Worth getting out of bed for
Highlights the best Burgundy has to offer, from art and culture to fun-packed activities; we've even found the most inspiring place to enjoy the views from.
- Viewpoint
- Climb the 315 steps of the Philippe le Bon Tower in Dijon for a splendid view over the rooftops of the city’s well-preserved mediaeval quarter.
- Arts and culture
- Located in Dijon’s magnificent Ducal Palace, the Musée des Beaux-Arts is one of France’s oldest museums, containing collections ranging from Egyptian art to the 20th century (Open 9h30– 8h May to October, 10h–17h November to April. Burgundy also has several fabulous châteaux: Château de Commarin in the north of the region has beautiful formal gardens and opulent interiors (www.commarin.com; closed Tuesdays); Château la Clayette, in the south, has fairytale turrets and is surrounded by a moat (www.laclayette.fr).
- Shopping
- Get your Dijon mustard at La Boutique Maille on Rue de la Liberte, a shrine to the city’s favourite condiment. One the same street you’ll find plenty of fashionable boutiques. Dijon’s Central Market was designed by Eiffel himself and is filled with local produce and specialities. Maçon, in the south of the Burgundy has a market every morning (except Mondays) in Place aux Herbes and on Saturday morning on Quais Lamartine; go there for fresh fruit, vegetables and flowers. The Sunday market in Chablis is also a treat for foodies.
- Daytripper
- Just south of Burgundy, France’s second city of Lyon rivals Paris for boutique shopping. The streets around Place Bellecour are the best place to browse. There are also excellent food markets on Quai St-Antoine and Croix-Rousse hill. Bring flat shoes for sightseeing in the cobbled streets of Vieux Lyon, filled with the 18th-century traces of the city’s silk industry.
- Perfect Picnic
- Head to a nearby vineyard, grab a bottle and enjoy with some bread and cheese. Volnay, a town set high on the slopes of the Côte de Beaune area, is a great choice – it produces some wonderfully smooth reds and has magnificent views of the surrounding countryside.
- Activities
- Visit Beaune’s Marché aux Vins on Rue Nicolas Rolin, housed in an old church, and sample 15 of the region’s wines for €10. Alternatively, get a bird’s-eye view of Burgundy’s vineyards by hot air balloon with Air Escargot (www.air-escargot.com). The Morvan National Park has over 2000 square kilometres of countryside to explore and is particularly popular for cycling and mountain biking (www.parcdumorvan.org). If you don’t mind looking a bit ridiculous it’s fun to tour Dijon on a quirky segway; you can hire these strange motorised contraptions from the tourist office in Place d’Arcy.
Diary
- June France’s National Blues Festival takes place in the village of Le Creusot. It last four days and includes performances from over 250 artists. August The Pouilly-sur-Loire Wine Fair offers the opportunity to taste the region’s finest wines, including Sancerre and Reuilly. November Dijon holds its annual International Food Festival, or Foire Gastronomique – one of France’s largest annual expositions, where you can sample food and wine from all over the world. 3rd Saturday of Novmber The Hospices de Beaune holds a lively and time-honoured charity wine auction, with some of the best burgundies up for grabs.
