with its world famous capital city of Lyon, the Rhone Alps region centres on the River Rhone itself as it wends its way from the French Alps down to the sunny Mediterranean coast.

As a World Heritage Site, Lyon itself has plenty to offer, particularly in the area of gastronomy where it's handsome restaurants, hotels and shops are housed in a variety of buildings dating from the Roman to the Renaissance periods.

Lyon is not only famous for its food and architecture, it also has 23 museums displaying collections including Contemporary Art, Textiles and Egyptian Antiquities. Its market is also one of the largest in Europe and is filled to the brim with food and flowers.

Other interesting towns in the region include Pérouges, a fantastic example of a complete medieval town, or Vienne offering medieval churches and Roman monuments. Towards St Etienne you can also visit the Beaujolais villages and buy wine directly from the vineyards.

On the road towards Geneva is the town of Evianles-Bains, the world famous spa. The quality of the waters in this particular region makes it the premier spa in France.

In the east of the Rhone Alps is the resort of Chamonix, which stands at the foot of Mont Blanc and is a firm favourite with skiers during the winter months. In contrast, the cosmopolitan cities of Nice and Cannes offer the perfect coastal destinations.

The Rhone Alps certainly offer something for everyone, good food, wine and water, all topped off with a contrasting selection of locations from coast to mountain.