And the Decision is...Beaune or Dijon?
 

I am going to make one of these places my base this autumn for three nights. Beaune looks cute...Dijon seems like it has more to do. I have historical sights I'm interested in for for this area, but could use a little help on the rest. Any lodging, restaurant or wine ideas (tours, vineyards) would be appreciated. Merci!

((H))

We stayed in Dijon and agree that it has more than Beaune which is a cute little town with a couple nice sites. We were there in the winter so didn't do any day trips from Dijon other than take the train to Beaune for a day. Highly recommend where we stayed in Dijon, My Home in Dijon.
http://www.myhomeindijon.com
You can read all about our time there here.
http://www.fodors.com/community/euro...from-dijon.cfm

I asked the exact same question back in 2009. I picked Dijon and was glad I did.

This stupid site won't let me post the links to the question and the trip report. If you click on my name you can find the trip report, "On not taking it easy in Eastern France".

We have stayed in Beaune 3 times now and are so happy we did. Dijon is small city, Beaune is a small town. Beaune has some lovely restaurants and wine bars, plus tasting rooms and is easy to drive in and out of. Dijon is definitely also worth a visit but we loved being in a smaller place closer to the vineyards.

Our pics from New Years last year

https://www.flickr.com/photos/pug_gi...57647659760923

And a few from another trip in Autumn

https://www.flickr.com/photos/pug_gi...57607493717331

jamikins - your photos are a good advertisement for Beaune -- great photos!

Dijon

I forgot about Coco's place in Dijon. If available, that just might be our choice.

By the way jamikins, you guys take the best photos. I can smell the grapes.

((H))

You won't regret it -- nice place and she is wonderful.

I've stayed in Beaune a couple of times and prefer it to a larger city like Dijon - French cities IME are rather deserted in the center after stores close so as you will be out in the day that factor may not be much.

Coco's flat is great but she rarely visits here anymore - but Beaune is a lot better situated IME to day trip along the Burgundy Wine Road that runs north and south of Beaune - if small villages appeal to you check out neat wine towns like St-George-Nuits (sp?) and other towns whose name grace bottles of Burgundy crus.

a vote for Beaune for being better situated and also a lively regional town IME. French larger cities leave me cold.

Do a day trip to Dijon though and follow the Owl Trail - check tourist office web site for info on this marked trail that runs thru town.

M and T...happy you're taking in Burgundy. I chose Beaune for a base and we loved it..perfect location for floating around the wine country surrounding it. What I liked best about Beaune is the easy in/out access and lack of any real traffic. It was just after grape harvest.

It was Roz's next to last trip and it pleased me that she loved it so much. We took in Alaska for my 50th state the next year...the last venture after so very many worldwide.

Beaune pics below: Center-city lodgings worked out well...see pix:

stu

Thanks everyone! We really loved Beaune and would choose it every time over Dijon. Dijon we have enjoyed as a day trip from Beaune we just loved how easy Beaune is to access and it has all the amenities one needs.

We just got back from another week in Tuscany tonight, will try to post our pictures this week.

Looking forward to your next trip MaiTai!

http://picasaweb.google.com/stuartto...eBurgundy2009#

I should have writtern T 'n T...I think you will enjoy Beaune....your going the same time of year we did. See colors of the harvested grape fields.

Pix include any recommended restaurants...and sites. Be sure to take in a tour of The Patriarche Family winery in the center of town. We were the only visitors. It's a class place and offers a short but informative tour...with wine tasting for about 10 euros.

Stu (Beaune is now preparing for any whacko visitors from San Gabriel Valley!)

We also loved the Patriarche winery in Beaune Stu - definitely dont miss it!

tower, those vineyard photos are terrific (very cool you got to all 50 states, too). I guess I really can't go too wrong in either town. Tough choice. I better see if our traveling companions in crime will commit to this trip, then Beaune (or Dijon) will be in real trouble with four of us.

Does anyone have a Beaune lodging suggestion? Thanks for all your help.

((H))

I'm planning on spending a few nights in each during my Sept/Oct trip this year.

Flying into Geneva, picking up a car when leaving Annecy, heading to Lyon then up along eastern France to Strasbourg where I will drop my car before taking the Luftansa bus to Frankfurt for my flight home.

Beaune and Dijon are both great....we did the exact opposite of jamikins just this past June and could have written her same info but with the names reversed....you cannot go wrong either way....the "other" stu recommended staying in Dijon... :)

Here is the thread where Stu Dudley weighs in:


http://www.fodors.com/community/euro...-overnight.cfm

My husband and I stayed outside of Beaune a few years ago in the middle of the grapes - just beautiful!

We both highly recommend the little B&B (actually a chambre d' Hotes) Domaine des Anges. The owners are Brits who bought the property as their retirement home, never dreaming of running a business. They tell a great story of the golfer David Frost who basically knocked on their door one day and convinced them to let him stay for a week and the rest is history! You could not find a better place to stay, this is one time when you can trust the Trip Advisor reviews.

http://www.tripadvisor.com/Hotel_Rev..._Burgundy.html