Stretching from the river valleys to the north of Lyon to the mountains above Lac Léman or Lake Geneva is the département of the Ain. Bourg-en-Bresse is the capital of the Bresse area, a lush and productive plain where the famouse Bresse AOC chickens are raised - the only poultry to merit an AOC designation. The town has a beautiful church, l'église de Brou, a masterpiece of the late gothic style, dating from 1513-32 containing the tomb of Margaret of Austria. With an elegant nave constructed from pale stone from the Jura and an impressive array of 74 choir stalls, the work of local carpenters the church also has some striking stained glass windows whose inspiration came from works by Titian and Dürer.

The old town of Pérouges on its hilltop site in the Dombes, overlooking the valley of the Ain, was originally founded by settlers from Perugia. Rebuilt following the war of 1468 with Savoy, its old cobbled streets and timber framed houses with their projecting top floors form a very quaint and charming setting, much used in the making of various period films. The Dombes is a plateau at an average altitude of 280 metres above sea level running south from Bress to north of Lyon across the Saône and Ain valleys. This is the perfect spot for bird watching. Mallard, teal, grebes, dabchicks and heron are amongst the many water loving birds to be found here and the peace and tranquillity of the landscape with its ponds surrounded by flowers in springtime is a treat for all lovers of nature. At Villars les Dombes there is an ornithological park with 23 hectares where 2000 birds from over 400 species are protected, including ostriches, hummingbirds, penguins and golden eagles.

The Bugey boasts a far more dramatic landscape with pretty villages nestling beneath the impressive peaks, in particular that of the Grand Colombier. Even in the higher places it is not unsual to see vineyards climbing up the hills. Only one hour from Lyon it is set between the Rhone and the Jura. The Valromey also has many charming vineyard villages as well as the attractive Marais de Lavours marshes. The Gex on the other hand is known for its Jurassien summits, its ski slopes and is a walker's paradise with miriard varieties of flowers and wildlife which includes lynx, chamoir and capercaillie. The famous playwright Voltaire was lord of the village of Ferney for the last twenty years of his life by which time Ferney was a small but prosperous town, known now as Ferney-Voltaire.

Nordic cross country skiing is just one of the many pursuits on offer in both the Gex and Bugey, whilst quad biking, hang gliding and mountainbiking as well as hiking and walking are popular across the Ain.. Regional specilities include mouth watering quenelles in Nantua sauce, pike or carp from the ponds in the Dombes or one of the famous AOC chicken from Bresse in a delicious sauce and finally the delicious Bleu-de-Bresse cheese. Copyright: Sarah Francis