We are driving from Lyon to Reims on a Monday/ Tuesday in July. We only have one night in Beaune or Dijon. Which area should we stay and what winery (wineries) should we visit? We were thinking of driving to Beaune and having lunch and a winery tour (suggestions appreciated, perhaps J. Drouhin?), and visiting Chateau Savigny les Beaune. Spending the night in Beaune and driving towards Dijon on our way to Reims and perhaps stopping at a winery on the route? Does anyone have a recommendation for a winery visit in Nuits St. George or Gevery Chambertin? From there we would skip Dijon and continue to Reims. If time allows stop in Troyes for lunch. Any thoughts on this plan?
TIA
Posted by
3122 posts
Given the choice, I'd take Beaune as opposed to Dijon. Beaune is very, very charming, surrounded by vineyards, and small enough to see in a day.
Posted by
106 posts
If you're more interested in wine rather than the history of Bourgogne and how it struggled with French royalty over the centuries, then Beaune would be a better choice than Dijon. On the other hand, if you're interested in exploring a mid-sized French city and enjoying its medieval center, along with a damn good museum that has recently re-opened after major renovations, then I would leave Beaune to the college students and the tourists who don't know better and head to Dijon.
Posted by
Boston
4132 posts
With just a quick stop over, stay in Beaune. It would take a few days, at least, to make sense of Dijon.
For lunch, consider the tasting lunch in Aloxe Cortone, adjacent to Savigny.
Posted by
Florida, USA
12172 posts
Personally, I prefer Dijon. I think Beaune has some good, must see, sights but I found the center of Dijon much more charming. I prefer a medieval style town, a matter of taste. Beaune, probably because of wine money, has a 17th/18th century look (most Americans think that's old). The area around Beune's tourist sights is nicely kept up, if you wander to the other half (still inside the ring road), it's pretty run down. Dijon is a bigger city but has a much older feel than Beaune in the center.
It may be that Beaune was a let down after driving through one beautiful medieval Burgundian town after another?