Live Like a Local

To help you enjoy the weekend, we’ve compiled some tips and favourites for living like a true Beaunoise. You can also find a good map of the city here.

Where to Eat

Activities in Beaune

    • Hôtel-Dieu (Hospices de Beaune): The architectural gem of Beaune. Home to the world-famous annual wine auction and the famous Roger Vander Weyden triptych.

    • Musée du Vin: This museum offers a look into the history of viticulture and vinification.

    • Patriarche Cellars: Miles of underground wine cellars to explore, with some tastings along the way.

    • Beaune Market (Saturday Mornings): Vibrant market, bursting with fresh produce, cheeses, and crafts. The best coffee in town is served by an expat-run stand.

    • Wine Tasting at Joseph Drouhin: The cellars date back to the 13th century and are wonderfully atmospheric.

    • Wine Tasting at Patriarche Père et Fils: The second oldest wine estate in Burgundy.

    • Wine Tasting at Bouchard Père et Fils: One of the oldest négociants in France and has been producing wines since the 15th century!

    • Cooking Class in Beaune: You can find a few options here.

    • Explore Old Beaune on Foot: Do the Les Remparts Walk along the ancient city walls, stroll past the 13th-century Basilica of Our Lady and the Château de Beaune. Here’s a great self-guided walking tour.

    • Cycle Through the Vineyards: Rent a bike from our friends Olivier & Ced at Bourgogne Randonnées and explore the rolling hills and vineyards of Burgundy.

    • Parc de la Bouzaize: Just outside the city limits, enjoy an ice cream by the lake.

Favourite Shops

Our Favourite Biking & Driving Routes

Making this in to a holiday?

Here are a few ideas to make the most of your time in France.

  • More time in Burgundy: If you’re feeling the countryside vibe, Chablis, the Ouche Valley, or Beaujolais are worth spending time in. Dijon is also close by and a great smaller city.

  • Lyon: Ideal for a night or two before or after the wedding. Known as France’s food capital, it’s super walkable and packed with endless bouchons.

  • Paris: You may have heard of it ;)

  • For architecture aficionados: Two landmark sites just over an hour east of Beaune are Nicolas Ledoux’s La Saline Royale d'Arc-et-Senans near Besançon and Le Corbusier’s Chapelle Notre Dame du Haut in Ronchamp near Belfort.

  • Beaune is quite nearly in the centre of the country, so there are endless options within a 2-5 hour drive. Our top five favourite areas of France are:

    • The Luberon (3.5-4 hours): Abbaye de Sénanque, Ménerbes, Roussillon, Gorges de la Nesque.

    • Cadaqués (5 hours)

    • The Basque Country (5 hours): Biarritz, Hossegor, Saint-Jean-de-Luz, with an easy pop down to San Sebastián.

    • The Dordogne (4-4.5 hours): Particularly along the Dordogne River from Sarlat-la-Canéda to Trémolat, with another favourite being Monpazier.

    • Île d'Oléron & Île de Ré (5 hours): Can be tied in with Bordeaux if you fancy as well.

Glossary of All Things Burgundy

Regional Delicacies

  • Boeuf Bourguignon A rich beef stew braised in red wine, typically served with potatoes or crusty bread.

  • Escargots: Snails cooked in garlic butter—an absolute must-try!

  • Gougère: Irresistible cheese puffs made from choux pastry!

  • Oeufs En Meurette: Poached eggs served in a rich red wine sauce.

  • Poulet de Bresse: Raised on a diet of corn and dairy, this chicken is protected by an AOC (Appellation d'Origine Contrôlée) and delicious.

  • Comte: A regional hard cheese and essential part of the French diet.

  • Cîteaux Cheese: One of the finest cheeses in Burgundy made by monks.

  • Dijon Mustard: Not quite Coleman’s

  • Charolais Cattle: Local breed popular for its high quality beef.

All Things Wine

  • Vin de Bourgogne: Burgundy wines are world-renowned, crafted from two main grape varieties: Pinot Noir for red wines and Chardonnay for white wines.

  • Grand Cru: These are the grandest of wines, both red and white and they account for less than 1% of the region’s production. They are the jewels of the Côte d’Or, and of France even, noting that they are often (though not always) priced as such.

  • 1er Cru: These are subject to the same grape, yield and sourcing limitations as the GCs. The 1er Crus account for no-more than 5% of the total Burgundian production.

The Region

  • Côte d'Or: The department where Beaune is located, named for the golden vineyards that blanket the landscape. This area includes the famed wine regions of Côte de Nuits (to the north) and Côte de Beaune (to the south).

  • Côte de Beaune: Renowned for its white wines, especially from the villages of Meursault, Puligny-Montrachet, and Chassagne-Montrachet.

  • Côte de Nuits: This area, just north of Beaune, is famous for its red wines. Famous villages include Gevrey-Chambertin, Vosne-Romanée, and Nuits-Saint-Georges.