From footpaths to historic routes

Burgundy's 'spiritual' routes, the Grande Traversée du Morvan or footpaths through the Mâconnais are never far from its wine-growing areas. Vineyard tracks, visits to wine cellars - plan your hike around the all-important grape! And because hiking through wine-growing country should always include festive fare, Fédération Française de Randonnée Pédestre (FFRP) routes include information on the best wine-based events/places.

Burgundy in Pictures

All photos

Chemin des Grands Crus

Vue sur le Clos de Vougeot This route takes you to the legendary vineyards of Pommard, Volnay, Meursault and Auxey-Duresses! The 87 km long Chemin des Grands Crus is a magical trail passing through some of the loveliest villages on the Côte de Beaune and Côte de Nuits...

Gourmet rambles

The rugged hills and vineyards around Nolay are home to an evocative heritage of shelters, known as 'cabottes', and dry-stone walls. As you walk along you may get to talk to an enthusiastic wine-grower! Another route, another activity: at Marsannay, gain some hands-on experience with an introduction to work in the vineyards.

Bacchus and Saint Vincent

Plan a hike to coincide with the finest wine festivals in Burgundy!

In May, you can take part in the Vignes en Fleurs rally at Mâcon or the Route des vignobles de l'Yonne discovery rally. This is also the time of year when two 'gourmet walks' take place: “Beaune Saveurs de vignes” and “Balade gourmande en pays Coulangeois”.
What about tasting in a wine storehouse? In June, the "Printemps du Cru Viré-Clessé" event takes you from one cellar to the next by tourist train.
During the grape harvest, take your glass along on the Rando Tournante des vendanges de Meursault... At Mâcon the Vin Bourru rally features wine tasting as part of a vintage car rally.

Sport for all

To the north of the Morvan, vineyard hiking trails in the Yonne run through the Auxerrois, Chablisien and Vézelien vineyards. Want to go further? The National Park extends as far as the edge of the Côte de Nuits in the east and to the Mâconnais in the south.

The really fit may care to take part in the Grands Crus de Bourgogne Marathon, one of France's ten major marathons! Anyone can have a go at the Nuits-Saint-Georges half marathon, a lovely route along vineyard tracks ... enhanced with musical interludes!

Practical information

Departmental Tourist boards and branches of the Fédération Française de Randonnée Pédestre (FFRP) can help you plan a hike through the wine-growing areas of Burgundy. They will be happy to explain all the possibilities offered by the "Vignobles et découvertes" label. The Morvan National Park is also a mine of information.