Burgundy guide and tourist attractions. About-France.com

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Today, Burgundy is one of the administrative regions of France, lying astride the main lines of communication between Paris and Lyon; anyone travelling by train or on the French motorway network between Paris or north-east France, and Lyon and the south of France, must pass through Burgundy. The region is bordered by the river Loire, in the west, and by the Franche-Comté and Champagne regions in the east. To the south it is bordered by the Rhone Alpes region.
The Burgundy region is made up of four French departments. Northern Burgundy comprises the department of the Yonne (89), capital Auxerre, a rolling agricultural area bordering on the outer fringes of the Paris region. In the west, the Nièvre (58), capital Nevers, is a hilly department that includes the highest peak of the Morvan hills (Le Haut Folin, 903 m), and a large part of the Morvan regional nature park. The Côte-d'Or department (21), around Dijon, is hilly in the north west, and flat in the south east; finally the department of Saône & Loire (71) in the south of the region stretches from the banks of the Loire in the west to the foothills of the Jura in the east, and includes large flat expanses of the Saône valley.
The historic and modern capital of the Burgundy region is Dijon (population 150,000), a thriving administrative and cultural centre, which is also a major communications and freight-distribution hub. The city is just 1hr. 40 mins. from Paris by direct TGV high-speed train service. Dijon has a historic city centre, with old narrow streets, and houses built in the local pale honey-coloured stone; of particular interest to visitors are the Palace of the Dukes of Burgundy, and the gothic Cathedral of Saint Bénigne.
The world-famous Burgundy vineyards mostly cover a narrow strip of land running south from Dijon, on the western fringe of the Saône plain.

How to reach the Burgundy area :

By TGV train from Paris Gare de Lyon, or from Lille; train from many cities, motorway from Paris, Lille, Strasbourg, Nancy, Lyon, Geneva.
By air: There is currently no commercial airport in the Burgundy area operating regular international flights. The north of the region is accessible from the Paris airports, the south of the region is closer to Lyon St Euxpéry airport

Main tourist attractions and selected hotels in Burgundy

Hospices de Beaune - photo Soyignatius

The About-France.com selection.

HOTELS: Good value and convenient hotels in Burgundy

Dijon (21 Côte d'or) Gare
The Hotel Kyriad Dijon Gare is located opposite the railway station, and a good choice for visitors arriving by train. This air-conditioned upper ** hotel, with pool, is well located for exploring Dijon and the area, and is well reviewed by travellers. Plenty of restaurants close by.
Beaune (21 Côte d'Or)
Hostellerie le Cèdre **** Warm hospitality, reasonably priced for the quality. This hotel occupies a historic villa close to the old town. The famous Hospices are in walking distance . A comfortable base for exploring Burgundy.
Beaune (21 Côte d'Or)
Hotel de la Cloche ** For those on a tighter budget, this is reputedly the best address in the centre of Beaune. Some parts could do with a new coat of paint, but this is a friendly hotel and good value for money.
Vezelay (89 Yonne)
Hotel de la Poste et du Lion d'Or *** Classic French hospitality in the old centre of Vézelay, below the hill on which is situated the great basilica. The hotel is in a calm location, and has large clean rooms.
South of Auxerre (89 Yonne)
Hotel le Mas des Lilas ** Close to the river Yonne, this is a modern ** hotel just south of Auxerre; it has large mature gardens, and is close to the RN6 highway, a few kilometres from Exit 20 on the A6 Paris-Lyon motorway.
Near Autun - Morvan (71 Saone et Loire)
Auberge de la Chaloire ** Not far from Autun, with its magnificent cathedral, this hotel is located in the heart of the Morvan regional park. quiet rural location, friendly welcome, and very good service.
Off A6 motorway Chalon sur Saône (71 Saone et Loire)
Hotel Ibis ** A short distance and easy to find from the A6 motorway, exit 25, this standard Ibis hotel has an outdoor pool.
Tournus - (71 Saone et Loire)
Le Rempart *** is a hotel with 34 rooms and lots of character, which was once a guard house. It has two restaurants, and stands in the centre of old Tournus, near the river Saone and St. Philibert church. Easy access from A6 motorway , exit 27.
Nevers (58 Nièvre)
The Hotel Akena is a modern ** hotel in a quiet location just a short distance from the the old town.Good value, and facilities for the disabled.

TOURIST ATTRACTIONS

Routes and areas:

The Burgundy canal (Canal de Bourgogne) and rivers Saône and Yonne waterways.
The Morvan mountains - forested uplands

Côte d'Or department (21)

Les Hospices de Beaune - the mediaeval hospice at Beaune, one of the most unusual ancient monuments in France, a mediaeval hospital that remained in use until the 20th century. Today the hospice is a museum and art gallery, and contains one of the most famous works of mediaeval Flemish art, the alterpiece by Roger van der Weyden, painted for the hospice, and still in situ.
Beaune area: the vineyards of Burgundy, cellars and estate visits. Visit the Chateau du Clos Vougeot or the château de Pommard, near Beaune, or the Burgundy wine museum in Beaune. Route des vins des Grands Crus - the Grand vintage wine trail. See Burgundy wines
Dijon: the capital city of Burgundy; historic city, palace of the dukes of Burgundy, Cathedral, Museum, shops
Fontenay great Cistercian abbey (UNESCO World Heritage Site), near Montbard.

Saone & Loire department 71

The cathedral at Autun - one of the finest romanesque cathedrals in France, with remarkable sculptures, at the edge of the Morvan hills.
The site of Cluny, the old town and the remains of the Benedictine abbey, once the largest chuch in Chrisendom.
The church of St Philibert, Tournus; one of the oldest churches in France (early 11th century).
Le Creusot - former mining and steel town, le Creusot has one of the world's largest preserved steam hammers, built in 1876. For those with an interest in industrial archaeology...
Le Maconnais - the southern part of the Burgundy vineyards, around the city of Macon.

Yonne department (89)

The romanesque churches of Burgundy, including the remarkable Abbaye de Vézelay (UNESCO World Heritage Site), starting point of one of the main pilgrimage routes to Santiago de Compostella. There are many delightful historic churches in the Saone et Loire area
Auxerre and Chablis - the northern part of the Burgundy vineyards, old towns, wine museums and cellar visits. Auxerre is a popular centre for boating on the Yonne and Burgundy canal.
Avallon - attractive old walled town
Montreal - famous fortified hilltop village

Nièvre department (58)

The Morvan regional natural park. Area of outstanding natural beauty (mostly in the Nièvre), popular with hikers and nature-lovers. Though peaking at only just over 900m, this is seen as the closest area of mountain to Paris.
Nevers; historic town on the banks of the river Loire, at the confluence of the Allier.
The vineyards of Pouilly sur Loire.

Further tourist information

Official Burgundy tourism site

BURGUNDY regional guide and tourist attractions

An introduction to Burgundy