Choose from 8 Fun Things to Do in Burgundy
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Cluny
Northwest of Mâcon is the little town of Cluny. Dating to an abbey established in the year 910 (called Cluniacum), the town became the epicenter of a Benedictine reform movement that sought to revive monastic traditions. From this tiny hamlet grew over 2,000 Cluniac abbeys across western Europe, and along with them, Cluny’s distinctive architecture. Three subsequent churches were erected on the site over the next century, but the third one was closed during the French Revolution so its stone could be sold for building projects, leaving behind few remnants.
The two main tourist attractions in Cluny are the abbey’s remaining fortifications, mentioned above, as well as Blanot Cave. The former consists of three towers and the Porte des Jardins (Garden Gate). As for the abbey church itself, the south transept (the “cross-piece” of Gothic cathedrals) and the lower clock tower are all that remain of the abbey church. The Musée Lapidaire, housed in the old monastic granary, contains abbey artifacts such as third church’s figural capitals. Blanot Cave is a labyrinth of connected limestone galleries and huge rooms, 80 m (262 ft) below ground.
The two main tourist attractions in Cluny are the abbey’s remaining fortifications, mentioned above, as well as Blanot Cave. The former consists of three towers and the Porte des Jardins (Garden Gate). As for the abbey church itself, the south transept (the “cross-piece” of Gothic cathedrals) and the lower clock tower are all that remain of the abbey church. The Musée Lapidaire, housed in the old monastic granary, contains abbey artifacts such as third church’s figural capitals. Blanot Cave is a labyrinth of connected limestone galleries and huge rooms, 80 m (262 ft) below ground.
Practical Info:
The town of Cluny is a short distance from the abbey, and here you will find Notre-Dame, a Romanesque church built in 1100 and remodeled in the Gothic style. Cluny is also home to the Haras National, which trains thoroughbred horses. When the weather is good, you can watch their exercises.
Address: Cluny, France
From $ 11
Clos de Vougeot
The arresting Château du Clos de Vougeot lies at the heart of Burgundy’s wine country and makes a popular stop along the Route des Grands Crus tourist trail, offering a unique insight into the region’s wine-making history. Although the winery was originally built by monks in the 12th-century, the Renaissance-style château that stands today dates from the 16th-century and the complex includes the original kitchens, medieval vat-house and presses, and Cistercian cellar.
The Clos de Vougeot no longer produces wine, but is preserved as a national monument and hosts regular events, exhibitions and concerts, as well as daily tours, which allow visitors to peek at the historic grape presses and stroll through the surrounding vineyards.
Practical Info
The Château du Clos de Vougeot is located in Burgundy, approximately 25km south of Dijon and is open daily from 9am- 6.30pm from April-October, and 10am-5pm from Nov-March. Adult admission at the time of writing is €7.
Address: Rue de la Montagne, Vougeot, Burgundy, France 21640, France
Admission: €7
From $ 162
Hospices de Beaune (Hotel-Dieu de Beaune)
Also known as Hôtel-Dieu de Beaune to locals, the Beaune Hospices used to be an almshouse in the 15th century and was used as a hospital for the poor people of the region recovering from the Hundred Years’ War. It was actually used as a fully functioning hospital until the late 1970s; it now houses a museum and a major charity wine auction every November.
The building itself is now regarded as one of the finest architectural gems in France; it was designed by the Flemish architect Jacques Wiscrère, which explains the striking resemblances to architecture typically found in the Flanders region of Belgium. The hospices’ façade is an exceptional example of Northern Renaissance architecture and features an abundance of panel painting, long half-timber galleries and, of course, the signature gabled roof and its multi-colored and geometric tiles. There are also plenty of ironworks, carvings, and tapestries inside the hospices’ walls.
