Rhône

The Rhône river runs 504 miles (813 kilometers) from its headwaters in Switzerland to the sea, with 338 miles (545 kilometers) within France. It begins in the Swiss canton of Valais, flows past Lake Geneva, which serves as the border between the two nations, and enters France in the southern Jura highlands. Lyon is the first city through which the river flows, where it joins the Sâone (298 miles or 480 km long).

The Rhône then flows south through the Rhône valley. It was formerly a vital interior commercial and transit route, connecting Vienne, Valence, Avignon, and Arles before splitting in two. The Great Rhône empties into the Mediterranean in Port-St-Louis-du-Rhône, while the Petit Rhône ends at Saintes-Maries-de-la-Mer. The river is part of a vast canal network that connects large commerce ports such as Marseille to smaller towns like Sète. It's a wonderful area, with lavender fields, olive trees, and vineyards lending brilliant color to the white limestone hills in the background. The valley is well-known for its vineyards, the most well-known of which being Chateauneuf-du-Pape near Avignon.

Length: 814 km