7 Days of Burgundy | France Vacation

Route

A delightful road trip through Burgundy with Dijon as the cultural highlight and the Route des Grands Crus as the common thread. You will drive past famous vineyards and historic sites, ending up at locations where you will want to linger a little longer.

Pace

Leisurely and enjoyable. Short distances, lots of stops along the way, and plenty of free time for a tasting, a leisurely lunch, or an extra stroll among the vines.

Highlights

Dijon with its beautiful old town, the iconic Route des Grands Crus, Clos de Vougeot, and a visit to the impressive Abbey of Cîteaux.

Accommodation

Your accommodation alternates between stylish addresses with a strong Burgundian soul.

Profile

This experience-based trip appeals to travelers who prefer tasting to planning. You travel with freedom, follow your curiosity, and enjoy Burgundy as it is: good food, great wines, and long evenings without haste.

Day 1: Departure to Courban

Your journey begins on the way to Courban. Here you will stay for two nights in a charming Caractère hotel.

Day 2: Fontenay and Vézelay, Romanesque beauty in Burgundy

Via the impressive abbey of Fontenay, the Canal de Bourgogne leads you to Alise-Sainte-Reine at the foot of Mont Auxois. A beautiful museum park commemorates Caesar's memorable victory over the Gauls led by Vercingetorix. Afterwards, you will reach the picturesque medieval town of Semur-en-Auxois. Through a gentle, hilly landscape, you can then continue to the old fortified town of Avallon. The highlight of this day is Vézelay with its impressive abbey church. You can return to your hotel via Auxerre or via the rolling vineyards of one of the most famous wine villages, Chablis.

Day 3: Dijon and the ‘Route des Grands Crus’

Dijon is the cultural center of the region. Explore the elegant old town with its mansions and lively squares. Then head into the vineyards and follow the Route des Grands Crus past big names and quiet slopes. Along the way, you will pass Clos de Vougeot and vineyards such as Nuits-St-Georges. A visit to the Abbey of Cîteaux is a humble and impressive moment. For the next four nights, you will be staying at Les Sources de Vougeot, approximately 3 km from the impressive Cîteaux Abbey.

Day 4: Charming Beaune

Beaune has close historical ties with Flanders. The Hôtel-Dieu, with its colorful roof, is its most famous landmark. Don't forget the collegiate church of Notre-Dame, with its series of 16th-century Tournai tapestries! The center of Beaune has perhaps the largest number of wineries. What's more, many tastings here are free!

Day 5: The natural beauty of the Morvan

As an extension, after a visit to Autun, nature lovers can indulge themselves with a drive through the Morvan Regional Natural Park: an oasis of nature, tranquility, water, and clean air where white Charolais cows graze peacefully. It is a sparsely populated region with only the occasional town or village with farms, built from the ‘grosses pierres’ (large stones) that are so characteristic of the region, which keep the heat out in summer and in during winter. The Loire and Yonne rivers cross the Morvan, and five large lakes guarantee a paradise for hikers, fishermen, swimmers, and water sports enthusiasts. You will discover beautiful panoramas around Lac de Settons, after which you will continue to Saulieu, the gastronomic center of the Morvan.

Day 6: Southern Burgundy, the heart of Christian Europe

Via Châlon-sur-Saône, the birthplace of photography, head towards Tournus, one of the most important monastic centers in France with a charming town center with picturesque alleys, to medieval Brancion, perched above two deep ravines. Continue to Cormatin, with its impressive castle, to Taizé, known for its youth pilgrimages, and Cluny. This 1100-year-old ‘mother abbey’ was the spiritual heart of medieval Europe. You can return via Paray-le-Monial, a place of pilgrimage with a basilica that is one of the best-preserved examples of Cluniac architecture.

During this tour, you can also choose activities such as visiting a mustard factory, exploring Château du Clos de Vougeot, taking a tour of Maison Bouchard Ainé & Fils in Beaune, and visiting the largest producer of ‘Cremant de Bourgogne’.

Day 7: Return home

Today you will return home. Unless you have a few extra days of vacation, in which case you can extend your trip in a Caractère hotel of your choice. We are happy to help you with this!