Hi,
We have catered for a 3 day visit to Burgundy during our visit in the 1st week of July. What would be a better base Dijon or Beaune? We are travelling by train (from Lyon and onwards to Colmar).
Posted by
Olympia, WA, USA
6713 posts
If you won't be renting a car, I guess Dijon would be a better base because it's a larger city than Beaune (152,000 vs 21,000). It has historic buildings and an important art museum, and is more of a transportation hub to other destinations. Beaune has worthwhile sights, especially the 15th century Hospices, is a short train ride from Dijon, and would be a good day trip.
But if you want to explore the area by car, Beaune might be a better base because it has less traffic and is easier to drive in and out of. Burgundy has many interesting towns and villages, and beautiful countryside. Driving would give you more options and more flexibility for the limited time you have. With Beaune as a base, you could take the train into Dijon for a day, as we did.
Posted by
Los Angeles
4836 posts
it's a half hour train ride, so flip a coin? Dijon has the TGV station and car rental offices, Beaune is small and nice and walkable and has vast wine storage caves underground.
Posted by
Boston
128 posts
Hi,
I've been to both places and I'd have to agree with Dick. If you're going by train, Dijon is larger and better with more to see. In addition to what he mentioned, there's a cool Francois Rude museum.
Beaune can be done in a day trip and there used to be a bike rental station about 150 yards straight outside the front door of the station (Rue Republic?) where you could rent a bike. From there it is a ten minute bike ride and you are out in the vineyards. I'd strongly recommend that at that time of year as the vineyards will have begun budding in earnest.
Dijon has more to do to do, more to see, and again, with Beaune just a short distance away via train that makes sense. HOWEVER, if you are huge wines fans and love both red/white burgundy, you may want to try Beaune as a base.
Good luck
Posted by
Florida (previously California)
3970 posts
Dijon even if you have a car because Beaune is not a 3-day town, IMO.
Posted by
5 posts
Dijon is the bigger town with more to see, it just keeps going and is fantastic. Beaune is also very cool but smaller with far fewer options and things to see. We stayed in Beaune as we had a car, and explored the vineyards around Beaune. The vineyards in this area are gorgeous and you have to find a way to do the Vineyard loops recommended by Rick (page 905 in the latest edition). We bought several bottles from Alex-Cortone and Montrachet...these are some of the most famous vineyards in France.