RS recommends staying in Beaune- do you agree? I've been looking at B & B's that are further north/west toward Semur and Vezelay. We really don't have any "must sees" yet, just figured we would drive around the area and find small villages to explore. Are those areas too far out in your opinion? We will have 4 nights for Burgundy so we wanted to find a home base with a nice B & B.
Posted by
Chicago
2876 posts
Neither Vezelay nor Semur-en-Auxois is too far out for exploring the Burgundy region. Each is a 1 to 1 -1/2 hour drive from Beaune. The advantage of Beaune is simply its larger size - thus it has more places to shop, eat, etc. But if you find a nice B&B near Vezelay or Semur and you prefer a smaller locale, you'll be fine.
Posted by
Chicago
56 posts
We found a B and B in Pouilly-en-Auxois. It is about a 30 minute drive from Beaune. The town was beautiful, quiet, friendly with great restaurants. The Burgundy canal begins up there. We traveled all over the area for over 3 weeks and this was my favorite town.
Posted by
Boston
4132 posts
Beaune is a great choice, but Tom is right, not the only one. It is a friendly, prosperous town with great food and great wine resources. There is also a very helpful bicycle rental place in town.
Semur is very pretty, has some great pastry shops, and is well located to explore some of the sights and towns along the Burgundy canal, such as the Fontenay Abbey. I'm not sure I'd recommend basing oneself in Vezeley, but it is very worth a visit.
I think you really should make this decision informed by your "must sees," or at any rate your plans, to find a location that is well situated for those sights, whatever they are.
Posted by
S.F. Bay Area, CA, United States
1878 posts
We stayed in Beaune, and visited Semur for lunch. Both are very nice. The must see in Burgundy is Fontennay Abbey, in my opinion.
Posted by
Philadelphia, PA, USA
544 posts
I recommend Val en Sel, a family-owned b&b in St. Pere sous Vezelay. The tiny, very old town at the foot of the hill below Vezelay is very quiet. The b&b is in a large, very old U-shaped house at the edge of town (near the town church and on the road to the Roman ruins). The hostess is charming and attentive and often suggested driving routes when she served our breakfast. I recall that twice she greeted us when we returned "home" from sight-seeing and offered us late afternoon tea or wine. She's one of those wonderful b&b managers who is available but not "hovering" or intrusive. We had a private room and bath overlooking the back gardens and forest. Furnishings and decorations were mostly well-used but lovingly maintained antiques.
My husband and I used Val en Sel as "home base" for day trips around the area. Being in so small a town has the advantage of easy driving (no traffic!) but the possible inconvenience of limited shopping and restaurants. There is one upscale gourmet restaurant in the town.
Feel free to send a personal message if you have questions.
Posted by
OP
Granite Bay, CA
1914 posts
The place I'd really like to stay is actually in Massangis...is that too far out or will day trips with a car be within reach of the general spots we will want to go?...
Thanks for you help!
Posted by
Boston
4132 posts
Re Massangis: Burgundy is not so big that you couldn't base yourself there. (And the Serien valley is truly lovely. See Noyers.)
However, if you will spend a lot of time in the Cote d'Or for instance, it is not a very efficient place to stay, in that it will entail more driving.
It does give you pretty good access to what I consider some highlights: the Fontenay Abbey, Vezeley, and the Serien and Cousin valleys, among others. And the area is great for white wines.