Please sign in to post.

Recommended lodging and location for short stay in Burgundy.

Posted by on

Greetings. I have been planning a 5 week trip for this summer to France (with a bit of Italy) and while most is done I am spinning my wheels on Burgundy. My family (2 adults and children ages 10 and 13) will be driving from Paris to Chamonix in mid-July. We have two nights that we plan to spend in Burgundy on the way. Our plan is to leave Paris and head to Guedelon Castle (sw of Auxerre) to see the construction. My sense is that will take up a good part of the day (it sounds almost Williamsburg like). The next day we will visit Fontenay Abbey and hopeful the new museo-parc at the site of the Battle of Alisia (near Alise-Sainte-Reine). We would like to spend the last morning in Beaune to see the L'Hotel-Dieu and have lunch before driving into the Alps.

We normally do not do this type of rushed visit -the rest of our trip is primarily one week stays in other locations, but we just happened to have these two extra days and thought we would put them to use as we drive instead of spending extra time in Chamonix or Paris. We know there are many other things to see in Burgundy, but we are trying to hit the places that are most unique (plus I have a husband and son who are both serious Roman history buffs). The adults would like to do a bit of wine tasting, but given that children are along, that will probably amount to just one stop as we drive.

We could really use advice on where to stay the two nights we are in Burgundy - specific B&Bs or other lodging recommendations appreciated. As you can see going to both Fontenay and Alisia in one day is pretty hefty. We could either stay one night near Fontenay (maybe Semur-en-Auxois) and one in Beaune itself or we could stay two nights in the area of Fontenay. I dislike changing B&B's two nights in a row but if we stayed near Beaune we could get an earlier start there which could be nice. Since we are driving and will be arriving in the late afternoon it would be helpful if the place has easy access, with its own parking. Or on the flip side, it could be in the country, as long as there is an option for dining (or we can always pack a picnic).

Thank you in advance for your thoughts.

Posted by
10189 posts

It's at least an hour and a half from Guedelon, in northern Burgundy, to Beaune, in southern Burgundy. This may be a case where it's worth staying in two different places. I'd stay the first night in Auxerre because it was first a Celtic town and then settled by the Romans. Not only can you still see some vestiges, but there is a very interesting model of Auxerre in Roman times in the museum. This way you wouldn't be rushed at Guedelon, a place that deserves several hours. The second night I'd stay in southern Burgundy after stopping at Fontenay and Alesia on the way south. Fontenay is not an very long visit, so it's not unreasonable to do it and Alesia in the same day. For lodging, you could look at the Logis chain of hotel/restaurants. These are independently owned and run, usually by families, but inspected and rated by the Logis group.

Posted by
3 posts

Thank you for your reply. This is exactly the thing that is so helpful to know. This gives me some target areas to look at for lodging.

Posted by
6502 posts

I think Bets has a good plan. We spent a week in Beaune, renting an apartment and exploring Burgundy by car each day. We loved Alesia and Fontenay, you could easily see both in a day, coming from Auxerre or nearby, and still have time for the Hospice in Beaune.

Autoroutes make a fast trip, though the back roads are more interesting. On the autoroute you'll pass a sign as you cross the "continental divide" where the drainages of the Seine, Loire, and Rhone meet. Helps you understand Burgundy's historic importance as a crossroads in western Europe.

Posted by
8055 posts

We have stayed a couple of times in Semur en Auxois -- once for a night in transit and another time for a week in a cottage at the foot of the walls. It is not far from Fontenay Abbey. It is just a magically beautiful little town with a fair number of decent restaurants and the chance to stroll the ramparts, walk down to the 'river' etc etc. You can see snapshots of the town as well as of Fontenay Abbey here:https://janettravels.wordpress.com/category/burgundy/

Posted by
10189 posts

Another possibility after Guedelon and only fifteen kilometers from Auxerre is Chablis. It's been built up for tourism and now has a lot of hotels and restaurants. The Michelin red guides, whose info you can access on viamichelin.com, has hotel and restaurant listings for all the places you want to go.

Posted by
4132 posts

I would nominate an overnight in Vezeley, if the idea of a stunningly beautiful hill town with a famous cathedral appeals to you and yours. Get an early start the next day and make for the Fontenay Abbey and Alisia.

Hard to chose between Semur and Beane for night number 2.

Posted by
8055 posts

Also loved Vezelay. We stayed at Moulin des Ruats in the forrest nearby -- a lovely little hotel with an excellent restaurant (people come from miles around) right on the stream. It is a good base for walking in the forrest preserve or traveling to Auxerre, Vezelay, Avalon etc.

Posted by
3 posts

These are wonderful suggestions. We are looking in the area between Auxerre and Avallon for night one and I think I have found a place about 15 km north of Beaune for our second night. Even if they two hotels are only an hour apart, it is one less hour on the road the day we drive to Chamonix, so I think it will be worth switching. Also, given the current time of year (brrr...) I forgot how late it will be light in summer, which means we really should not have to rush in Beaune before we leave on our drive. I think if we are on the road by 2:30 pm we should be just fine getting into the mountains, into our rental and finding dinner.

Once again, thank you!

Posted by
4412 posts

Abbaye de la Bussiere outside Dijon/Beaune is wonderful

This topic has been automatically closed due to a period of inactivity.