The Top 10 Reasons to Visit Burgundy, France

Burgundy, France – where is it? 

After returning from a week in Burgundy France, I was often asked:  Where is it?  Which was quickly followed by:  Why did you go there? 

Deep red wine immediately comes to mind when hearing of Burgundy, along with a hearty bowl of Beef Bourguignon.  While both are wonderful, they are far from the only reason to visit the area, so rich in history and tradition. 

Here are my favorite things to see and do in Burgundy, an area I will certainly revisit. 

10.  Wine tasting at Armand Heitz Domaine in the village of Pommard: One of the joys of Burgundy is that the area is famous for both red (a Pinot Noir) and white wines (a Chardonnay).  If your preference is sparkling, most restaurants stock Crémant from several nearby regions, with bubbles like a Prosecco.

9.  Coffee at Le Foch in Beaune is the perfect antidote for the corporate coffee consistency of Starbucks.  If you fancy a trip back in time to an old school coffee shop (or bar later in the day) swing by this place.  The walls are covered with old posters tied to local wine culture, as well as vintage maps.

8. Lunch Boucherie, Resto du 16, a gourmet butcher shop like you have never seen, with the best beef in town showcased on an innovative menu.

7.  After dinner cognac at Le Cep, a 5-star hotel with a wonderful lobby bar, the perfect place to unwind at the end of a day in wine country.  I wish we had had time for a dinner here.

6. Morning walks on the wine trail are the perfect way to start the day.  On our ambitious days we walked from Beaune to Mersault surrounded by vineyards the entire route, except for a few small towns along the way.  If walking isn’t your thing, quality rental bikes are available.  In late September we had the good fortune of passing through these villages during the first pressing of grapes.  Oh the smell of fresh grapes with the pressed skins in piles that exceeded 10 feet.

5. Don’t miss a day trip to Dijon.  While we drove along the wine route (Route des Grands Crus), I wish we had taken the train.  Be sure to visit the great market hall, the perfect stop for picnic supplies.   The central square in Dijon should not be missed.  Setting aside the numerous cultural and historic places in Dijon, a must-visit place is the Maille Dijon mustard store.  Yes, a mustard shop is truly that impressive. 

4. Stay at Abbaye de Maizeres. Our hotel was an abbey nearly a thousand years ago, where the monks had the good fortune of receiving permission from the king to produce wine.  For obvious reasons, everybody in town loved the monks.  Abbaye de Maizieres today is a charming hotel with modern rooms, yet the common areas retain the stonework from centuries past.  At breakfast I expected a monk to round the corner of the amazing stone dining room.

3. Dinner at Maison du Colombier:  Can’t decide between great wine and a great meal, this is the place that combines the two with a wine list that includes over 1,000 different wine offerings.  The name is derived from when the building was the dovecote of the local monastery some 500 years ago.  We dined on the second floor, in a semi private room with a spectacular view.  Rest assured that the food menu is far more extensive than what you might find on their website.

2. A stop at the famous Hotel-Dieu:  Hospices of Beaune…  You have certainly seen the iconic tiled roof of this massive structure, a hospital founded in the Middle Ages.  It continued operating as a hospital until 1985.  (Yes, 1985.  It is not a typo.)  While I would generally prefer walking, eating and enjoying a bit of wine over a museum, this tour is well worth the time.

1. The bakeries and coffee shops were the best part of staying in Beaune, yet selecting the best is nearly impossible.  For my first coffee of the day, I enjoyed Les Baltardises, excellent pastries and great coffee.  For an afternoon treat, Fabien Berteau cannot be beat.  Talking each day with the proprietors provided lessons on French life and culture that I will never forget.

What not to do… Don’t visit Chagny (unless you are going dinner to Maison Lameloise, THREE Michelin stars..  At the other end of the wine trail, we visited Chagny.  While the canal is intriguing, the town is generally the industrial hub of Burgundy. 

We did find the vending machine for sardines, yes sardines, a charming aspect of the local fish monger.  If you are looking for the factories that produce mass-production wines, this is the town.  Otherwise, spend your time anywhere North of here on the wine trail.