Overland

Destination spotlight: Bourgogne-Franche-Comté

Burgundy-Franche-Comté is a beautiful rural region famous worldwide for its prestigious wine-growing areas and unique cuisine. From low mountain ranges and plateaus criss-crossed by rivers to tranquil little towns in the Doubs, you will find everything here – except the hustle and bustle of big city life.

In addition to a city break in Besançon, we visited a little-known corner of France, the Dombes region. Its thousand ponds make it an unusual landscape.

The region is France's most important area for freshwater fish farming. Ancient traditions such as pond fishing and horse breeding have been preserved, and an extraordinary variety of wildlife, especially wild birds, can be observed.

The French are not only known for eating snails, but also for their love of delicious frogs' legs. And the recipe comes from here. Until a few years ago, the frogs were caught in local ponds. Today, catching them is no longer allowed because the frog population in Dombes has declined. Nevertheless, this traditional dish can still be found on most menus in regional restaurants.