FrenchDuck UK – France maps

Confusingly the Loire département is not where you think it might be – in the better known part of the valley with its Chateaux. It is near the source of France’s longest river in the Massif Central, and is rather by-passed by the major north-south autoroutes.

The main towns of the region include St Etienne, Montbrison and Roanne which is home to one of France’s best restaurants at Maison Troigros! Another example of how France can surprise you with some of the finest cuisine is a somewhat provincial town.

The departement is also home to the wines of the Cote Roannaise AC – surprisingly rich red wines based on the Gamay grape.

See our customised map

Official Tourist office for Loire département (in French)
Official Tourist office for Roanne

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In the east of France and to the east of Burgundy adjacent to Switzerland, the Ain is probably a little overlooked by most visitors.

With Bourg-en-Bresse as its principal town it is a region of gentle hills and river valleys – which is one of the hidden parts of France.

The departement includes Bugey and the wines of Bugey. These are VDQS wines (Vins Délimité de Qualité Superieure) – a classification between full Appellation Controllee and Vins de Pays. As such there are restrictions on grape varieties used and planting and harvesting techniques – and the grapes must be grown in the designated region. White wines from Chardonnay, Roussette; Rosé wines from Gamay and Poulsard; Reds from Gamay, Pinot and Mondeuse; and sparkling wines from Chardonnay. Seldom seen in the UK.
For an opportunity to taste some of these wines there is an open tasting in Lyon from 25-26 January 2008 – click here for more details
For more on the wines of Bugey see www.vinsdubugey.net
One of the highlights of the year is the celebration of the famous yellow corn-fed chickens from Bourg-en-Bresse – the Glorieuses de Bresse held every December shortly before Christmas (for 2008 it runs from 16-21 December 2008 – in the form of a market and other festivities held in Bourg-en-Bresse, Louhans, Pont de Vaux and Montrevel-en-Bresse – see www.glorieusesdebresse.com

More info – see the Ain Tourism Office

For an English run B&B in the region with a knowledgeable host and guide see B&B Burgundy

See our customised Google map of the Ain departement

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An Englishman and his wife set up a vineyard in the little-known Côtes Roannaises appellation in the Upper Loire Valley, and now have a great success and a B&B/Gite (see www.frenchduck.com)

see map

Pontenavaux and Odenas in the Beaujolais Region, 69 Rhône See map…