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Burgundy
The great wine-growing area in the East part of France.
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Beaune
One of the most interesting city to visit in this part of France is Beaune both for the beauty and the harmony of its architecture. Golden and ruby best apply to Burgundy wines but they can also be used to describe the city itself : on the roof of Hotel Dieu building, in Roger Van der Weyden's Last Judgement painting as well as in the series of tapestries hung in Notre Dame Church and showing scenes of The Virgin Mary's life. The brightly-coloured roof of Hotel Dieu is a unique example of medieval architecture. It was built by the Dukes of Burgundy whose power extended to Flandre and the Netherlands. It now houses the Museum of Burgundy wines where you will learn how wine-growers used to live, discover artistic symbols linked to the wine and admire an old winery with authentic wooden crushers. You must also visit the former Ursulines' convent, which was transformed into the Art museum, the Marey Museum dedicated to the inventor of Chronophotography, and the Charity hospice.
Obviously, you will not leave Beaune without a tour to the vaulted cellars extending under the city or along the fortified walls and where some of the greatest wines in the world are stored... and tasted.
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Dijon
All Dijon historical city centre can be admired from the top of Philippe le Bon Tower. The former palace where the Dukes Philippe le Hardi, Jean sans Peur, Philippe le Bon et Charles le Téméraire used to live is the very heart of the dukes' capital. However, other monuments are worth discovering :
Cordeliers Square
the city hall, the Arts museum which houses an incredibly rich collection of paintings and sculptures from the Middle Ages and especially The Dukes of Burgundy's shrines.
The historical center extends around this building and invites you to stroll along its streets lined up with old half-timbered town houses. Saint-Benigne Cathedral is the former abbey church of a leading monastery during the Cluny reform and today exhibits fascinating sculptures. Have a look at the former roman and gothic churches - Saint-Philibert and Saint-Jean - which have been transformed into a theater, and if you want to learn more about Dijon's past and the inhabitants' former way of life, go to the Burgundy Folk Museum where you will see reconstituted houses and shops.
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For more information, please contact
Beaune Tourist Office
Rue de l'Hôtel Dieu
21200 BEAUNE
Tél : +33 (0) 380.262.130
Dijon Tourist Office
34, rue Forges
21000 DIJON
Tél : +33 (0) 380.441.1444
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