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So how do you end up in such a small and unknown destination as Beaune, France?
Well, for those who love great food and wine, Beaune is a heaven on earth. Did you know that Beaune is the wine capital of Burgundy?
Beaune is located in a 3-hour car drive or a 2-hour train ride (the fastest route) from Paris.
On our way from the Palace of Versailles to the French Alps, we had a choice of stopping at Dijon or Lyon. I love big cities and mustard, so Dijon sounded like an excellent choice. However, my husband suggested we stop at the crossroads between Dijon and Lyon in a small town called Beaune.
The city turned out to be incredibly charming, with a fantastic atmosphere, food, and architecture.
Beaune is the wine capital of Burgundy in the Côte d’Or department. The surrounding area comprises many famous wine villages and vineyards with great wine cellars.
I am not the most prominent wine expert, but I do love good wine, and if I were to visit some vineyards and learn about wine, this would probably be the right place.
Things to see and do in and around Beaune
The “old town” of Beaune is known for narrow streets, restaurants and small shops, and focuses on gourmet food. Take a stroll around and eat as much as possible.
If you are here on a Saturday, pay a visit to the Beaune food market. Food markets in Southern Europe are such a pleasant experience.
The city has several architectural landmarks, such as Hospices de Beaune and the wine museum. Hospices de Beaune holds the annual wine auction, France’s main wine auction.
However, it’s the vineyards that are the main attractions of Beaune. Most of the vineyards are open to visitors, and you can book wine-tasting tours to several vineyards.
The beautiful Chateau de La Rochepot is just 11 miles (17km) south of the city. The Chateau is a medieval fortress that dates back to the 12th century. If you are not a wine person, a tour to the Chateau is still a great cultural experience.
What and where to eat in Beaune
In Beaune, find a place where people are eating and grab a table.
If you want a gourmet meal, there are 10 restaurants with Michelin stars in the area of Beaune, with Maison Lameloise being in the lead with three stars. Maison Lamoise is also a hotel in an authentic French style.
Where to stay in Beaune
France is expensive, and as much as I love luxury, I don’t usually stay at 5* hotels. In Beaune, I found a Novotel, a cheap and clean hotel with an outdoor pool. The room had a double bed and a foldout couch; the bathroom had a bathtub.
The breakfast was not included in the room price, but you could add it on the spot for an extra charge.
We had our breakfast in town on our way out. Stop at any open bakery and get a freshly baked baguette with butter and jam.
The Novotel chain has an extensive range of hotels, from cheap to luxury, and we booked their hotels in several cities during our road trip in France.
From being considered as a place at a crossroads between two famous cities, Beaune was a great surprise. The atmosphere was terrific – calm and relaxed. There were fewer tourists than in other places, which is one of the best parts of vacationing – not meeting your countrymen wherever you go.
The central square and main street had many restaurants and small shops, and the whole place had a nice vibe.
This post was featured on the Beaune Tourism Office’s official Facebook page.
