Burgundy Self-Guided Tour

A little history...

Though wine is an important consideration when visiting this area, wine lovers aren't the only ones who delight in this region. Burgundy is rich with charming towns, incredible architecture and fascinating history ranging from the middle ages through WWII. It is also especially known for its gastronomic fare, with many of the country's finest restaurants located here.

Wine has been Burgundy's primary source of business and pleasure for over two thousand years - the Romans encountered vines when they occupied the region. But it was the monastic orders that first made Burgundy and its wines famous and by the 12th century, the church was the region's biggest wine producer.

The Dukes of Burgundy ruled this vast region from the 11th - 15th centuries before it reverted to French rule. The Abbey of Cluny, built in 1088, put Burgundy at the head of Christendom, and its wealth made Burgundy prosperous. The Revolution decimated the region, leaving many of its greatest architectural treasures in ruin. During world War II, the resistance had a stronghold in Burgundy, hiding out in its small villages.

Planning your trip...

To begin planning your self-supported tour of this varied and beautiful region, study the three hubs below and contact jennifer@vivatravels.com for advice on your custom adventure.

Hub A - The Côte de Nuits and Route des Grandes Crus. Principle villages: Nuits St. Georges, Vougeot, Fixin, Gevrey Chambertin, Aloxe Corton.

Highlights: Some of the most sumptuous wines of the world, a working Cistercian abbey and its famous cheese, sunflowers, one lane vineyard roads and forested country roads.

Hub B - Côte de Beaune. Principle villages: Beaune, Meursault, Puligny Montrachet, Santenay, Chagny, Rochepot.

Highlights: wines ranging from the rich reds of Pommard, to the world renown white Burgundies of Meursault and Puligny Montrachet. Beaune, the center of the wine world. Scenic roads amongst the vines and rolling country roads above the vineyards. A 15th century Burgundian chateau.

Superbe cycling road in the countryside near Beaune

Hub C - Northern Burgundy Principle villages: Chablis, Vézelay, Noyers, Avalon, Pontigny. Close to Auxerre.

Highlights: Historic basilica, an artist community, ramparts and towers, a cistercian Abbey, scenic river rides, green-tinged white wines of the gods. Many villages designated as a Plus Beaux Village.