Mandel

Hi

I'm planning a surprise trip for my wife to celebrate our 3rd anniversary and her b-day, and wanted to get some tips/recos on what to do:

So far we will arrive next Friday night to Dijon and are renting a car for 3 days; will be staying in a hotel approx. 20 min south of Beaune (in Verdun sur le Doubs) ...

A draft of the plan would be:
Saturday: going to Beaune and spend the whole day there, visit a wine cellar in the afternoon, I red in another post that "Marche aux Vins" was the way to go...

Sunday: Is there any "hiking" where we can visit wineries / cellars? any reco? will they be open on Sunday?

Monday: We take the train back to Paris @7pm; thought about spending some time in Dijon...

Thanks a lot!

jamikins

Burgundy is just lovely! Definitely go to the Marche aux Vins - great place in Beaune.

I highly recommend the Owl Trail in Dijon - but not on a Sunday when everything is closed. It is a self-guided walking tour of Dijon and you get the map from the Tourist Office a short walk from the train station. I think it costs about €2 for the map and then you follow little metal owls embedded on the ground. Very easy. You can easily spend the day in Dijon, its a really beautiful place.

Enjoy!

rhon

You will be close to Chalon-sur-Saone which has a good market in the town centre on Sunday morning. There are lovely half-timbered houses and it is great to walk around. You could drive on to Autun or further south to the Maconnais region and visit some wine caves, or visit Cluny, walk up Roche de Solutre. Have a look at the area. We stayed for a week near Givry and further south near Cormatin and love the area. Brancion is a lovely old village and Chapaize has a wonderful old church and a great restaurant[La Table de Chapaize]. Burgundy is a big region and you will have no trouble filling in a couple of days. What time of year will you be visiting?

Mandel

Thank you very much to both!

For sure we will do the Marche aux vins and the Owl Trail in Dijon seems very interesiting for Monday.

Rhon; we are going this Easter weekend, I hope everything is open; I checked the website of La Table de Chapaize and looks very nice for lunch or dinner!

Would you recommend us a specific place around the region in which we can spend half a day walking in the wineries?, we would like to do this on Sunday, but Im afraid that evrything would be closed.

rhon

I saw when you were going after I had posted. We drove between towns and stopped at wine co-ops in the Macon area. I am afraid I do not know about Sundays, especially Easter Sunday. We really enjoyed our meal at La Table especially as it was our last meal out before we flew home to Australia after 9 weeks in France and Italy. Just know that the menu is fixed and the only choice is between two main courses- everything else is fixed.But great food and great service.
We also have enjoyed visiting Beaune and Dijon on other trips,so I am sure you will have a great time. From Australia, I cannot imagine what it must be like to be able to visit these places for a weekend!!!

womeninwine

you may rent from www.autoeurope.com
there is no penalty on drop offs
it is unlimited mileage
use the RN 74 (route nationale 74) which is the main artery of the region=dijon>nuits saint georges>beaune>santenay/chagny
you have a market on saturdays mornigns in the main square of beaune
go to atheneum also on the main square which sells books,maps and souvenirs
you may have a visit and tasting at maison champy in beaune on saturday morning
you need to book
marché aux vins staff are paid by commissions
so,if they feel that you will not buy,they will not be friendly

MarySteveChicago

womeninwine, that is very good to know that the staff at marche aux vins is on commission. We will be in Beaune for a week beginning 21May

womeninwine

you have 2 tasting lunches places in the area of beaune
one is in aloxe corton which is closed on sundays and mondays
they have aloxe corton village and corton valozieres premier cru with the starter,corton bressandes and corton clos des meix grand crus reds with the main course=beef bourguignon or cock au vin and to finish clos des meix grand cru white white with the local cheeses
one is in puligny montrachet=meursault,puligny and chassagne village for starters,followed by meursault,puligny and chassagne premier cru for the main course
you will have some left for the local cheeses
there is no point to taste the reds there
have a good time
buy the book of sylvain pitiot "burgundy wines" at atheneum in beaune to follow the maps of the famous vineyards

aussiedreamer

Sorry to top an old thread but lots of restaurant tips I want to research.