Savoy and High Savoy (departments 73 and 74). Historically, a separate country, which included the two current French departments, the Valle d'Aosta and Piedmont. The flag and culinary traditions, such as fondue or tartiflette, or the cultivation of rather acidic white wines, have been preserved. As a nature and sports lover, you get your money's worth here: from the highest mountain in the Alps to the largest lakes in France, you can really let off steam. Mountaineering, canyoning, climbing hiking, skiing in the mega ski resorts. AND: caving. Just as in the Eastern Alps, the limestone mountains are forming a separate chain west of the Central Alp. And they are all very strongly karstified. There are vast cave systems with underground rivers, enormous shafts, and with the Gouffre du Jean Benard and Gouffre Mirolda even once depth record holders. The caves in Savoy are generally rather cool and alpine with few formations. Often, meanders (and even narrower meanders) characterize the caves and visits can only be made in dry conditions or in winter.
