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A great trip for food and wine buffs, with walking that is gentle to start with and progressing to moderate grade as the week unfolds. Burgundy's natural riches and its complex history bear testimony to its fine heritage. It is a beautiful and fertile land where farmers, foresters, and above all wine growers skills have nurtured the landscape for more than a thousand years. The reputation of Burgundy's cuisine has travelled the world and the very word Burgundy is synonymous with the finest wines. Burgundy is a multifaceted landscape just waiting to be explored, and, as elsewhere in France, the best way to savour it, is to explore on foot its peaceful lanes and byways. Travellers will discover a fabled land of mediaeval chateaux, ancient monasteries and fragrant breezes where the art of living is pursued to near perfection at a gentle unhurried pace. Beaune is the hub of Burgundy’s wine industry, at the heart of a cluster of prestigious vineyards such as the Cote d’Or, Cote de Beaune and Cote de Nuits and is the obvious place to start our trip. The first walking day is just 3 hours on foot to Meursault; a gentle start allowing time to visit the sights in Beaune and sample some wine in the village of Pommard on route. Don’t miss the imposing mansion of the Dukes of Burgundy, the basilica of Notre Dame and the most famous of all the sights in Beaune, the steep pitched patterned roofs of the Hotel Dieu. A circular walk to Saint Romain includes a ruined chateau and a 12th century church as well as some beautiful scenery and a great restaurant for lunch. A steady climb from Meursault, to join the ‘Grande Randonnee’ paths, takes in mature oak forests before descending to the village and stunning chateau of La Rochepot, unfortunately closed at the present time. From there you will be walking on to Nolay, a village of fine mediaeval buildings, narrow streets and half-timbered houses. The second half of the week is a little more taxing and involves walking an average of just over 18km per day and ascents of about 500m climbing onto the escarpment and hilltops for glorious views as far as the Alps. There is still time however to enjoy the delights of Rully, the ancient Chateau of Montaigu, the produce of the Cotes Chalonnaises and many more sleepy hamlets and villages. The landscape is a mix of vineyards on the lower slopes, woodlands on the edge of the plateau, and pastures and arable land above 380m on the plateau. Conditions underfoot are good with many of the tracks through the vineyards surfaced even though there is little or no traffic; lightweight boots are all you will need.
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10kg of CO2-e PP per day
(60kg of CO2-e PP entire trip)
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Day 1
Arrive Beaune
The first night is spent in a chic establishment just outside the historic area of Beaune. The 4* hotel has been renovated preserving the character of the building and a perfect balance has been found between the charm of past times and the comfort of today. Dinners (not included) can be taken in its refined restaurant or in the garden in fine weather. Numerous restaurants are conveniently located nearby as well.
Meals: Nil
Day 2
Sightseeing & afternoon walk to Meursault 11.5 km/7 miles, 3h, +290m/-235m
The village of Meursault is 10 km / 6.2 miles southwest of Beaune in the middle of the vineyards. The virtually flat walk is easily done in 4 hours including a stop over at the café in the famous village of Pommard. We have designed this short first day in order to have time to visit the Hospices de Beaune and perhaps have an early lunch in Beaune before setting off to Meursault. Accommodation: For two nights, unpack your bags and make yourself at home in this comfortable hotel in the heart of the village. This contemporary hotel, housed in a traditional Burgundy building, is renowned for its gourmet cuisine (dinners not included). You will experience a quiet blend of rustic charm and understated elegance, which offers a warm and intimate retreat for food and wine lovers.
Meals: B
Day 3
Circular walk - 16 km/10 miles, 4h, +480m/-480m
The standard walk from here is a 16 km / 10 mile loop to the beautiful village of Saint Romain. The ruins of the chateau include Roman foundations and the XII century church was an old ‘prieuré’ or small monastery. The restaurant in the village provides the best lunch break. There is approx. 220m of ascent and descent during the day but nothing too steep or demanding; there is plenty of time to take the walking at a gentle pace.
Day 4
Meursault to Nolay 17.5 km/10.8 miles, 4.5 h, +532m/-445m
Today leave the vineyards and after a steady climb of 140m, meet the GR76 and walk in the shade of the typical oak forests of Burgundy. Coming out of the woods, see the village of La Rochepot with the stunning château of the same name. There is a good local restaurant in the village although the chateau is currently closed. From La Rochepot, follow the GR7 before descending to the old market town of Nolay. Accommodation: A simple hotel on the old market square in Nolay provides a convenient nights stop on the route.
Day 5
Nolay to Chassey le Camp 17 km/10.5 miles, 4.5h
Over the first 6 km, gradually ascend 200m through lovely pastures shared with the Charolais cows, (of which Burgundy is very proud). Once on top of the ridge and before going down to the village of Santenay, there are wide reaching views of the Saone plain with the Alps in the distance. Then follow the GR7, walk across the Canal du Centre, walk up and down the Hermitage Mountain before descending through the vineyards up to Chassey le Camp. Accommodation: Spend the nigth in a 3* hotel with spa and swimming pool in Chassey le Camp. Dinner is included both nights.
Meals: B,D
Day 6
Circular walk from Chassey le Camp - 16 km/10 miles or 19 km/11.8 miles, 4-5h
A very pretty walk on the Côte Chalonnaise. There is a mixture of vineyard, field and forest walking. You could visit any ‘Caves’ - wine cellars that you find open en route, but as long as you are not too late back for dinner, you can normally visit one in Rully from where it is not so hard to stagger back to Chassey le Camp! Clockwise loop to the villages of Mercurey, Rully and Nantoux. A very pretty walk on the Côte Chalonnaise.
Day 7
Arrangements end
Arrangements end after breakfast.
What's included
What's not included
This tour is graded Easy – Moderate (Grade 2) Fitness: This walk should present no difficulties for anyone in reasonable condition and accustomed to day walks in undulating countryside. Day stages: 10km to 20km (24km without use of taxi on last day) per day with altitude gains varying from very little to 500m. 3 to 6 hours walking per day. This itinerary is planned to allow time to visit historic sites and vineyards along the route. Entrance fees and wine tasting are not included.
Per Person, Twin Share
Beaune is a fascinating small town and an extra day can easily be spent there.
There are a few places where you could do this, but this is normally in the outlet stores and involving a payment. Most of the vineyards
or 'caves' on this route nowadays however only find it worth while to open up for pre arranged groups rather than interested couples or individuals.
Beaune has a lot of tourists, otherwise on the trails you won't see many walkers.
Up to 10 trains a day from Paris gare de Lyon to Beaune via Dijon taking about 2 hours, 30 mins. Or from Lyon up to 17 trains a day taking 1 hour 40 mins
In October 2018, the castle was seized by the French government after investigation into an alleged money laundering scheme by Dmytro Malynovskyi, a Ukrainian. He was arrested when the scheme came to light where he purchased and lived in the castle after faking his own death.
Rating: ☆☆☆☆☆☆☆☆☆☆☆☆☆☆☆☆☆☆☆☆☆☆☆☆☆☆☆☆☆☆
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