Bourgogne region

At the mention of the word "Burgundy" the mind instantly conjures up visions of fabulous wines and gastronomic delights!  Whilst this is an important part of any visit to the region, there is much more to Burgundy.  The Morvan, in the west of the region, is a great place for walking, sailing and rafting, and the gentler area of Bresse is ideal for cycling. 

Horse riding, pot holing, climbing and ballooning are also widely available throughout this stunningly beautiful region.  The region has a long and fascinating history.   At the "Archeodrome de Bourgogne" there is a leisure park and museum which follows the history of the area from Roman times.  There are scores of churches to visit.  Some of the most famous wines in the world are produced in Burgundy with most vineyards offering guided tours and tasting sessions plus the opportunity to buy a case or two!

The region is also famous for the superb Charolais beef - who hasn't heard of "Boeuf Bourguignon"?  Travel to the region is easy with direct flights and the Eurostar to Dijon and straightforward autoroute travel from the channel ports.

There is a full range of accommodation available in Burgundy.  From city centre hotels through country auberges and bed and breakfast establishments to self catering gites, there is something to suit all tastes and all budgets.  A holiday in Burgundy should be on everyone's list!

The Cote d'Or is a department absolutely oozing with history.  The Abbey of Fontenay, founded in 1119, is near Montbard and is very well preserved.   The town centre of Semur-en-Auxois is virtually unchanged from medieval times and is a fascinating place to visit.  Dijon, the capital of the department, is a cosmopolitan, lively city with well preserved half-timbered buildings.  There are eight museums, including one devoted to the world renowned Dijon mustard, and many shops, bars, restaurants and hotels.  There is a port in Dijon on the Burgundy canal which offers tours of the surrounding area.  South of Dijon is Beaune, the wine capital of Burgundy, surrounded by the great wine producers of the area, who are too numerous to mention here.  Needless to say all offer tours and tastings!

The Nievre is a beautiful department of pasture, woodland, rivers and lakes.  The Pouilly sur Loire wines are superb and can be sampled by those taking the "Circuit des Vignerobles".  The French Formula 1 Grand Prix is held at Magny Cours every July, just south of Nevers.  This city has many fine buildings to explore and a lively atmosphere.  It is in this department where you can find the Morvan National Park with stunning scenery and many activities including riding, walking and mountain biking with many water sports on the Lac des Settons.

Chalon-sur-Soane, in the department of Soane et Loire was a port as long ago as Roman times.  Places to visit include the 11th century cathedral, museums and galleries as well as excellent shopping and dining.  Cluny is a town with a long history with the Abbey of Cluny once housing thousands of Benedictine monks from all over Europe.  The remains of the Abbey can still be seen.   Macon, capital of the department, is surrounded by vineyards producing over 49 million bottles a year, with many famoous wines originating here.  In May, the "Concours des Grands Vins de France" is held here, the oldest of it's kind in France.  The prehistoric sites, the rocks of Solutre and Vergissen, have recently been designated "great natural sites of national interest", and they overlook the vineyards.  The Vigneroscope at Saint Philibert, near Loche, has a show depicting the history of winegrowing in the region, followed by a tasting session!

On the banks of the river Yonne, which gives this department it's name, stands Sens, a town founded in Roman times.  There are many Roman sites to visit in the town and there is a fascinating museum.  The many medieval towns in the Yonne are worth a visit, providing an insight into how life used to be in this area.  There are also many shops, bars and restaurants to enjoy.  The town of Chablis sits at the centre of the 5,000 hectares of vineyards producting wine of the same name.  The vineyards offer tours and tasting sessions.  The Chateau de Monjalin houses a superb collection of cars that belonged to Heads of State from around the world - there is even a Popemobile!