Burgundy

Witness to the flow of peoples since the Palaeolithic, Burgundy has always made the most of its position at the crossroads of different civilisations, encouraging Celt, Roman, Flemish and Provençal to settle. Thousands of châteaux and churches weaving a unique tapestry of styles provide irrefutable proof.

The region's wines and gastronomy, better than weapons at winning friends, now provide the sort of global glamour of which the dukes of Burgundy, rivals to the kings of France, once dreamt. Chablis, Romanée-Conti, Pommard, Montrachet and Mercurey raise the standard for Burgundy across the world.

Add to this an infinite variety of landscapes, vineyard-covered hillsides, charming valleys, dense forests and numerous lakes and waterways and we have the portrait of a region whose attraction never fades.

A guided tour of Burgundy in 150 photos with accompanying text.