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Beaune and Burgundy...just perfect!

****It's all about the wine and food so if those two things don't interest you don't bother reading anymore.********
Just spent three nights in Beaune at Jardins de Lois and am wishing we'd stayed longer. We spent two afternoons riding electric bikes through the vineyards and towns nearby with an occasional tasting and picnic.

Jardins de Lois is a five room B&B but feels a bit more like a hotel. The rooms are tastefully done and as clean and well maintained as any room you'll ever stay in. The breakfast was typical French and the local cheeses were excellent. The staff and owners are very warm and helpful. The owners produce their own wine and below the rooms is a very old wine cave where you can have a tasting of their wine. We sent some home just to drink and reminisce.

Beaune is a great little town and easily walked. Wine shops for tastings and lot's of restaurants and upscale shopping. The local food can be fine dining or just good old comfort food like some Bœuf Bourguignon at a small brasserie. The main attraction in town is the Hospice de Beaune with a fascinating history and contemporary connection to the wine industry.

The local wine towns were the main attraction for us and riding from one to the next along the wine route through vineyards and perfect storybook French towns was just wonderful. We didn't even have great weather and it didn't matter. You don't need electric bikes but they are sure fun and make riding easy. We definitely rode to far and should have stopped more and ridden less. There are bathrooms in every town for the riders if you look along the marked route. In between towns there are rest areas to stop and relax as well. Navigating was pretty easy although I did use Google maps from time to time. Following the green bicycle signs was fun and locals would always point you back if you got lost.

It's easy to get to from Paris via Dijon and I highly recommend it.

Posted by
740 posts

We loved our three nights at Les Jardins de Lois, too. Arriving late in Beaune, B&B owner Anne-Marie picked us up at the train station. Wonderful hosts and a beautiful B&B&. Winemaker Philippe gave us a free private tasting of his Pinot Noir in his wine cave.
Excellent farmer's market in Beaune in the square next to the Hospital-Hôtel Dieu. Also, had so much fun riding bikes through the vineyards and stopping for amazing tastings of Burgundy wine in the little villages. Highly recommend!

Posted by
258 posts

I'm curious, Richard, if you could share specifically what bike route you chose. Which "wine towns" did you visit?

Thanks

Posted by
1825 posts

Sure...
The first day we went North and made a loop through Savigny-lès-Beaune, Pernand-Vergelesses, Aloxe-Corton, Ladoix-Serrigny and Chorey-les-Beaune. It was not very well marked and took a lot of navigating but worthwhile. The second day we went South through the more traveled and better marked trail/road through.....Pommard, Volnay, Meursault and then detoured around and up to La Rochepot to see the chateau. The electric bikes made it possible to get to La Rochepot but I could go back and just spend time cruising the small villages and eating and tasting. The well marked trail to the South is very easy and hardly has any two lane roads so the biking is relaxing (except for the occasional car).

The routes were suggested by Bourgogne Randonnées where we rented the bikes. Most of this is also covered in Rick's books.