It looks as though we will have some friends joining us for the Burgundy part of our trip (they have no idea what they're getting into joining us...please don't tell), so we are going to stay in Beaune at Les Jardins de Lois Sarl (thanks muskova for the recommendation). I would have loved to stay at Coco's place, but there will be other trips in the future. I believe there is some wine in my future.

Some really good wine!!

On Christmas Eve, we just drank the bottle of Marsannay that we brought back with us from Beaune when we were there in June. Magnifique!

Our plan is to drive from CDG to Auxerre the first day (via Château de Fontainebleau). Then the three nights in Beaune. Really getting into this now. Thanks everyone.

What's the rest of your itinerary? Let me put in a strong recommendation for Nancy and Strasbourg/Colmar.

"What's the rest of your itinerary?"

We head south to Provence for five days, five days in Languedoc and a few days in Paris at the end.

That's a triple want to do so will be looking forward to your report.

Well, the deed has been done...all our hotels in Burgundy, Provence, Languedoc and Paris are booked, as is our rental car.

So is our airfare on (gulp) Air France. I'll be looking at future strike dates just in case. I have also confirmed that they will have extra oxygen cannisters for my flights

Thanks for all your help.

The French seldom go on strike from the middle of July through August, when "they" typically go on vacation. They normally strike just before or after these dates - when others go on vacation.

We were "stuck" in Paris for 2 additional nights in Sept 2014 because of an AF strike.

Stu Dudley

Beaune for me. Very picturesque. Don't care for Dijon. I don't mind it on my burger though.

"We were "stuck" in Paris for 2 additional nights in Sept 2014 because of an AF strike."

Yes, that's when we had our Air France issues, also. Hoping for better luck this year.

>>I don't mind it on my burger though.<<

Do you put it on the burger itself, or on the beaune?

Stu Dudley

Lol Stu. I see what you did here

<i> And the Decision is...Beaune or Dijon?
Posted by: maitaitom on Jan 3, 16 at 2:17pm</i>

You've already made up your mind but to answer the original question, none of the above.

I used to drive over from Germany on weekends to buy wine, as much as 100 liters en vrac. I did maybe six trips over a two year period. After staying in Dijon and Beaune I settled on Nuits-St-Georges. There is an ancient road house on what was the N74, now maybe the D974. The cafe downstairs was populated by the locals and the rooms upstairs were grade B at best. But it was on the open road, had free parking, and I could drive everywhere at any time.

I've been to Beaune and Dijon at other times by train. But to see Burgundy, especially in the brief time you have allowed, you absolutely need a car. Get the Michelin Green Guide to Burgundy. It has recommended driving tours.


Wine and War: The French, the Nazis, and the Battle for France's Greatest Treasure by Donald and Petie Kladstrup.

Oops, I meant to say that "Wine and War: The French, the Nazis, and the Battle for France's Greatest Treasure" by Donald and Petie Kladstrup is a fascinating story.

"Do you put it on the burger itself, or on the beaune?"

I'm a little late to ketchup, but I relish your humor.

I bought the best mustard I ever tasted in Dijon. I really selected it because it was in a pretty ceramic jar. - Have often wondered what fabulous taste I might have had if I'd shopped more carefully.

IMHO Tom you made the right decision to stay in Beaune over Dijon. I'm one of the few on this board who just doesn't like Dijon and find Beaune very charming and easily accessible to everything. it has been a few years since we've been to Burgundy and were just discussing returning next year. that said, you definitely need a car. There was a really nice market in Beaune I think it was Wednesdays and SAturdays. huge. some terrific restaurants - Ma Cuisine, Caves Madeline and Le Benaton were terrific. Burgundy is not like Napa/Sonoma tho, very few of the producers have tasting rooms. DH is very into wine so we had private appointments at many of them. there are tasting rooms that have numerous producers in Beaune, as well as Volnay. In Gevrey Chambertin, don't miss Phillipe Leclerc. Also, take a drive to the Abbaye De Citeaux. its a beautiful drive, and the monks at the Abbaye make a marvelous cheese that pairs beautifully with Burgundian wines which you can buy very inexpensively there (and you cant get it in the states).

bmk

Large French cities also leave me cold as they tend to empty out in the centres after working hours and store hours close and on Sundays - small towns seem better for some reason - I guess residents live close to the town centre and they just seem cooler than large French cities IME - though Dijon may be a bit better than most.

I judge this largely on my many stays in Orleans - a similarly sized city I would think that at night and on weekends in totally dead save one restaurant street.

Hi Tom:

How funny, am going on this trip this May, was also looking for a place a couple of hours from CDG and choose Auxerre, it looks like a great place for a night. I stayed in Beaune many moons ago at the Hotel de la Poste, which was right outside the walled city, chose it for the ease of parking, on that trip we headed East thru Switzerland and Italy.

Anyway, after Auxerre, I'll be heading down to Provence for 5 more nights (thanks Stu Dudley for the wonderful Provence info) and decided to stay in Bonnieux as a base, half way between Arles/Avignon.....

After that, heading to Malta (via Orly) for 5 nights, then the last two in Paris where I booked L'Ange for a meal....

I'll be sure to write a trip report, I know it won't be as funny or eloquent as yours have been, but I'll do my best!

Glad you're back to "normal".

Pam (f/k/a owlwoman)