Anyone got any experince of Burgundy?

[Simon_m]

Hi there, lots of French threads on here which is great as it is so close. I was wondering if anyone has been to Burgundy in the past few years and has any "must see" "must ride "or "must taste" or more importantly, "must drink". We are all booked up accommodation wise. Not been to this part of France so any tips are helpful. ((road conditions, drivers, anything really.) Thanks

 

[Dave Davenport]

Rode through the area a couple of years ago, lovely scenery, fantastic wine (surprise, surprise), it's got some quite big lumps, Beaune is a nice town.

 

[Archie_tect]

The wine trail from Dijon to Beaune is fantastic [and follows the valley so is level]... some great names on the route which is around 15 miles if I remember. But buy at Carrefour, not the wine tasting shops in Beaune!

[Edit, just checked- it's 27 miles! You can get the bus which will allow you to enjoy it much more].

 

[Simon_m]

Hi guys, thanks very much. We are staying above Dijon and are taking the car down with us (to load up on booze )

Yes Carrefour is great fun. Last year I got told off by my other half for buying "cheap" wine for 5euro or less. When we drank it, it was fab! lol. But yes, will try and find the nice ones and buy the same ones elsewhere. There is a wine bus??

so it is pretty hilly then? that sounds nice, does it have hilltop towns and villages like in Provence? From some of the pics I have seen, it looks very pretty.

 

[Kevoffthetee]

Ron Burgundy?

Sex Panther, it's made with bits of real panther, so you know its good. They've done studies you know, sixty percent of the time, it works every time

 

[suzeworld]

It can get very hot in the summer, I've been boiled in the high 30°s there in the past, so be prepared re-hyrdration!

Scenery? Yes, some nice bits, and lovely gentle hills, but i never really noticed any very cute villages to compare with those in Provence. As i recall it is quite flat just south of Beaune. Think the hills are NW between Beaune n Dijon

tbh I prefer Provence which I know much better as a result, so i can't recall the names of areas we cycled around Beaune / Dijon etc. You do get to see those lovely tiled rooves around and about, which is nice.

We once based ourselves in Saulieu, an hours drive from Beaune, the woods around there are very extensive, offered some lovely rides, and some welcome shade too!

 

[Alex H]

Last year I got told off by my other half for buying "cheap" wine for 5euro or less.

Don't listen - all the wine we buy is generally under 4€ - that would be about 10 of your pounds in Tesco Try to buy with a medal label though - almost guaranteed to be good.

There are 5 wine routes (google burgundy Wine route ) here is a large pdf http://www.beaune-tourism.com/doc-contribute/Wine-Road-CRT.pdf

The longest is from Dijon to Maçon - through Beaune , (its actually 4 joined together - see link) and it goes in and out of the hills to the vineyards, so is considerably longer if you visit everywhere.

There are green lanes (voie vertes) if that's your thing - this may help http://www.voiesvertes.com/

 

[Simon_m]

Morning, ah great for that info, thanks very much. Yes we bought ones with medals at the supermarket, and yeah they were dam good. Some of the caves we went too were fab:
http://www.cavedelumieres.com/la cave english.htm

Others not so good. We are staying above Dijon, about 45-1hr drive:
HERE
So no cycling to the wine route, but driving. I heard that the Beaune area is amazing for wine. What are the "green lanes" you mention? I will be on the roads rather than trails or canals.

Thanks, I will take lots of water out on my rides. I did find it harder to find accommodation with pools compared to the South. Saulieu looks gorgeous in goggle images.

Last year we were in Le Plan-de-la-Tour, which was amazing, great cycling. Then over to Roussillon where the cycling was amazing too lol. Best holiday for a while. Loads of hill top villages for drinks, pastry and shade.

 

[Alex H]

What are the "green lanes" you mention?

Green lanes are routes with no motor vehicles, but cycles, peds, horses - not always green - sometimes tarmac - usually following old railways.

Don't know what's in Burgunday - that's why I gave the link

A great one in Les Landes - follows the West coast for over 150km from Royan to Bayonne - all tarmac.

 

[Simon_m]

Ah great, sounds ideal! Will wine bottles fit in water bottle cages on the bike? lol

 

[Dave Davenport]

Ah great, sounds ideal! Will wine bottles fit in water bottle cages on the bike? lol

I've found this type holds a wine bottle very well http://www.sjscycles.co.uk/profile-design-kage-prod10985/

 

[Andy_R]

I've found this type holds a wine bottle very well http://www.sjscycles.co.uk/profile-design-kage-prod10985/

 

[looe]

I am in Burgundy now. 3 weeks touring France. Loads of traffic free Voies Vertes to follow. Along vineyards or canals. Just saw a big bottle of wine for €1.75 in Casino. You can't go wrong here, well a bit too hot maybe +26-30C

 

[Simon_m]

haha perfect, just what i need lol. Will defo stock up again.

 

[Simon_m]

I am in Burgundy now. 3 weeks touring France. Loads of traffic free Voies Vertes to follow. Along vineyards or canals. Just saw a big bottle of wine for €1.75 in Casino. You can't go wrong here, well a bit too hot maybe +26-30C

Lucky thing, enjoy!!! We hope to read a full report on your return Le Tour is down that way soon, just South of Macon.