Burgundy & Provence (Northbound)

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

Lyon (or Lyons) is the capital of the Rhône-Alpes region in eastern France, located at the junction of the Rhône and the Saône Rivers, between Paris and Marseille. The city is known for its historical architectural landmarks at the Historic site, so that UNESCO recently listed Vieux Lyon, including the Croix-Rousse and Presqu'île areas, as a world heritage site. This is well deserved as the Gothic and Renaissance district is famous for its maze of narrow streets with quaint cathedrals, churches and buildings of historical importance that feature architecture from the 12th century to modern times. Read more about Lyon, France

Tournus is a town in the Burgundy region of eastern France, located on the east bank of the Saône River, between Dijon and Lyon. An ancient Roman garrison was built here on the banks of the Saône, and Tournus became an important religious centre under the influence of the very striking Abbey of Saint-Philibert which, with its interesting crypt, mosaics, and cloisters, is a masterpiece of Romanesque art. The early 11th C church of St Philibert that once belonged to the Abbey is also a main attraction due to the fact that it has square chapels, a crypt, as well as a nave that is supported on tall cylindrical columns and is roofed with barrel vaulting. Read more about Tournus, 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