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The heart of one of the richest areas in France hides a myriad of quiet country lanes and pleasant cycle tracks that weave their way through vineyards and rolling hills. A great area for discovery, relaxation and laid back cycling… Beginning in Beaune, and depending on your trip duration, we discover the best portions of the Canal du Centre (which connects the Saone to the Loire), the prestigious vineyards of the Nuits-Saint-Georges (Vosne Romanée, Vougeot, Gevrey Chambertin, Chambolle Musigny…), and the “Voie des Vignes” that leads to Santenay (the home of great wines such as Pommard, Volnay, Meursault, Chassagne Montrachet). Our Burgundy tours offer a strong gastronomical theme with numerous opportunities to visit vineyards and wine cellars, as well as selected restaurants.
Itinerary start: France Bike Trips services begin on day 1 at 9 am at our local bike rental partner.
Rendezvous in Beaune, one of the most beautiful towns in Burgundy. Its internationally famous former hospices are some of the finest remaining examples of 15th century French architecture. Beaune is also famous for its annual wine sale, during which the most prestigious bottles are sold by candlelight… Below ground the town of Beaune is a veritable Gruyere! The town's historical cellars, dating back several centuries, as well as those of the many private mansions, stretch for dozens of kilometres under the streets and alleys. We take the time to admire the many beautiful multi-coloured polychrome terracotta roofs, characteristic of traditional Burgundy architecture. Then it's time to begin the riding… We leave Beaune behind us and head north to discover some of the famous villages and vineyards of the Côte de Nuits, at the northern extremity of the Côte d'Or. Notably Savigny les Beaune and its château, and Aloxe Corton (Corton, Corton Charlemagne), home to a full-bodied, aromatic wine well known to wine enthusiasts... Our route takes us through numerous internationally renowned vineyards. We make the most of a rich network of small, quiet roads that wind their way between the vineyards. We return to Beaune by a route that takes us through the "villages" domains. In Burgundy, the "appellations" (designating the hierarchy of the wines) vary according to where the vineyards are situated: the appellations "villages" are to be found downstream, whilst the "grand cru" and "premier cru" are further upstream. Night in a 3 star hotel in the centre of Beaune.
We begin the day with a hearty Burgundy breakfast at our hotel, before heading off for the day's ride. Today our route takes us south of the Côte d'Or (a limestone ridge that gave its name to the department). As soon as we leave Beaune we start crossing a succession of "grand cru" vineyards and beautiful villages: Pommard, Volnay, Meursault, Puligny Montrachet, Chassagne Montrachet, then Santenay. In the same manner as the previous day, we link the villages on a network of small, quite roads that weave their way between the vineyards. The Côte d'Or ends here, and we drop down into the valley, to Santeney. We then follow the banks of the Canal du Centre all the way to Chagny. The canal connects the Mediterranean to the Atlantic… via the Saone and Loire rivers. We change department now, passing from the Saone to the Loire. As we head south we discover a different Burgundy, with fewer vineyards and more agriculture and cattle breeding. However, we still discover some prestigious vineyards, such as Mercurey or Rully, destination for our second overnight stop in Burgundy. Night in a guest house.
After two days riding through vineyards, past prestigious châteaux and domains, today’s ride takes us to a more discrete, but no less charming Burgundy. Our route leaves us little time to get bored! By a superb network of minor roads that wind their way between the vineyards, then between the fields and pastures, we set our course due west to the valley of the Dheune, tributary of the Saone. We descend the Dheune, crossing numerous pretty villages, before joining the village of Santenay. We then make our way back to Beaune, via a different itinerary that allows us to discover several more pretty Côte d'Or villages, and maybe an opportunity to visit some more wine cellars… The perfect opportunity to do some wine tasting!
Distances are an indication only and may vary.
Itinerary end: France Bike Trips services end on the last day in Beaune at around 5 pm.
Itinerary start: France Bike Trips services begin on day 1 at 9 am at our local bike rental partner.
