Burgundy

Sightseeing in Burgundy often revolves around the region's 4,000 wineries. The Burgundy wine route zigzags for hundreds of miles between the villages of eastern and southern Burgundy; you'll find the top wineries and the prettiest scenery in the area that runs south of Dijon via the Côte-de-Nuits, Beaune, and Côte-de-Beaune to the Côte Chalonnaise. Bivb.com lists over 600 wineries in Burgundy that are open to the public, as well as information on winemaking, wine tasting, and wine routes.

Even if you don't care for wine, you'll still find plenty to love about a Burgundy vacation. Burgundy is a favorite vacation area of Parisians, in part because of its big, beautiful landscape of lakes, forests, rivers, and historic sites. To explore Burgundy's back country, take a drive on the narrow roads (marked yellow or white on most maps) that wind through vineyards, forests, and pasturelands. There are also dozens of clearly marked car-free or lightly trafficked roads and paths that make it safe and easy to hike or bike through wine country. Many B&Bs and some hotels keep bikes on hand for guests' use; you can also book a weeklong biking or walking tour of Burgundy through Butterfield & Robinson. Consider, too, a scenic river or canal cruise. Afloat in France's barges navigate Burgundy's waterways between April and October, including a six-night cruise along Burgundy's wine route; check with the local tourist boards for other reputable outfitters. Along the way, you'll pass some of the hundreds—yes, hundreds—of Romanesque churches, monasteries, abbeys, and fairy-tale châteaux that dot the countryside. Budget enough time to explore the winding, cobbled streets of medieval towns and villages like Auxerre, Autun, Chablis, Beaune, Cluny, and Tournus, where one of the most pleasant activities is people-watching from a sidewalk café with a glass of local wine in hand.