Bourgogne-Franche-Compté
Sandwiched between the Régions of Grand-Est in the North and Auvergne-Rhône-Alpes in the South, the new Région of Bourgogne-Franche-Compté all created in 2016, brings together two diverse areas which at first sight may appear to have little in common.
World renowned for its fine wines and authentic cuisine, Burgundy, to give it its anglicised title, has been an entity since the sixth century and was in fact a Kingdom in Medieval times, later becoming a Duchy with links to the French Monarchy. The Duchy became officially part of France in 1477 but the Franche-Compté, or Free County, famous for its Compté and Cancoillotte cheeses, Morteau sausage and Jura wines, remained independent till 1678.