ON A clear day, it seems, you can see Mont Blanc wherever you are in the Rhone-Alpes region of France - including, they say, from the 15th tee of the municipal golf course in Saint-Etienne, writes Jeff Fuidge.

Buy, while the alps provide some of the best skiing in Europe, there is much more to this popular region which stretches east to the Massif Central and south to Provence.

Whatever your interests and whether you choose to stay for a weekend or a week, you can guarantee you'll still need more time to see, experience and taste what's on offer in this fascinating part of France.

There is something for everyone, with sailing, kayaking or fishing on the many lakes and ponds, glacier hiking, mountain climbing, cycling and golf to name a few.

For the less energetic, a visit to the fortified medieval town of Perouges or discovering the unique architectural gems in the old quarter of Lyon and the must-see Basilica Notre-Dame de Fourvière will keep you busy and intrigued.

To make sure you don't miss a trick in this fascinating city an official guide, which can be booked through the Rhone-Alpes tourist board, is a must. But if your prefer to see the city in your own way there is plenty of information available at www.rhonealpes-tourism.com

The region is also one of the major wine-producing areas of France and trips and tastings at the vineyards producing vintages like Brouilly and Saint Amour or the more popular Beaujolais or Cotes du Rhone are easily arranged.

Food also plays a huge role in any French city and Lyon is no different. There's a choice to suit every taste and pocket with gourmet delicacies in Michelin-starred restaurants to the traditional, simple fare of the many bouchons Lyonnaise in the region's capital Lyon. I dined at the extremely popular Cafe des Federations in rue Major Martin (Tel 04 78 28 26 00) and enjoyed a delicious array of local dishes. But be warned, you need to book in advance as there's never an empty seat.

The biggest problem you face is deciding when to visit. With the spring comes the incredible array of colourful flowers in the foothills of the alps or the sensational aromas of the lavender harvest in June or July. Meanwhile, up to the end of October you can still enjoy warm sunshine and the late grape harvest in the Savoie which produces delicious sweet golden and bronze Cote du Rhone wines.

Getting to the Rhone-Alpes is easy. You can take advantage of the daily flights from most London airports or if you have an aversion to airport departure lounges, take the Eurostar to Lille and from there another high-speed train takes you direct to the centre of Lyon.

There are plenty of hotels to suit all pockets. The quirky three-star College hotel (www.college-hotel.com) has rooms from 110 Euro per night. The hotel is built on the site of an old school and the hotel is themed with little desks in the breakfast room and white-tiled bathrooms.

If you fancy a real treat, the five-star oppulence of the Cour des Loges (www.courdesloges.com) in the old part of the city offers sumptuous decor and spectacular rooms and suites from 247 to 485 euro per night or a suite at 525 Euro per night.

So once you've settled into your hotel, you can seek out the local sights or hire a car and do some Mont Blanc spotting of your own.