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Tip: The old town along Rue Sainte-Claire is the bistro strip; summer-weekend lakeside seating books a fortnight ahead.

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Ile Barbe (Saone island stop) ★ 4.0

Ile Barbe in the 9e is the Saone island just north of central Lyon, home to Philippe-Marc Jocteur's flagship bakery and a riverside park; the dining options.

Tip: Pair the Jocteur bakery stop with the Quai Pierre Scize walk; the island is small and a short visit.

Saint-Etienne (Forez gastronomy) ★ 4.0

Saint-Etienne, 50 minutes south of Lyon, runs a working bistro scene around the Place du Peuple and the Saturday Marche de Bergson, with Forez cheeses.

Tip: Saturday is the strongest market day; the design biennale takes over the food programme on alternate years.

Beaujolais Wine Villages ★ 4.7

The Beaujolais Cru villages lie 30 to 55 minutes north of Lyon, where ten AOC Crus produce Gamay wines of genuine depth. Booking recommended.

Tip: Hire a car for the Route des Crus; public transport reaches Romanèche-Thorins but not the smaller villages.

Vienne and the Cote Rotie ★ 4.5

Vienne is 20 minutes south of Lyon by TER and combines France's finest Roman theatre with Cote Rotie, the steep Rhone Valley appellation where syrah grown.

Tip: Take the TER from Part-Dieu; domaine visits need booking a week ahead for the Cote Rotie estates.

Perouges (Medieval Village) ★ 4.4

Perouges is a walled medieval hilltop village 40 minutes east of Lyon where the Galette de Perouges, a flat caramelised brioche sold from a window counter.

Tip: Arrive before 10:00 or after 15:00 to beat the tour groups; the galette window opens from 09:00.

Bourg-en-Bresse (Bresse Chicken AOC) ★ 4.4

Bourg-en-Bresse is the capital of the Bresse chicken AOC, 55 minutes from Lyon, where the blue-legged birds with their blue-white-red colouring have held.

Tip: Book lunch at a Bressan ferme-auberge a week ahead; the Dombes ponds nearby are worth a 20-min drive.

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