Pérouges
⭐ A medieval hilltop town of weavers in the Ain, north-east of Lyon, listed among the most beautiful villages of France — cobbled lanes, a square around an old lime tree, and a view toward the Alps.
Vienne
Down the Rhône to the south, Vienne was a Roman city in its own right: a temple of Augustus and Livia in the middle of town, and a Roman theatre on the hillside. ⭐ It is the only other place in Gaul with a theatre and an odeon side by side, like Lyon. Its summer jazz festival has run since 1981.
Annecy
In the Alps, Annecy is an old town of canals — the Thiou, the Vassé — on a clear mountain lake. A long day, but an unforgettable one.
The Beaujolais
North of the city, the hills of the Beaujolais: vineyards, and villages built of the golden stone of the pierres dorées. ⭐ Much easier with a car than by public transport.
Booking a day out
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Pérouges and Vienne are easy by train. The Beaujolais and Annecy are far easier as an organised day out if you are not driving.
