Belley, France

I'm not going to lie, I decided to pursue this destination only because the name jumped out at me from the map. When I saw that the drive from Les Déserts, France circumvented the beautiful Lac du Bourget, and followed some meandering rivers (the Ain, primarily) along the way. Not a bad trek, if I do say so myself... Serendipity:



Once I arrived at Belley, France, I got right to it. The area has gained notoriety for two things:

Wine from the Bugey region. The region tends to produce white wines, including the Altesse or Roussette, though others are also available.



And, cheese: La Tome de Belley.



Lucky me. So, that is what I lunched upon. I also took a wonderful tour of the many cathedrals in Belley. The area is well known for its historic, religious precedence and influence that dates back to the 5th Century. You can see the influence illustrated right in front of you, since the entire center of Belley is dedicated to the Cathedral of Saint John the Baptist and Place de Terreaux. The antique, Baroque architecture nearby is also pleasant to view as I wander aimlessly for a while.





I caught some R&R, and perhaps a little shuteye at the Maison Saint Anthelme, a historic monument in the Belley landscape, as I prepare for a quick morning jaunt in the Rothonne Forest before I continue my journey.