dossier
Burgundy Vineyard Trails
Travel Information
Duration:7 nights/8 days
Season: Aprilto late October; March is also possible but cold wet weather is more likely.
Arrival: Afternoon/earlyevening on Day 1.
First hotel:In Beaune the hotel is a 10 minute walk or short taxi ride from the railwaystation. There is a regular train service from Paris including TGV connectionsfrom Paris Gare de Lyon. Please check times before traveling and note that forTGV trains it is compulsory to book seat reservation before your journey. Youwill receive up-to-date train times for your date of travel, or alternativelyyou can visit Rail Europe's website at www.sncf.com.
Travel from North America:
1. Direct overnight flights from manyregional airports to Paris (Charles de Gaulle or Orly), followed then byRER/metro suburban train into Paris and TGV train from Gare de Lyon to Dijon.There is now a TGV station at Charles de Gaulle airport, but at the time ofwriting no direct service to Dijon. From Dijon local train to Nuits-St-Georges.
2. Rent a car in Paris then 550km/341mi drive viaDijon to Curtil Vergy.
3. Rail from Paris airport (RER/metro) to Gare deLyon and train to Dijon.
End of Tour:The tour ends on the morning of day 8 in Savigny-les-Beaune. Taxi transfer(included in tour price) to Beaune train station. Then from Beaune by train toParis, generally changing at Dijon onto the TGV.
Level of Difficulty
Fitness:This walk should present no difficulties for anyone in reasonable condition andaccustomed to day walks in undulating countryside.
Day stages:10km to 20km (7 to 12 mi) per day with average altitude gains of 350m. 3 to 6hours walking per day. There are a few optional walks for those seeking moreactivity, including a 26km/16mi alternative route on Day 6, but this itineraryis planned to allow time to visit historic sites and vineyards along the route.Entrance fees and wine tasting is not included.
Waymarks: Thetrail is fairly well waymarked and easy to follow. Much of the trail follows theGR7 and GR76 long-distance trails, which are, marked with the customarywhite/red/white 'GR' waymarks.
Accommodation & Meals
All of the hotels normally used on thisitinerary are run by families who have lived in the area for generations. 2nights are in 3* hotels and the remaining 5 nights in good 2* hotels. All roomshave en suite facilities. Accommodation on five nights is on a half boardbasis, breakfast and evening meals, which are tasty typical Burgundy dishes. Ontwo nights bed and breakfast only is included; on these nights there is a goodchoice of restaurants nearby. Picnic lunches are not included in the tour costbut are usually available from hotels at a cost of 8-10 Euros / $11-$13.Alternatively picnic materials can be obtained cheaply from local shops. Weindicate in our route notes where there are suitable restaurants or cafes forlunch stops, or recommend you carry food if there are none convenient. Burgundywines may be perceived as expensive, the best certainly are, but there are manygood local wines available in all restaurants at a reasonable price.
Night 1 & 7: The first and last nights are spent in a very old andcomfortable 3* hotel in the historical part of Beaune. Situated just a coupleof hundred meters from the town center in a quiet back street this hotelincorporates the old city walls in its structure. Rooms are well presented andthere is a breakfast room and pleasant courtyard where you can sit and relaxwith a refreshing drink. These two nights are arranged on a Bed and Breakfastbasis, as there is a wide selection of restaurants close by.
Night 2 & 3: For two nightsunpack and make this yourself at home in this comfortable 2* hotel on the mainsquare of the pretty village of Meursault. It is reputedly the center of thebest chardonnay production in Burgundy (not to say France) and is therefore thebest place to do a little tasting to introduce yourself to the produce of theland! On both nights in Meursault, diner will be taken at the hotel as webelieve it has just about the best restaurant in town. The restaurant doesclose for one day a week. If your stay coincides with this closure then thevery friendly hoteliers will have booked a table for you elsewhere in thevillage. He will also help you organize some wine tasting at a local ‘cave’.
Night 4: A2* hotel on the old market square in Nolay provides a convenient nights stop onthe route. Half board is arranged with your evening meal being taken at therustic restaurant, Sainte Maria, just 200m from the hotel.
Nights 5 & 6: Again our hotel is on the main square, this time in thetypical vineyard village of Rully. The owner has the strong local accent and isvery proud of his roots. He is a fine host and changes the restaurant menuevery day offering a variety of local dishes. Rully will be our base to explorewhat is called here the Côtes Challonaises. No doubt wine tasting will be apossibility!
|
ITINERARY |
|
Day 1: Arrive Curtil Vergy. Day 2: Morning to sightsee in Beaune and an afternoon to walk to Meursault. The village of Meursault is 10kms 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. Here, we will also suggest a top wine tasting opportunity. We have designed this short first day in order to have time to visit at least the Hospices de Beaune and perhaps have an early lunch in Beaune before setting off to Meursault. Day 3: A circular walk from Meursault. The standard walk from here is a 14 kms 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: Today leave the vineyards and after a steady climb of 140m, we will meet the GR76 and walk in the shade of the typical oak forest 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 and the visit of the chateau is well worthwhile. From La Rochepot, follow the GR7 before descending to the old market town of Nolay. 16kms of walking with 380m of ascent and 300m of descent. Day 5: Nolay to Rully. During the first 6kms, we will 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. We then follow the GR7, walk across the Canal du Centre, walk up and down the Hermitage Mountain before descending through the vineyards of Rully. 18kms. 500m ascent and 580m descent. Day 6: Today, our target is the well-known village of Mercurey and the ancient chateau of Montaigu to the south. We will follow an undulating route between vineyards and woods along the côtes Chalonnaises. On the way back to Rully, we will use the GR7 through the villages of Aluze and Nantoux. 18kms in total with 500m of ascent and descent. Day 7: A long day northwards back to Beaune across undulating ground. We will cross the Canal du Centre at the village of Remilly and walk through the famous vineyard of Chassagne and Puligny Montrachet. After the Hamlet of Blagny, we will ascent Mont Melian and walk on through the villages of Auxey-Duresses and Volnay on the way back to Pommard. From here you can either retrace the route from day 2 for 4km back into Beaune or call for a taxi (not included). The full route is 24kms with 500m of ascent and descent. Day 8: Depart Beaune. |