In the Rhone department the Rhone & Saone rivers to the east are a crossroads between northern and southern Europe. The Romans recognised this when they founded Lyon - the second largest conurbation in France today.
It has museums, a lively student population, chic bars and traditional restaurants making it one of France's foremost centres for gastronomy.
Try 'volaille demi-deuil', poched chicken stuffed with truffles or 'Caviar de Puy', a green lentil salad.
Not far from Lyon you'll find Beaujolais to the northwest. Beaujolais is a land of streams, granite peaks, forests & pastureland where the fruity red Beaujolais Nouveau is produced - released from the cellars on the 3rd November every year after just six weeks of maturing.

© RA Tourisme / M. Rougy