Driving from Paris to Beaune--any suggested lunch stop/sites to see along the way?

Guedelon castle building site is a very interesting stop, where they are building a new castle using Medieval hand-work techniques, and with picnic opportunities.

Auxerre is along the A5 and is a wonderful Burgundy town. We also loved Semur en Auxois but that would be a bit of a detour, but not far out of the way. You can see our pictures of the place here:
http://janettravels.wordpress.com/2010/08/25/medieval-towns/

I would plan on visiting at least one charming Burgundy town before Beaune -- it is such a lovely area.

I'd allow at least three hours, not counting stops. Via Michelin is a good route planner if you need one, especially for the turn-by-turns to get you out of Paris. Like other route-planning websites, it underestimates the time you'll likely need.

Auxerre is about halfway to Beaune, near the A6, with a medieval center, cathedral, and more. The RS guide doesn't cover it, but more comprehensive guides like Lonely Planet do. Could be a good stopping place, though you'd spend time getting to and from the autoroute.

A more ambitious side-trip could be Vezelay, with one of the best Romanesque basilicas in France. A bit out of your way, but not as far out of your way as Guedelon (which I haven't visited).

If you just want to eat and use the restrooms, the autoroute has many convenient rest areas, called aires. Some of them have food, gas, etc. As a former New Jersey Turnpike user, I found them incredibly clean and pleasant. No medieval atmosphere though!

You'll like Beaune and surroundings during the grape harvest. Have a grape trip!

On the way to Beaune from Paris, there are lots of stunningly beautifull places to visit and area’s to explore. Close to Semur-en-Auxois there is also tiny Époisses and UNESCO listed Abbeye de Fontenay. Do not focus alone on Beaune, a place like Autun is also absolutely stunning, many nice castles in Burgundy. Do some serious homework, buy a few good guidebooks, look at picturebooks from the region, a well-detailed map for touristic drives through the country-side, consider Michelin Atlas Routier et Touristique France 2014 / scale 1:200000 with touristical info. Things like this will really pay-off and you will remember more then just Hôtel-Dieu in Beaune.

I second Dick, Laura and Janet - UNESCO listed Vezelay and Guédelon both certainly worth a visit, the latter is not only build in the medieval way, but also the French way, very funny to see them at work.

One advise: Stop with thinking about big hitters, easy to see and whirlwind in Burgundy as it's the recipe to miss the nicest things this region has to offer, just switch the mindset to relaxing and enjoying and some exploring.

We stayed in Semur for a week a few years ago and you can see photos of several of the places we visited in the area in my photo journal under Burgundy. www.janettravels.wordpress.com We had been to Vezelay and Auxerre (both wonderful) and Beaune earlier so I don't have picture up of those.

This is really a nice area so I would plan to make one leisurely stop on the way to see one of these sites that have been recommended.

If the weather is nice I'd pick up a picnic and stop at the Fontenay Abbey. This is a knockout sight and one of the highlights of my week in the region.

As others have said...do not forget the lovely small villages in this area...my husband is a photographer and we spend a lot of time in the Fall in this area. The colors are wonderful and the driving on the back roads is easy. Some of the places we love are Montreal, Noyers, Chateauneuf en Auxois, Vezelay, Semur en Auxois, Flavigny,and the whole area around the Burgundy canal. The market in Louhans is one of the best in the area although it is a little bit south. A great place for lunch is in Chateauneuf en Auxois... A wonderful little creperie that has many other things to eat is called L'oree du Bois. It has this wonderful open fireplace ...great in the fall. It is closed I believe on Tuesdays. Noyers has some wonderful restaurants also....one of which was featured on an episode of Anthony Bourdain. .Our favorite thing to do is sit on the banks of the burgundy canal looking up at Chateauneuf and have a picnic with a nice bottle of wine.

Thanks everyone for all your wonderful suggestions! I am counting the days and now really can't wait to explore this beautiful region-- and drink a little wine along the way :)