The 800-year-old town of Villefranche Sur Saone in central/eastern France is a fun place to visit on a stop off tour of the Burgundy wine region. It has cheap car hire in Villefranche Sur Saone as well as a cute town centre.

The town hails from the 1200s and was originally encircled by huge defensive walls, until the ruins were finally torn down in the 19th century. It still retains a look of old, with its churches and squares lined with ancient buildings, and also comes with a decent amount of shopping. Access is provided by train from Lyon, after which you can pick up car rental in Villefranche Sur Saone.

Villefranche Sur Saone’s big draw is its positioning on the 100kms Santenay to Saint-Gengoux-le-National Burgundy wine route. Wine lovers can take in all types of famous and exclusive wineries as well as dozens of villages and stunning countryside en-route with car hire in Villefranche Sur Saone.

Specific places to check out in the region include the likes of ancient Perouges to the east of Villefranche Sur Saone, the bird park of Villars-les-Dombes, also to the east, and Vienne to the south. Vienne is beyond Lyon with car rental in Villefranche Sur Saone, yet is worth the effort for its Roman remains and unique shopping.

In addition, Geneva is just a couple of hours away and over the border into Switzerland, while Annecy, the Venice of Savoie, is south of Geneva. It os loaded up with lakes and canals and can be done on a loop with car hire in Villefranche Sur Saone.