Burgundy is a magical part of France

With breathtaking landscapes, historic villages and some of the world's finest wines, it's also a region that Hosted Villas knows well – some of our staff have lived, worked and even raised children here! 

Burgundy offers an incredible array of other attractions apart from its wines. While the Romans built the first important settlements here, Burgundy's prosperity blossomed after 1000AD when the great cathedral at Cluny became a key center of Christianity. The Church’s patronage attracted the greatest sculptors, architects and scholars of the Middle Ages who, in turn, created a rich cultural legacy.

The monks left an even more valuable legacy – wine production, which became the foundation of the enormous power of the Dukes of Burgundy. By the 14th century, Burgundy controlled much of northern France and the Low Countries from its capitals at Dijon and Beaune. Flemish artistic and architectural influence are evident today throughout the region, most notably at the famous Hospice de Beaune. Roger van der Weyden’s world-renowned polytych, Last Judgment, housed at the Hospice, offers a horridly vivid depiction of the afterlife, complete with dragons, demons and saintly cherubs and is not to be missed. Dijon, famous for its mustard, also boasts a beautiful historic shopping district and several excellent museums.

As gorgeous as its towns are, what we love most about Burgundy is the stunning countryside – a gently rolling landscape carpeted with vineyards and fields of poppies and sunflowers. Tiny country lanes zigzag through the vineyards and offer some of the best cycling or walking in all of France. Villages dot the landscape every few kilometers, providing a good excuse to stop at the local café or bistro. Serious gourmets will find more Michelin stars in Burgundy than in any other region outside of Paris.

And if you like wine (especially pinot noir), Burgundy is heaven on earth. Driving through the famous Côte d’Or wine villages is like reading a "Who’s Who" of the greatest French appellations: Meursault, Puligny-Montrachet, Savigny-lès-Beaune, Chambolle-Musigny, Vosne-Romanée... Be prepared to take your time discovering the region – people are passionate about their wines and love to share their wisdom with you.

Not to miss in Burgundy

• Hôtel Dieu, the Hospice de Beaune, for a visit to the medieval hospital and van der Weyden’s Last Judgment
• Dinner at the 3-starred Lameloise or Côte d’Or or L’Espérance or…
• Biking along quiet vineyard lanes
• The Saturday market in Beaune
• A visit to the Maille mustard shop in Dijon
• The buzz of wine harvest in September
• The medieval splendor of the cathedral at Vézélay, the Abbaye de Fontenay and the Château de Rochepot
• Hot air ballooning over the patchwork quilt of vineyards – spectacular!

For the kids

• Great biking along tiny vineyard lanes from village to village, or equally good off-road cycling up and down the Côte
• A day in a barge floating along the Canal de Bourgogne near Châteauneuf
• La Bouzaise park in Beaune to visit the zoo and try the paddle boats
• A kid’s tour of the Hospice de Beaune ("Burgundian history through the eyes of a child")
• Picking grapes and visiting the cuve during the wine harvest

Getting there

Gateway airport: Paris, Charles de Gaulle. 
From Paris, Dijon and Beaune are just over 1 hour by the TGV (high-speed train) with some departures direct from Charles de Gaulle airport.