C151-STANDARD Wine trails in Burgundy

Two of the most famous vineyards worldwide are located to the south of Dijon:

– The Côte de Nuits, from Chenove to Corgoloin, that produces powerful red wines

– The Côte de Beaune, from Aloxe Corton to Santenay, renowned for its delicate red wines and its full-bodied flavoured white wines. Since the 3rd century B.C., the vineyards growing along the slopes have provided the most noble vintages, and at the heights of the hills are produced the Hautes Côtes. Long-time properties of the dukes of Bourgogne, La Côte stands today as witness to the past. Chapels, châteaux and old, glazed-roof villages spot the vineyards one after another. Two remarkable sites worth visiting are Dijon, the capital of Burgundy, and Beaune, the vineyard’s capital. This tour is an invitation to discover these climates (small plots producing the best vintage wines) and to perfect your oenological geography !

Itinerary

Day 1 – Arrival at DIJON, capital of Burgundy. This town, steeped in history, is its own outdoor museum. We invite you to explore the old city, the neighborhood of the Palais de Justice, and the beautiful Palais des Ducs et des Etats de Bourgogne ( Palace of the Dukes and States of Burgundy ) in which is housed the Musée des Beaux Arts  –  Dinner, lodging and breakfast in a 3-star hotel 

Day 2 – You continue exploring DIJON during the morning hours. There are several interesting museums to see, including the Archeological Museum, the Sacred Art Museum in Sainte Anne‘s Chapel, and an excellent museum that chronicles the life, costumes and cottage industries of Burgundy during the past centuries. At the start of the afternoon, a taxi will escort you to Marsannay-la-Côte.

MARSANNAY – GEVREY-CHAMBERTIN (8 or 20 km). From Marsannay, a city reputed, among others, for it rosé wines (unique in the Burgundian region), you will move towards Fixey, where stands a 10th century church, the oldest of the region. You will pass Fixin and Noisot Park (which gives testimony to the loyalty of one of Napoleon’s captains to his emperor ), and continue through Brochon to reach Gevrey-Chambertin. This large, viticultural town still holds within its limits an ancient fortified castle. We offer you an alternative walk through the nature reserve of Combe Lavaux, ahilly woodland area, sanctuary for scarce plants and small animals as the forest cat – Lodging and breakfast in a 3-star hotel.

Day 3 – GEVREY CHAMBERTIN – NUIT SAINT GEORGES (14 km). Leaving the village of Gevrey, you will cross through the Grand Cru vineyards towards Morey Saint Denis. You will pass by the village of Chambolle Musigny, nestled at the beginning of a narrow valley, and head to one of the more famous sites of Burgundy, the majestic Château de Clos Vougeot. A visit of the château reveals a 12th century wine cellar and gigantic winepress. Your path continues across the Echezeaux and Grand Echezeaux vineyards and then renders you on hallowed ground. You will have entered into the heart of some of the world’s greatest vineyards: La Romanée, Romanée-Conti, Richebourg, la Tâche. You will pass finally through Vosne-Romanée to arrive in Nuits-Saint-Georges. You will tour the old city to discover its rich heritage – Dinner, lodging and breakfast in a 3-star hotel

Day 4 – NUITS ST GEORGES – BEAUNE (18 or 22 km). Today you will discover the last part of Côtes de Nuits and the Hautes Côtes de Nuits area in the different routes we propose. Landscapes are delightful and you will enjoy beautiful views across the valleys. You will pass through the village of Villers-la-Faye, where you will find an 11th century church sitting upon Mont Saint Victor, and then Magny-les-Villers. Descending into the Côtes de Beaune, you will come upon Pernand-Vergelesses and one of the most picturesque little villages, Aloxe-Corton, which is famous for such white wines as Corton-Charlemagne. The wine is associated with the emperor because he owned a large part of this vineyard that give one of the best white wines in Burgundy. You will end this stage in Savigny les Beaune, a pleasant green village stretching out along the small river Rhoin. You will be surprised to see that the chateau which is a wine producing estate houses a large museum for Abarth cars, aeroplanes and equipment from the wine production. The garden holds around 80 fighter aircrafts. Transfer by taxi from Savigny to Beaune – Lodging and breakfast in a 3-star hotel 

Day 5 – Visit of BEAUNE  –  A day’s visit of this city is easily justified.  Explore the manifold old buildings, stroll through the narrow streets lined with beautiful homes, some of them dating back to the Renaissance period. Sites of intrigue are the Hôtel-Dieu, the Collegiale Notre Dame, and the Musée des Vins de Bourgogne, found in the old Hôtel des Ducs de Bourgogne. Of course, you may choose to spend your entire day in the different wine cellars of the city, enjoying the variety of the regional wines! Lodging and breakfast in the same hotel

Day 6 – BEAUNE – MEURSAULT (15 or 20 km). You will leave Beaune by way of the La Bouzaise park or by la Montagne de Beaune . Then you will walk through the first Premiers Crus vineyards heading to Pommard. This well-known village is huddled tightly around a church that is most remarkable for its square bell-tower. The wines of the village, celebrated around the globe, are of outstanding quality, deeply-colored, firm and honest. You will traverse Volnay and Monthélie, with its Romanesque church built in the 12th century, and Auxey-Duresses, a small village in a picturesque valley. Each of these villages produces its own distinct red and white wines, uniquely elegant and refined. After passing over the last vineyard-covered hill, you will fall upon Meursault, a beautiful village reputed for its whites – Dinner, lodging and breakfast in a 2-star hotel

Day 7 – MEURSAULT – circular walk around Meursault  (19 km – via La Rochepot: 25 km) Making your way across the vineyards, you will arrive in the hamlets of Blagny and Gamay, and then pass through the forest that stretches across the heights of the Côte de Beaune. You will arrive in La Rochepot, a village that boasts of having one of the most beautiful châteaux in Burgundy, this one dating to the 15th century. You will descend into the village of Saint Aubin and its 10th century church. Crossing through the Grands Crus of Chassagne-Montrachet and Puligny-Montrachet, you will arrive in the village of Puligny-Montrachet . Then you head to Meursault through Les Grands Crus as Les Perriéres. Lodging and breakfast in the same hotel

Day 8 – MEURSAULT. Tour ends after breakfast. Transfer by taxi to the Beaune rail station.

Best Season

From beginning of May to end of October but be careful this area is very crowded in summer or picking time and we recommend you (if you can) to come outside this period. Nevertheless this area attracts a lot of tourists and you have to reserve earlier to get the best rooms.

What’s included?

• 7 nights’ accommodation in 2 or 3 -star hotels
• 7 breakfasts – 3 dinners
• Hotel to hotel luggage Taxi transfers
• A set of maps (1/25 000 scale) with the route marked on and detailed route notes describing the trail.
• A daily itinerary together with information about facilities and places of interest along the trail.
• Emergency assistance.

Visa fees – transportation fees to and from the walk area – Insurance (strongly recommended on all trips) – Transfers except those mentioned above – Drinks – Entrance fees – Additional meals – Spending of personal nature e.g. laundry, souvenirs, phone calls, are not included

Getting there and away

By train: Scheduled trains between Dijon and the French main towns. (TGV trains from Paris) To return, regular links between Beaune and Dijon.

By car: Dijon is located on A31 motorway

Where to park : Guarded pay car parks in Dijon.

Walk difficulty

Grade 1 – This tour is easy. No walk more than 18 km (11 miles). You will walk 4 or 5 hours at relaxed pace and spend time at places of interest along the route. Walking experience is not necessary as distances are short and the terrain is gentle. Everybody can walk this tour.