Festivals, Music
Friday evening afterwork
BEAUNE
In and around Beaune
Experiencing the wonderful world of wine
Autumn is most definitely THE best season to come and explore the Burgundy vineyard. Take advantage of this beautiful, colourful season to come on a wine tourism experience in Beaune, the capital of the Burgundy wines, and explore the winegrowing hillsides along the legendary Route des Grands Crus de Bourgogne (Route of the Great Burgundy Wines).
We recommend staying for 3 days / 2 nights to be able to explore the town and surrounding hillsides, without being in a rush.
Glamorous getaway
Day 1: Route des Grands Crus, 60 km made even more beautiful in autumn
Choosing to explore the Route des Grands Crus (Route of the Great Wines) is about exploring thousands of years of history! Go either by car or cycle along the Voie des Vignes to learn all about how the vine has been cultivated here over the centuries, and find out about the many winegrowing traditions.
Explore, observe and taste this winegrowing terroir at your own pace. Stop off at Pommard, Meursault, Chassagne-Montrachet… the villages bearing the same names as the legendary appellations.
It is also there, in the midst of the vines covered in shades of yellow, that you'll understand why the department was named the Côte-d’Or (Golden Hillside).
Back to the roots
Meeting the winegrowers
Behind these vines stretching out over the rolling hills, there are the winegrowers. What better a way to learn all about the secrets of the great vintage wines and Premier Crus of Burgundy, than by meeting the winegrowers themselves?
Learn all about what they do, inside their private wine cellars, at the heart of their estates, let them tell you all about their passion.
The 3 superb winegrowing estates described below, 3 châteaux, provide the perfect setting for a wine tasting in an incredibly beautiful natural environment:
Unmissable
The ultimate museum to understand the local "terroir"
Your great escape in the land of wine inevitably includes a trip to the new Burgundy wine centre, the Cité des Climats et Vins de Bourgogne which opened its doors in spring 2023. After this visit you’ll know all there is to know about the famous “Climats of the Burgundy vineyard”.
This term has nothing to do with the weather! It refers to a parcel of vines recognised for its quality (geology, exposure, etc.), first identified centuries ago by the Cistercian monks who contributed substantially to the development of the Burgundy vineyard, much to the delight of wine enthusiasts!
On the agenda
The Cité des Climats et Vins de Bourgogne is in fact 3 wine centres rolled into one, each located in one of Burgundy’s great vineyards, in Beaune, the region’s wine capital, Mâcon and Chablis. Thanks to the wide variety of activities available, both connoisseurs and novices can enjoy:
- an immersive tour experience
- wine-tasting sessions for beginners
- guided tours for children and adults
- afterwork sessions on various themes to stimulate the senses
- workshops for adults and children
- stunning views from the top of the building
----
Where is there to eat in and around Beaune?
As you explore the vineyards, along the Route des Grands Crus (Route of the Great Wines), stopping off for lunch or dinner is part and parcel of the experience, and a chance to put wine & food pairings into practice!
What a sight
Day 2: Beaune and its wonderful heritage sites
This weekend getaway will be centred around pleasure for the taste buds... and the eyes! Beaune is the capital of Burgundy wines and is also hiding some superb architectural gems.
The Hospices, a hospital from the Middle Ages, is an iconic monument of Burgundy and bears witness to the golden age of the Dukes of Burgundy.
Not-to-be-missed: the inner courtyard with flamboyant Gothic-style architecture, perfectly rounded off with polychrome roof tiles.
The golden, yellow and green tiles glisten in the sun of the Indian summer.
Collect and then taste Burgundy truffles
After exploring the vineyards, it's time to head to the truffle farms! Autumn is the season for harvesting the famous Burgundy truffles. They are renowned for their subtle nutty taste and were a favourite of the Kings of France.
Come to the Maison aux 1000 Truffes 13 km from Beaune. Thierry and his dog will take you on a tour, through the oak and hazel trees, for a "cavage" demonstration. The tour ends with a tasting session of products made using truffles.
Carpe diem
Fine-dining in Beaune
What would a holiday in Burgundy be without a fine-dining experience? There are 2 Michelin-starred restaurants in Beaune:
- Le Carmin serving delicious, traditional cuisine
- Le Benaton run by a Japanese chef who is passionate about French cuisine
There are also other great restaurants across the region, whose menus have been inspired by Burgundian specialities. Not-to-mention the wine list, that is often quite extensive.
Where to stay in Beaune?
Beaune is a historic town and as such, it is a charming place with plenty of accommodation to choose from, for a good night's sleep after an action-packed day.
Here are our two favourite places to stay in Beaune.
At a private manor house
Hôtel Le Cèdre
A weekend of peace-and-quiet and luxury!
Hostellerie Cèdre & Spa • Beaune
A blend of modernity and tradition
Hôtel Le Cep
A relaxing setting with discreet, high-quality service in the town centre of Beaune.
Hôtel Le CepOur other recommendations for places to stay in Beaune
More ideas for autumn experiences
So much to do in the great outdoors Autumn weekend break in the Morvan
Embrace the great outdoors in autumn
3 days
2 nights
2 nights
A weekend in the countryside A long weekend in the Morvan
Festivities and prestige A weekend in Beaune for the Wine Auction
An easy-going autumn break Our selection of accommodation in the Morvan this autumn
On foot, by bike, by boat or by car Top 5 sightseeing itineraries for autumn
