Think about France. Villages nestled in pretty valleys, steeples of medieval churches pointing out to the blue sky, traditional food fairs, green hilly vineyards, rich food and of course, its prestigious wines. Burgundy has it all, as you are about to discover! Ideally located at the crossroad of Western Europe, Burgundy has played a huge part in the history of France since Gallic times. Add to this all of the best French “cliches” and “raisons d’tre”, and you’ll see there is no wonder that it is called the cradle of France.

For several centuries, the fame and power of the Duchy of Burgundy brought wealth to the region. Nowadays, its amazing architectural heritage can still be seen everywhere as the typical Burgundy tiled roofs testify. Burgundy’s regional gastronomy has spread past its borders to the rest of the country, with well-appreciated dishes such as beef bourguignon, coq au vin, and much more. Burgundy is also renowned for breeding the weirdest food one can think of: snails! The region also owes its fame to its world-class wines, usually produced in small quantities such as Nuits Saint-Georges, Pommard, Mercurey and Meursault, to name but a few.

The walking holidays we have designed for you aim to bring you through the heart of this incredible area and to help you enjoy the wide variety of landscapes, architecture, food and of course, wines, that Burgundy has to offer. The city of Beaune is home to France’s finest medieval hospital (Les Hospices de Beaune) but the surrounding villages have beautiful features of which to boast. Indeed, villages like Pommard, Meursault, Saint-Romain or Rully will seduce you not only with their tortuous streets bordered by stone built houses, food markets, and cafes but they will also ravish your palate with their tannic Pinots Noirs, refreshing Chardonnay, or even the local “Kir” aperitif, a regional blackcurrant cream mixed with local white “aligot” wine. Over the days, the charm of the varying landscapes will bewitch you and visitors often feel their heart sinking when it is time to depart. But don’t worry, we are sure the memories of walking through this life-size postcard added to some wine shopping will comfort you in many ways!

Day 1 – To Beaune (pronounced bone).

You will be pre-booked into an old renovated family house, in the heart of the Vieille Ville (old town).
Beaune is best known for: Red wines made with the Pinot Noir grape, although plantings of Chardonnay have increased recently. There is more sand in the soil here than in most Cote d’Or villages; the red wines tend to be medium bodied, and best drunk between 5 and 10 years old.

Town: Internet, ATM, shops. All facilities. Hotel: 3* hotel in the old town centre. En-suite.

DAY 2 – Beaune – Pommard – Meursault (3h,10km,+29m-5m).

The morning is free in order to visit the medieval city of Beaune. Don’t miss the Hotel Dieu (France’s most beautiful medieval charity hospital), the Basilique Notre-Dame dating from 11th-15th century and the “Musee du Vin de Bourgogne”. Then after an early lunch, it’s an easy 10km to Meusault, on mostly flat ground. On the way we will stop in Pommard, for our first tasting opportunity. Later we reach the town of Meursault for a relaxing evening in the vineyards.

Pommard is best known for: Cote de Beaune’s most powerful Pinot Noir reds.

Meursault is best known for: mainly white wines from the Chardonnay grape. Although it contains no Grand Cru vineyards, the wines of the best Premier Crus are rarely surpassed.

Town: Internet, ATM, shops. All facilities. Hotel: 2* hotel or equivalent, en-suite. Meals: breakfast

DAY 3 – Meursault to Nolay (5h,16km,+359m -360m).

We leave the vineyards today and climb the hill above, meeting the GR76 (a variant of the GR7; a long distance trail that crosses France, east to west). We will walk under the shade of an oak forest, typical of Burgundy. Coming out of the wood, the views of Chateau “La Rochepot” are stunning! The restaurant in the middle of the village serves local specialities and is the best place to stop for lunch. We recommend a visit to the Chateau after lunch. Finally, we follow the GR7 to the small medieval market town of Nolay. Nolay is worth exploring, with his 14th-century market and wooden framed houses.

Town: Internet, ATM, shops. All facilities. Hotel: 2* hotel or equivalent, en-suite. Meals: breakfast

DAY 4 – Nolay to Rully (5h,18km,+470m-472m).

Gentle ascent for the first few kilometers through green pastures, shared with the beautiful Charolais cows. At the top, we are rewarded with wide views of the Saone plain with the Alps in the background. Next, we reach the village of Santenay, for a well-deserved rest (and a wine tasting!). We follow the GR7 across the Canal du Centre, then up Hermitage Mountain, and down through the vineyards to Rully. Please note that if you start the trip on a Friday or Saturday, we will stop in Chassey le Camp, a small hamlet 1km before Rully.

Santenay is best known for: red wines from Pinot Noir grapes and, occasionally, whites. The soils in Santenay tend to be richer than in the rest of the Cote de Beaune and, as a result, wines are more rustic than elegant.

Rully is best known for: its dry whites, made from the Chardonnay grape. These are straightforward and easy to drink.

Town: Shops. All facilities. Hotel: 2* hotel or equivalent, en-suite. Meals: breakfast

DAY 5 – Rully-Mercurey-Rully (5h,18km,+/-481m)

A pleasant walk winding through the vineyards and the “Cote Chalonnaise”, to the village of Mercurey with its robust vintages. On the way we will pass the ancient “Chateau de Montaigu”. A visit here simply necessitates a tasting! Back to Rully via the GR7 and through the sleepy villages of Aluze and Nantoux.
Mercurey is best known for: producing more wine than any other village in the Cote Chalonnaise, 90% of which is red. Pinot Noir is the principal grape variety which is firm, if a little rough when young, but ages well.

Town: Shops. All facilities. Hotel: 2* hotel or equivalent, en-suite. Meals: breakfast

DAY 6 – Rully to Beaune. (5h, 15km, or 24km for the full trip,+401m-422m).

Finally, we head back to Beaune across an undulating landscape, and among some of the best vineyards in the area. We cross the “Canal du Centre” again at the village of Remigny and soon cross the famous vineyards of Chassagne and Puligny Montrachet. Soon after Blagny, we ascend to Mont Melian, to cross the villages of Auxey-Duresses, Volnay and Pommard. From here, you can either retrace the route from Day 2 for 4km to Beaune, or alternatively, call a taxi (not included).
Chassagne Montrachet is best known for: its white wines, made from the Chardonnay grape. The village produces wine at Grand Cru and Premier Cru level, as well as some ‘village’ appellations.
Puligny Montrachet is best known for: Its fine white wines. The village has a number of Grand Cru vineyards in addition to its Premier Cru and ‘village’ wines.
Blagny is best known for: its Appellation status red wines.
Auxey-Duresses is best known for: its medium-priced red and white wines – not dissimilar to those of Volnay and Meursault.
Volnay is best known for: producing elegant red wines from the Pinot Noir grape. More than half of Volnay’s vineyards have Premier Cru status and stretch from Pommard to Meursault. As Meursault is really known for its white wines, the single red wine vineyard of Les Santenots is sold as Volnay Santenots.

Town: Internet, ATM, shops. All facilities. Hotel: 2* hotel or equivalent, en-suite. Meals: breakfast

DAY 7 – Beaune: end of the trip

After breakfast, we bid you farewell.

Town: Internet, ATM, shops. All facilities. Hotel: 3* hotel in the old town centre. En-suite. Meals: breakfast

Please note that all of our hotels and guest houses have been carefully selected for their comfort, location, food, friendliness and character, and are subject to availability. If the hotel described is not available, we will provide you with one of the same standard of comfort & price.

Your luggage is transported by us from hotel to hotel. During the walks, you only carry your day pack!