Pretty valleys, green hilly vineyards, medieval churches, rich food and prestigious wines in one unforgettable walk. Ideally located at the crossroad of Western Europe, Burgundy has played a huge part in the future of France since the Gallic times and it is often called the cradle of France. Nowadays, its amazing architectural heritage can still be seen everywhere as the numerous typical Burgundy tiled roofs testify. Burgundy regional gastronomy has also spread all over the country and even behind its borders with well-appreciated dishes such as beef bourguignon, coq au vin, and much more. The fame of the region has also been made by its world-class wines, usually produced in small quantities such as Nuits Saint-Georges, Pommard, Mercurey, Meursault and many more.
The walking holidays we designed for you aim to bring you through the heart of this incredible area and to enjoy the wide variety of landscapes, architecture, food, and of course wines, Burgundy has to offer. Indeed, villages like Pommard, Gevrey and Meursault will seduce you not only with their tortuous streets bordered by stone built houses, food markets, and cafés but they will also ravish your palates with their tannic Pinots Noirs, refreshing Chardonnay, or even the local “Kir” aperitif, a regional blackcurrant cream mixed with local white “aligoté” wine. Over the days, the charms of the different landscapes will bewitch you and visitors often see their heart sank at the time of departure. Don’t worry; we are sure the memories of walking through this giant-size postcard added to some wine shopping will comfort you in many ways!
Highlights:
♦ Wine & Vineyard Experience – taking you through the renowned Route des Grands Crus
♦ Scenic Walking Trails – picturesque vineyards, charming villages, and historic sites like the Clos de Vougeot castle
♦ Cultural & Culinary Delights – it isn’t just about wine; experience the charm of Burgundy’s villages, rich in history and gastronomy
Itinerary:
Day 1. Dijon
Arrival to Dijon and accommodation at your hotel. Dijon is one of the most beautiful cities in France, famous for its mustard, which is still produced locally.
Day 2. Dijon - Gevrey - Gevrey-Chambertin
After leaving the capital of the Dukes of Burgundy to begin your first stage, you really enter the world of vineyards. By walking in the middle of them and along small hills, you will discover an unspoilt nature.
Walking: 12 km, 3-4 hours
Day 3. Gevrey-Chambertin - Nuits-St-Georges
Gevrey-Chambertin is a touristic, winemaking village, situated on the Route des Grands Crus (Road of the Great Wines) and is partucularly noted for the Grand Cru Burgundy wine. After breakfast you follow the road to Combes Lavaux. In this stage you will walk along splendid vineyards, traditional Clos (from French - closure) like Clos des Lambrays, and you will pass by the castle of Clos de Vougeot, a wall-enclosed vineyard.
Walking: 14 km, 3-4 hours
Day 4. Nuits-St-Georges - Beaune
Nuits-St-Georges is the main town of the Cote de Nuits wine-producing area of Burgundy. To reach the next stage you have to follow the "Chemin des Grands Crus" (The Path of the Great Wines). After crossing some charming and genuine villages of Burgundy like Magny-les-Villers or Permand-Vergelesses, you can discover some of the most famous wine in Burgundy (Hautes Cotes de Beaune)
Walking: 25 km, 7-8 hours
Day 5. Beaune - Meursault
Beaune is the wine capital of Burgundy and a key wine center in France, where the primary wine auction in France - Hospices de Beaune - takes place. Leaving Beaune walk back to the town exit following the cycling path in direction of Santenay. After crossing Plateau of Volnay and pine trees forest walk along the vineyards until going down to the village of Auxey Duresses. There you have to leave temporarily GR76 and "Sentier des Grands Crus" to go to Meursault for the night.
Walking: 15 km, 4-5 hours
Day 6. Meursault - Chagny
Meursault produces mainly white wines from Chardonnay grapes. From Meursault, walk back to Auxey-Duresses (see previous day) and back on the “Chemin des Grands Crus”. You will be astounded about genuine and unspoilt landscapes (Chatelet de Montmeillan, wood of “Chassagne”) in your last stage and several traditional hamlets (Gamay, Morgeot) will fill you with wonder to go back with a lot of great memories.
Walking: 11 km, 4 hours
Day 7. Chagny - departure
The city of Chagny has been awarded the “green holiday”. The criteria for this quality charter allow it to stand out in terms of welcoming tourists, protected environment, outdoor activities, lodging, shops and services, tourism and dynamic presence of a two start tourist office on the town.You can order additional nights in Chagny.
Recommended travel period of the year: spring - autumn
Price Includes:
6 nights in standard hotels and guesthouses
Breakfast
Visit Castle Clos de Vougeot day 3
Winery visit and light lunch with wine tasting on day 6 (except on Sundays)
Luggage transfer (1 piece per person max 20 kg)
Road book in English
24-hour telephone service
Not Included:
Flight tickets
Transfer from/to airport
Drinks and meals not mentioned in the program
Entrance fees
Insurance
Personal expenses
Additional Services:
Extra nights can be arranged during the tour
It is possible for your hotel to be upgraded to 3*** or 4**** hotel in Dijon - Nuits-St-Georges and Beaune and 5***** hotel in Dijon - please contact us for prices and availability
Please note that on some holidays like Easter (a.o.) certain hotels may require a surcharge in the price
Gallery
Currency fluctuations might cause correction of price at any time.
B
No special experience is needed; everyone who is in condition to cope with long Saturday walks in the forest can also cope with these tours. As a rule, the trips are short and at a low altitude. Often, it is your choice to join or skip a day-tour. The routes follow a hilly terrain without steep ascents and descents. Normally we walk 3/5h a day.
Most of you, who are used to walking/cycling during a long weekend, will be in condition to cope with a tour of this level. You should be in a good health condition. We have successive days of longer and more difficult walking and days of lighter walking/cycling. Some parts of the day routes are done at a higher altitude. The paths are in good condition. We walk/cycle for 5/7h a day.
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