Traveling to Burgundy

We had a car so I can't judge the timing/distances for bikes, but we very much enjoyed Beaune, took a nice wine tour there and loved the old hospice, also loved Montbard and nearby Abbe de Fontenay, Flavigny, Brancion and, if you have some imagination to picture how it once was, the cathedral at Cluny was really fascinating.

I spent a week cycling in Burgundy a few years ago, starting with some day trips out of Beaune and ending with some point-to-point rides in northern Burgundy.

There are several good loops out of Beaune. The bike shop there, Bourgonne Randonees, rents decent machines and gives excellent itinerary advice. (Ask about the tasting lunch in Aloxe Corton.)

There are also longer itineraries beginning in Beaune, for instance to Semur-en-Aixois via Chateauneuf en Auxois, though that's not what we did.

Bourgonne Randonees will also customize your trip to whatever degree you like--they'll make reservations for you, even (for a fee) port your bags from place to place or pick up your bikes if you don't have time to ride them back. (We didn't use these services, but they are available).

If you want to get a jump on planning, you can google Bourgonne Randonees and email--they are very helpful.

The biking there is great! If you are interested in N. Burgundy, I'll tell you about that too.

I appreciate the advice we have been given and have contacted Bourgogne Randonees. I was wondering if any of you stayed in a chateau? Or did either of you stay in the Auxois/ Northern Burgundy region?

Kimberly... My husband and I love Burgundy.We always fly into Paris, get a car from Hertz at Orly and drive through The beautiful countryside. It is most lovely in May, September , and October. We always go in October.From Orly, it is so easy to get on the A6 and drive 2 hours, get off the tollway and drive to beautiful ancient villages like Semur en Auxious, Chateauneuf, Flavigny. The Burgundy canal is right down the hill from Chateauneuf and biking there is Heaven.There are little scenic places to picnic.The winery at the back of Flavigny is a good place to get wine . The speak English, and will let you taste everything. If you are starting in Beaune, the drive to these places is gorgeous.Email me for places to stay if you will have a car. You could also take a canal boat ride down the canal from Vandenesse-en auxious. They let you get off and bike, but I think I would rather drive.

Kimberly, on this trip we saved our euros for food and wine and slept cheap. Although I enjoyed some of the places I slept very much, none was in a chateau and I would not recommend them to someone who is looking for that sort of experience--sorry!

I know that these kinds of accommodations are available in Burgundy and suspect, again, that helpful Florent at Bourgonne Randonees can make suggestions and, if desired, reservations. Other sources for ideas include travel guides and the itineraries of various guided tours, posted online by the touring companies and findable through creative googling.

You probably know that the term "chateau" encompasses many things, including what we Americans might think of as a mansion. So if you want ramparts & turrets better be specific!