Paris Digest
Paris city guide since 1997
The Burgundy country is a lovely region of France. It features the most prestigious vineyard in the world, a rich historical and religious history, a unique legacy of churches, monasteries, monuments and towns. A Burgundy wine tour from Paris is a great experience. A stay in Beaune is a great idea. Discover more top Paris wine tours. Famous places in France.
Burgundy is one of the most prestigious regions of France. From 1371 to 1467, the Dukes of Burgundy, ruling a vast territory extending north to Flanders, were among the richest in Europe. The court in Dijon was one of the most refined and intellectual in Europe as well. These glorious times came to an end in 1467 when Louis XI, the King of France, won a battle against Charles the Bold who was then killed.
The influence of Burgundy in religious history is dominant. The Abbey of Cluny was founded in 910 and exerted a strong influence in Europe for centuries. Cluny was almost totally destroyed during the French revolution. The first Cistercian abbey was founded in 1098 in Citeaux, Burgundy. A century later, hundreds of beautiful Cistercian abbeys had been founded all over Europe, in a large part thanks to the extraordinary charisma and influence of Bernard of Clairvaux. The Abbey of Fontenay, a UNESCO heritage site, is today the best preserved Cistercian abbey in Burgundy. The Abbey of Vezelay, a UNESCO world heritage site, is still a starting point of a route to Santiago de Compostela.
The Taizé and Emmanuel Communities, both very influential in the development of the Christian faith today, were founded in Taizé and Paray le Monial in Burgundy.
Around Beaune in Côte de Beaune, the Pinot noir dominates in Pommard and Volnay. Chardonnay gives all its qualities to offer mythic appellations such as the Grands crus Batard-Montrachet, Montrachet, and Chevalier-Montrachet.
So far, there was no one day wine tour by coach from Paris to Burgundy. Pariscityvision has created one tour. Discover the Burgundy region in a small group on a one day coach tour from Paris. Visit the Bouchard Ainé & Fils domain (or similar) with all the details of the wine-making process and have a gourmet lunch in Beaune in a 1 star Michelin high-end restaurant "Loiseau des Vignes" (or similar). Explore the Château de Pommard, a famous vineyard. Learn about the history of the largest wine estate in Burgundy and have the chance to stroll through the 20 hectares of vines. Pommard is famous for its pinot noir grapes which were first planted by Benedictine monks in 900 AD.
This tour is not available until further notice.
Dijon has been the capital of the Dukes of Burgundy. Today a relatively modest city compared to Paris, it was competing with her in the 14th century. It's rich legacy make it a very pleasant town to visit. Especially noteworthy are the elegant mansions of the Dukes of Burgundy and other distinguished owners. Called hotels particuliers, these impressive houses are built on a grand scale with splendid facades. Visitors enjoy taking a stroll back in time through the old streets of Dijon and admiring the sights-from the Ducal Palace to the Fine Arts Museum and the medieval churches.
With 22 of the region’s 23 red Grand Crus, including Corton, Chambolle-Musigny, Fixin, Gevrey-Chambertin, the Cote de Nuits forms the northern half of Burgundy’s vineyard. It is a 20km strip running south from Dijon to Nuits St Georges.
It is advised to spend one or two days in Beaune, a beautiful old town with pedestrian streets and nice boutique hotels. Beaune is certainly the heart of the Burgundy wine trade. It is a very touristic city close to major freeways, with lots of wine tasting and restaurants where burgundy food can be enjoyed.
The main sights in Beaune are:
* the incredible 15th century Hospices de Beaune,
* the Marché aux vins, a wine cave for top Burgundy tasting,
* Patriarche, the largest Burgundy wine cave with tasting,
* Joseph Drouhin, the oldest Burgundy wine caves with tasting (booking in advance is required).
The Cote de Beaune, around the city, is a key wine-producing district of Burgundy, with among famous names the Montrachet white wines, the most expensive in the world, and the Pommard red wines. Discover Cote de Beaune on a Cote de Beaune Burgundy wine tour.
The Burgundy country is on the way from the UK, the Benelux and Germany to the south of France and Italy. It is therefore very practical to visit. Beaune in particular is the right place for a stop on a journey to the south of Europe. Many villages boast nice hotels and restaurants which offer the best food and accomodation France provides.
The Chateau de Gilly, former residence of 14th-century monks, is located between Dijon and Beaune, 2 minutes from the village of Vougeot, the finest wine producing area in the heart of Burgundy. It has preserved its authentic 14th and 16th century character, reflected in its moats and French-style gardens. Le Clos Prieur restaurant serves a regional gourmet cuisine. It is set in a former 14th century wine cellar of extraordinary architectural design.
