7 Night Essence Of Burgundy & Provence

The Rhône forks into two branches just upstream of Arles, forming the Camargue delta. It is the largest commune in Metropolitan France in terms of territory, and has more than seven times the area of Paris. Established by the Greeks in 600 BC, Arles was developed by the Romans who built a canal joining Arles to the Mediterranean Sea. Read more about Arles, France

The Rhône forks into two branches just upstream of Arles, forming the Camargue delta. It is the largest commune in Metropolitan France in terms of territory, and has more than seven times the area of Paris. Established by the Greeks in 600 BC, Arles was developed by the Romans who built a canal joining Arles to the Mediterranean Sea. Read more about Arles, France

Avignon is a town in the Provence-Alpes-Côte d'Azur region in SE France, located on the Rhône River just north of its junction with the Durance River. Strategically situated high above the Rhône and encircled by medieval ramparts, Avignon's walled old town is a warren of cobbled streets, lantern-lit passageways and architectural treasures. Bathed in the extraordinarily brilliant Provencal light, this former papal enclave has long attracted artists and painters as well as those in search of a cultural change. Read more about Avignon, France

The small walled city of Viviers is a town in the mountainous Rhône-Alpes region in SE France, and is located on the west bank of the Rhône River, 80 km north of Arles. Due to its sheltered location, the city has been able to keep its old world charm to this day, with important Roman remains as well as Medieval and Renaissance buildings. Indeed, the Gallo-Roman bridge, built between the 2nd and the 3rd century on the right bank of the Rhône, spans eleven arches, while the ancient city Alba la Romaine from the 1st Century is today an archaeological site covering 30 hectares of Gallic-Roman ruins and famous vineyards. Read more about Viviers, France

Vienne is a town in the Rhône-Alpes region in SE France, located on the north bank of the Rhône River, and 30 km south of Lyon. Vienne became a major urban centre, ideally located along the river which was at that time a major means of communication. Originally a Gaullic capital, it was transformed into a Roman colony in 47 BC under Julius Caesar. Read more about Vienne, France

Tournon - aka Tournon-sur-Rhône - is a town in the Rhône-Alpes region of SE France, located on the west bank of the Rhône River, 85 km south of Lyon. Tournon's main attraction is a feudal castle overlooking the town and the river. The castle, with foundations dating back to the 10th C, has a section built in the Renaissance period that today houses the town museum. Read more about Tournon, France

Mâcon, during WWII a major centre for the French Resistance, is a town in the Burgundy region in eastern France, located on the west bank of the Saône River. With buildings painted burnt sienna, buttermilk and rose, Mâcon has a distinctly Mediterranean atmosphere. To get a feel of this town, head for the terrace of the café in the Maison de Bois, a house covered in elaborate wooden carvings normally reserved for interiors. Read more about Macon, France

Vienne is a town in the Rhône-Alpes region in SE France, located on the north bank of the Rhône River, and 30 km south of Lyon. Vienne became a major urban centre, ideally located along the river which was at that time a major means of communication. Originally a Gaullic capital, it was transformed into a Roman colony in 47 BC under Julius Caesar. Read more about Vienne, France

Chalon-sur-Saône is a town located on the west bank of the Saône River, and 340 km by road SE of Paris in the south Burgundy region in eastern France. Known for being an important centre for France’s wine trade, be sure to visit the Maison des Vins de la Côte Chalonnaise to sample these fine wines. However the city is probably best known for being the birthplace of photography, by Nicephore Niepce, and hence has a dedicated museum that contains early photographic relics, more than two million photographs, and related exhibits. Read more about Chalon-sur-Saône, France

Dijon is the capital city of the Burgundy region in France, known for its rich history, architectural heritage, and as the heart of the Burgundy wine region. Read more about Dijon, France