Burgundy Regional Info

History | Geography | Food / Drink

"Very good itinerary, excellent food and restaurants. The bikes are in very good condition. Thanks so much." - P. Lai, Burgundy Tour

History

During the 5th century ad, a Germanic tribe called the Burgundians invaded and established the first kingdom of Burgundy in France. In 534, the Burgundians were conquered by the Merovingian rulers of the Francks and become the Carolingian Empire. In 843, Burgundy (Bourgogne) was divided in two and by 933 the two kingdoms were united as the second kingdom of Burgundy, with the capital at Arles. In 1378, Burgundy was ceded to France and the kingdom ceased to exist as a separate state. From 1363 to 1477, the Dukes of Burgundy amassed wealth and power that were the envy of most of the kings of Europe. During the middle of the 15th century, the duchy of Burgundy dominated the French affairs.

• To visit in Beaune:
• Hotel Dieu, with its inner courtyard and colourful tiled roof
• Musee des vins de Bourgogne
• Collegiale Basilique Notre dame
• La Moutarderie, an interactive exhibition about mustard

Geography

Between the Morvan and the Vosges, Burgundy France is well-known for its wines, its fine gastronomy and also for the Roman architecture from Vezelay to Autun and south to the noble ruins of Cluny. The capitale of Burgundy is Dijon which produces the famous "mustard of Dijon". Tiny villages, manor farms and millhouses, exquisite parish churches and open-air stone laundries down by the stream are the rural soul of France. The region of Burgundy is rich in wheat, barley agriculture and also cows, dairy products and wines. The Cote d'Or: From Dijon to Beaune and at Chagny, along the "Route du Vin", the vineyard of the "Cote d'Or", famous since the time of the Gallo-roman: Gevrey-Chambertin, Clos -Vougeot, Vosne-Romanee, Pommard, Meusault,..

Food / Drink

What good "stuff' can you eat?
Cheese specialty: The Epoisses and the Soumaintrain

-Boeuf bourguignon(beef simmered in red wine with mushrooms, small white onions and chunks of bacon).
-Jambon persille (parsley ham).
-Escargots a la bourguignone( snails).
-Pain d'epices (bread).
-Coq au vin (chicken cooked in wine).

What about a drink?
The vineyards south of Dijon divide into two distinct regions, Cote de Nuits, grouping most of the region's top reds, and Cote de Beaune, with reds only slightly less prestigious but still very good. Also the locals say that their white wines are the world's greatest.
Cote de Nuits: Gevrey-Chambertin, Chambolle-Musigny, Clos de Vougeot, Vosne-Romanee, and Nuits-Saint-Georges.
Cote de Beaune: Aloxe-Corton, Savigny-les-Beaune, Beaune, Pommard, Volnay, Santenay, Puligny-Montrachet, Meursault.