Burgundy Bliss: Lyon to Lyon

Situated at the confluence of the Rhône and Saône Rivers, Lyon is hailed as France's gastronomic capital and home to the gourmet "temple" of Halles de Lyon Paul Bocuse, the city's incredible food market since 1859. It also boasts 2,000 years of amazing history, with Roman, medieval, and Renaissance architectural treasures, like iconic Place Bellecour, one of Europe's largest town squares; the Old Town's fascinating traboules (secret passageways); the Museum of Fine Arts; Fourvière Basilica; and the Roman Amphitheater, a UNESCO World Heritage Site.

Located in France's Burgundy region on the Saône River along an important trade route, 2,000-year-old Mâcon is a showcase of colorful facades and round-tile roofs that simply beg to be explored. Its charming cobblestone streets wind their way past ancient town houses. the Gothic towers from Old Saint-Vincent Cathedral, a 16th-century wooden house with unusual statues of monkeys and masked characters, and Hôtel-Dieu’s Louis XV-era apothecary shop also paint a charming scene.

With its medieval city center filled with narrow alleyways, Old World architecture, and eclectic shops and restaurants, Old Town Tournus is nearly perfect. The history of Tournus dates back to Roman times, when its position above the Saône River made it easy to defend. The 10th-century Abbey of Saint-Philibert features an unusual barrel-vaulting roof. Equally fascinating are the historic Hôtel-Dieu hospital and physics-defying Logis de la Teste Noire, whose upper level overhangs the ground floor—a way for medieval homeowners to avoid taxes!

The beauty of Chalon-sur-Saône in central Burgundy begins with its splendid half-timbered houses, St. Vincent's Cathedral, Baroque Church of Saint-Pierre, and Théâtre Piccolo, which was modeled after the royal opera at Versailles. But the city's pride extends far beyond its enchanting structures. Chalon was also home to French inventor Nicéphore Niépce, pioneer of photography; Dominique Denon, who helped convert the Louvre Palace into a museum after the French Revolution; and some of France's most delectable wines!