We plan to rent a car in Beaune and spend a leisurely few days driving to Reims this September. We have reviewed Rick's wine, champagne and chateau suggestions and are interested in learning more about sights, routes to drive and lodging along the way. We would also like to have a look at the canals and rivers. Suggestions? Thanks!
Posted by
Olympia, WA, USA
6560 posts
Via Michelin is a useful route planning tool but has no information about sights along the way. What it tells me is that your actual drive, if you were in a hurry, would take about four hours. So with a few days you have the luxury of much sightseeing.
My own suggestions would include Dijon for the art museum in the medieval palace, Semour-en-Auxois for the walls and medieval center within them, Alise-Ste-Reine for the museum about the pivotal Romans-vs-Gauls battle of Alesia, Fontenay Abbey (near Montbard) for its beautiful surroundings, and Vezelay (further west) for its Romanesque basilica. Those places are closer to Beaune than to Reims. Closer to Reims is Epernay, one of the main champagne centers. If you're a fan of Charles de Gaulle, you can visit his house and grave at Colombey-les-Deux-Eglises, near Chaumont.
Others will have many other suggestions. Lucky you to have time for a leisurely few days in such a beautiful and historic part of Europe. EDIT -- As you probably know already, you'll be there during the grape harvest season, when the vineyards are beautiful and busy. Traffic may be more than usual.
Posted by
IJzendijke, The Netherlands
1995 posts
Dick, didn’t know you are a fan of Charles de Gaulle :). I agree with the places you suggest, but still have to visit Alesia, think the battle there must have a huge impact on European history. Speaking for myself not so directly a fan of Charles de Gaulle, but nevertheless find him an interesting person so anyway a visit to Colombey-les-Deux-Églises is in my opinion too worth the effort. There is also a big memorial with a museum at a nearby hilltop, but also found his house and grave more interesting if you ask me.
Very likely you will drive along the A5 to Reims and have to say are still on my to-do list think both Troyes and Langres are worth a visit. Not so far from Colombey quite charming Essoyes is the place where August Renoir is buried and there is also his house which was unfortunately under renovation during my visit in 2010, so hard to say if it is worth a detour.
Posted by
OP
33 posts
Excellent suggestions! Thanks! We'll start to put together an itinerary.
Posted by
Tel Aviv
15602 posts
I spent 3 days based in Avallon - Vezelay, Auxerre, Château Bazoches-du-Morvan, l'Abbaye de Fontenay, Noyers. I skipped as much as a saw in the area. Every little town had an excellent TI with brochures for wine routes, châteaux routes and more. For instance, in Noyers there was a self-guided walking tour that was scenic with lots of history.
Visit lovely Epernay as a day trip by train from Reims. The Mercier tour is fun.