Practical Info
Hôtel-Dieu de Beaune is located in Beaune, about 45 minutes southwest of Dijon in Burgundy. It can be easily reached by car via routes A31 and D974, as well as by train via Beaune train station and a short walk. Entry costs €7.50 per adult and €3 per visitor aged 10 to 18 years old. It is free for children under the age of 10. The museum is open from 9am to 6:30pm in the summertime (3/19 to 11/15), and between 9am to 11:30am, and from 2pm to 5:30pm in the wintertime (11/16 to 3/18).
Address: Rue de l'Hôtel Dieu, Beaune, Burgundy 21200, France
Hours: Summer: 9am-6:30pm; winter: 9am-11:30am, 2-5:30pm
Admission: Adults: €7.50; Children (10-18): €3
From $ 203
Domaine Debray
This family-owned yet sprawling estate winery, whose cellars are located in the city of Beaune, are geared towards quality and not necessarily quantity. What makes this winery special is its owner’s background; Yvonnick Debray spent 20 years of his life selling Burgundy wines on the French market, and therefore acquired a wealth of information about wine production and the art of being a wine-maker. Domaine Debray produces several wines, reds and whites, belonging to a variety of appellations including classics like Bourgogne Aligoté and Hautes Côtes de Beaune, as well as one Grand Cru, the Corton Charlemagne. The winery is extremely respectful of the soil and only picks grapes by hand; wines are vinified in French oak barrels directly on the estate.
Practical Info
Domaine Debray is located in Beaune, about 45 minutes southwest of Dijon in Burgundy. It can be easily reached by car via routes A31 and D974, as well as by train via Beaune train station and a short walk. The shop and winery is open year-round from 10am to 12pm and from 1:30pm to 7pm, although tastings are not always available in August and September during harvest season. Tastings and guided visits cost €10.
Address: 1 Place Saint-Jacques, Beaune, Burgundy 21200, France
Hours: 10am to noon, 1:30 to 7pm
Admission: €10
From $ 19
La Moutarderie Fallot
Fallot Mustard is the first museum in France to be entirely dedicated to mustard, the renowned condiment that has become the pride and joy of the Burgundy region. Inside the museum, visitors will find a selection of modern and ancient tools that were used to create mustard and its derivative products, revealing many surprising trade secrets along the way. The multi-sensorial and interactive exhibits explain everything from the manufacturing process to the tasting criteria; visitors are even encouraged to test their own knowledge of mustard through different experiences. The museum offers two different guided visits: the first one, called Découvertes, is more traditional and features a mixture of commentary and videos in the museum. The second one, called Sensational Experiences, takes visitors inside the actual production facilities in order to get a better understanding of the process and the challenges the industry faces today. The real highlight, however, is the “mustard bar” inside the Espace Faillot gift shop, where visitors are encouraged to taste as many mustards as they like.
Moutarderie Fallot has been in operation since 1840 and is now the only remaining artisanal mustard producer in Burgundy.
Practical Info
Moutarderie Fallot on Rue du Faubourg Bretonnière in Beaune, France. It is reachable by car from Dijon in 45 minutes via route via route A31 or on foot from the Beaune train station in 20 minutes. The museum’s opening hours vary throughout the year but the tasting area is open every day except Sunday from 9:30 am to 6 pm. Guided visits cost €10 per adult, €8 per children aged 10-18 years old, and are free for children under the age of 10.
Address: Rue du Faubourg Bretonnière, Beaune, Bourgogne 21200, France
Hours: Espace Faillot tasting area: Every day except Sunday between 9:30
am and 6pm. Guided visits: hours vary throughout the year.
Admission: Guided visits: €10 per adult, €8 per children aged 10-18 years old
From $ 98
Route des Grands Crus
Winding its way through the Burgundy wine appellations, the scenic Route des Grands Crus (Road of the Great Wines) is the region’s main tourist route, linking together more than 30 wine-growing villages and dotted with grand châteaux and historic wine caves. Possible by car or bike, the route follows mostly quiet country lanes through the heart of wine country, taking in all the wineries of the Côte de Nuits and Côte de Beaune wine districts, famed for their pinot noir and chardonnay grapes.
