Worth getting out of bed for...

Viewpoint

You get classic pastoral panoramas and vineyard vistas all over Beaujolais and the Côtes du Rhone. At the Alpine end of the region, in Haute-Savoie, there are misty mountain eyefuls in every direction. In Lyon, you can sometimes climb the north tower of the Basilica Notre-Dame de Fourvière, which gives you spectacular views over the city; when you can’t, the esplanade beside the church is a good second choice. In Chamonix, the slopes offer dazzling views of the mighty Bossons glacier, dusted by year-round snows.

Arts and culture

Lyon is famed for fashion, and its silk industry in particular. Visit the Maison des Canuts (www. maisondescanuts.com) to see the looms that powered the 18th-century weaving boom. There is a top-class opera house on Place de la Comédie, with a glass-roofed extension designed by Jean Nouvel that is spectacularly lit at night (+33 (0)4 72 00 45 45). The Musée des Beaux-Arts in Palais Saint-Pierre is one of the finest in France, containing ancient Greek art, as well as works by Monet, Picasso and Gauguin (+33 (0)4 72 10 17 40).

Something for nothing

Drive through the Aravis Massif from Annecy through the valley of Thônes and St Jean de Sixt, past La Clusaz, an old village that’s been hosting winter sports for over 100 years, and up to Col de la Colombière, an Alpine idyll.

Shopping

Chamonix has a Saturday market where you can pick up some of the region’s renowned cheeses: Beaufort, Reblochon and Morbier. Villefranche-sur-Saône has a covered market every morning except Tuesday and Thursday. In Lyon, Saint-Marcellin cheese and boudin noir are on sale at stalls on Croix-Rousse hill and Quai Saint-Antoine. Lyon has Paris-rivalling designer boutiques (head to Rue Emile Zola, Rue Président Edouard Herriot and Place Kléber) and is famous for silk scarves.

Daytripper

Visit the waterside town of Annecy, on the northern tip of Lake Annecy. It’s home to the Palais de l’Isle – a 12th-century prison on an island in a canal – the Château d’Annecy and the Cathedral of Saint-Pierre. Wander beneath the arches of Rue Sainte-Claire, dating back to the 17th century, and Rue Royale, with its shops and gardens. On the mountain-flanked lake itself, pedalos, boats and canoes can all be hired, and a cycle path lets you loop the lake on two wheels.

Perfect picnic

Take your hamper up to Evian-les-Bains, on the shores of Lake Geneva, then board the solar boat over to the Pré Curieux water gardens. While you’re in the mountain town, make the most of the thermal waters with a trip to the spa at the Royal Resort (www.evianroyalresort.com).

Children

Get your little Smiths up to speed on the slopes with lessons from the Ecole du Ski in Les Carroz (www.esf-lescarroz.com).

Activities

In the west of the region, cycle through peaceful villages between Cluny monastery and Juliénas; it’s hilly, but the views are wonderful. In the Alps, brace yourself for sky-soaring activities along the lines of heli-skiing, paragliding and zip wiring. Evolution 2 (www.evolution2.com) can organise these in the Mont Blanc-Chamonix area. Get yourself a guide and hike the biggest glacier in France: the Mer de Glace is 7km long and 200m deep, accessed by cog railway from Chamonix.

And

One of the earliest film recordings ever was made by the Lyon-schooled Lumière brothers in 1895. Auguste and Louis only shot workers leaving a factory, but it earned them a place in cinema history.