IMAGINE a place that mixes the best of France with the best of Switzerland, that is hidden away from tourists yet is at the same time easily accessible.

The Franche-Comte region of France is just such a place. If the map of France was a body, Franche-Comte would be the heart. Yet its own heart, and heritage, is split between two countries.

Lying on the Swiss border, the Franche-Comte region is mountainous, broken up by rapid rivers in steep valleys.

It has a variable climate, with snow-capped mountains perfect for skiing just a short drive away from tranquil lakes and woodlands ideal for hiking and other outdoor activities.

Dozens of small towns and villages dot the landscape and traditional architecture is evident all around, from the steeply-sloped roofs of traditional farmhouses to ancient churches and their distinctive turrets.

Each town seems to boast its own particular craft or industry, and you can still find small factories and workshops where skilled craftsmen are willing to show you around.

We first visited the crystal glassworks at La Rochere, where glass has been made since the 15th century. Here you can watch the glassblowers at work and marvel at some of their colourful creations that are sold in top Paris boutiques and even Harrods.

The region is famous for its cherries and kirsch industry, and at Fougerolles we visited an ecomuse, a restored farmhouse museum where the history of the industry is brought to life.

At the nearby Paul Devoille distillery we found out more about the strong spirits kirsch, eau de vie and absinthe that have been produced in the region for centuries. After tasting them it's easy to see why absinthe is still banned in many countries.

We stayed at one of the largest towns in the region, Montbeliard. The inhabitants are football-mad and their team, Sochaux, recently won the French cup.

They also love their cars and the industrial town is home to the Peugeot museum. Here you can see hundreds of cars from the beginning of motor travel to concept cars of the future. Out on the streets of Montbeliard you can then see these cars in action, as it seems everyone in the town owns a Peugeot.

As Franche-Comte is so close to Switzerland, it shares many characteristics of that country. The clock and watch industry is a good example of this, with a clock museum in Villers le Lac and the clock-making Cupillard workshop in Morteau.

But other features of the region are unmistakably French, especially the cheese industry.

Franche-Comte is home to a number of superb cheeses, including Morbier and Comte, which we saw being made at the excellent Fromagerie Sancey in Metabief. In the nearby mountains hundreds of Comte cheeses are stored in a huge cellar that used to be a military fort.

As with most places in France, gastronomes will be delighted with the amount, variety and standard of food on offer. We dined in too many excellent restaurants to list, but a five-course gourmet dinner seems to be the standard anywhere you visit in Franche-Comte. One local delicacy I would recommend is the Morteau sausage, and the variety of fish on offer is superb.

The region mixes the best of two countries and has a rich history and heritage just waiting to be discovered.

FACT FILE

* Rail Europe operates daily services from London Waterloo to Besancon, via Paris or Lille. Fares start from £79, subject to availability and conditions.

For more information log on to www.raileurope.co.uk or call 08705 848 848.

* For an information pack on the Franche-Comte region, call the France Information Line on 09068 244123, Monday to Friday, 9am to 5pm (calls cost 60p per minute), visit www.franceguide.com, or write toInformation Department, Maison de la France, 178 Piccadilly, London W1J 9AL