Rendezvous in Beaune, one of the most beautiful towns in Burgundy. Its internationally famous former hospices are some of the finest remaining examples of 15th century French architecture. Beaune is also famous for its annual wine sale, during which the most prestigious bottles are sold by candlelight… Below ground the town of Beaune is a veritable Gruyere! The town's historical cellars, dating back several centuries, as well as those of the many private mansions, stretch for dozens of kilometres under the streets and alleys. We take the time to admire the many beautiful multi-coloured polychrome terracotta roofs, characteristic of traditional Burgundy architecture. Then it's time to begin the riding… We leave Beaune behind us and head north to discover some of the famous villages and vineyards of the Côte de Nuits, at the northern extremity of the Côte d'Or. Notably Savigny les Beaune and its château, and Aloxe Corton (Corton, Corton Charlemagne), home to a full-bodied, aromatic wine well known to wine enthusiasts... Our route takes us through numerous internationally renowned vineyards. We make the most of a rich network of small, quiet roads that wind their way between the vineyards. We make the most of a rich network of small, quiet roads (often too narrow for two vehicles to pass each other) that wind their way between the vineyards. Night at a hotel in Nuits-Saint-Georges.
Several more famous vineyards are on today’s itinerary. Our night in Nuits-Saint-Georges offers us the opportunity to head a little further north this morning, in order to discover two major players in the world of wine: Vougeot and Vosne Romanée. We ride through vineyards that make wines regarded by many as priceless. The wine made from the most famous Burgundy vineyard, the Romanée-Conti, is the most expensive in the world. Surprisingly, the vineyard has no noticeable security system, despite the fact that the vines are the envy of almost every wine growing region in the world! The exceptional quality of the wine is due to a number of different factors, first of which is tradition. In Burgundy, unlike Bordeaux, the mixing of different wines is forbidden. The soil type, location and exposure to sunlight are also important factors. It is also worth noting the passion of the local wine producers who have retained a remarkable humility and respect for the viticulture process, despite the prestige and fame surrounding their work. All of these characteristics, grouped under the name of "climates", play a role in the current request to become a Unesco world heritage site. Return to Beaune and our 3 star hotel for the night.
We begin the day with a hearty Burgundy breakfast at our hotel, before heading off for the day's ride. Today our route takes us south of the Côte d'Or (a limestone ridge that gave its name to the department). As soon as we leave Beaune we start crossing a succession of "grand cru" vineyards and beautiful villages: Pommard, Volnay, Meursault, Puligny Montrachet, Chassagne Montrachet, then Santenay. In the same manner as the previous day, we link the villages on a network of small, quite roads that weave their way between the vineyards. The Côte d'Or ends here, and we drop down into the valley, where we join Santeney. We then follow the banks of the Canal du Centre all the way to Chagny. The canal connects the Mediterranean to the Atlantic… via the Saone and Loire rivers. We change department now, passing from the Saone to the Loire. As we head south we discover a different Burgundy, with fewer vineyards and more agriculture and cattle breeding. However, we still discover some prestigious vineyards, such as Mercurey or Rully, destination for our second overnight stop in Burgundy. Night in a guest house.
After three days riding through vineyards, past prestigious châteaux and domains, today’s ride takes us to a more discrete, but no less charming Burgundy. Our route leaves us little time to get bored! By a superb network of minor roads that wind their way between the vineyards, then between the fields and pastures, we set our course due west to the valley of the Dheune, tributary of the Saone. We descend the Dheune, crossing numerous pretty villages, before joining the village of Santenay. We then make our way back to Beaune, via a different itinerary that allows us to discover several more pretty Côte d'Or villages, and maybe an opportunity to visit some more wine cellars… The perfect opportunity to do some wine tasting!
Distances are an indication only and may vary.
Itinerary end: France Bike Trips services end on the last day in Beaune at around 5 pm.
Average tour rating:
