really think they would have had signs like this.

Clock tower downtown and a little market below

The next day we hung out for a bit in Sisteron and then took a different road back in the direction of Grenoble. It was actually a bit warm, and the sky was clear for until about half way back. There is so much to see in France!

Chateau at the little medieval town of Tallard that we stopped at on the way north

Warm (enough) sunny skies and a mesa

View of the valley around Tallard

Our next stop was Lac de Serre-Ponçon that was clearly defined by bright blue water, mountains, and a huge dam. Apparently it is a popular spot for wind surfers and other water sports. We stopped at a turnoff and had our lunch with a  wonderful view.

The lake and surrounding landscape

Scene just leaving the lake

We headed north and got to Grenoble in the late evening and just stayed there for the night as we were going to get started a bit earlier the next day to head north. We drove through some really beauitful mountains valleys that we would never have seen on the train! I don't think I will ever get tired of seeing the little towns with a medieval church spire and grand mountains in the background. By the time we did get to Grenoble, the clear skies were not consistant with the south.

Fountain at one of the villages heading north.