Highlights of the Route des Grands Crus include the striking Burgundy wine capital of Beaune, home to the flamboyant 15th-century Hospices de Beaune (Hôtel-Dieu); the grand Château Clos de Vougeot; and picturesque wine-making villages like Gevrey-Chambertin, Morey St Denis, Vosne-Romanée, and Chambolle-Musigny, where it’s possible to stop off for tastings and winery tours.
Practical Info
The Route des Grands Crus runs about 37 miles (60 km) from Dijon to Santenay in Burgundy.
Address: Route des Grands Crus, Burgund, France
From $ 162
V ezelay
Nestled in the Cone Valley, halfway between Dijon and Paris, stands the idyllic village of Vézelay, a ninth-century hilltop fortress that is not only home to one of the most remarkable basilicas in France, but also a UNESCO-classified old town.
Vézelay’s most famous attraction is indisputably the Romanesque Basilica of St Magdelene, an 11th-century marvel that contains the relics of its saint patron, Mary Magdalen. An exceptional place of pilgrimage if there ever was one, the basilica played a significant role in both the Second and Third Crusades back in the 12th century and is now one of the major starting points of the Way of St James to Santiago de Compostela.
In addition to outstanding architecture, Vézelay is also home to a prominent wine appellation–Bourgone Vézelay–that specializes in white wines of the Chardonnay and Muscadet variety. Most of the vines were planted by Christian monks back in the seventh century, which slowly grew into what is now a massive production spreading over 100 hillside acres of four villages (Asquins, Saint Père, Tharoiseau and Vézelay).
Practical Info
Vézelay can be reached from Dijon in less than an hour and a half via A38 and A6 and from Paris in 2.5 hours via A6. Vézelay can get extremely crowded during religious holidays and accommodation tends to sell out quick, so it’s best to plan in advance. Entering the basilica is free of charge, but one-hour guided tours are available for €3.60 per person and offered every day except Monday. The basilica is open from 7 a.m. to 8 p.m. every day.
Address: Vézelay, Burgundy, France
Hours: The basilica is open from 7 a.m. to 8 p.m. every day.
From $ 288
Château de Meursault
Domaine du Château de Meursault is one of the most prestigious wine estates in the Burgundy area of France. Located in the Côte d’Or vineyard in Côte de Beaune, the winery spreads over 60 hectares and was founded all the way back in the 11th century, yes, 1000 years ago, to be precise. Initially known as the fiefdom of Foulot MIII, it now produces an acclaimed selection of wines that are frequently served at the top Michelin restaurants across France and elsewhere in the world. At Meursault, tradition in enhanced by modern winemaking techniques, which enables the rich and historic Burgundy terroir to fully be expressed in the 27 different wines produced on site.
Unlike the Bordeaux region, wine châteaux are quite uncommon in Burgundy, a fact that only makes Meursault that much more special. The sprawling estate features a castle, a conservatory, ancient and massive (up to 800,000 bottles or 2,000 barrels) cellars dating back from the 12th century, a park, and many more stunning features.
Practical Info
Château de Meursault is located 10 kilometers southwest of Beaune in central eastern France. It can easily be reached by car via D974 in just 15 minutes or by train after transferring at Lyon and stopping at Meursault station; the château is two kilometers west of the station. Guided visits are free of charge, last about one hour, and can be pre-booked online. Tastings cost between 21€ and 39€. The château is open every day from 10am to 6:30pm between May and September, and from 10am to 12pm – 2pm to 6pm between October and April; however, it is closed for all of January and for the Christmas and New Year holidays.
Address: 5 Rue du Moulin Foulot, Bourgogne 21190, France
Hours: Open every day from 10am to 6:30pm between May and September, and from 10am to 12pm – 2pm to 6pm between October and April. Closed for all of January and for the Christmas and New Year holidays.
Admission: Guided visits are free of charge. Commented tastings cost between 21€ and 39€.
From $ 223