Beaune France
 

My husband and I will be in Beaune in September for 3 days, what are some must hit spots and experiences - we will not have a car nor do we want to travel far to get anywhere - we love old buildings/structures - the older the better, quiet cafes, markets (both food and antique), unique shops, quaint experiences (we hate large tour groups), food and (reasonably priced) wine, we will likely have at least one really nice ($$) meal

We would love to find some easy to access tastings or wineries or vineyards that we can hit a couple in half a day or so without driving far, we are thinking about renting bikes and biking between the vineyards?? Has anyone done this without a tour? Also I've read some about tastings in Beaune (cave tastings?), we are not serious wine drinkers and are not looking to purchase, more looking for the experience.
Are there 1 or 2 chateaus close to Beaune that would be worth a short drive?
Restaurant suggestions
Other top attractions

BTW we are in our 30's and very active

Les hospices de Beaune are an absolute must.
an old hospital, where this famous scene from la grande vadrouille was shot :
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=UNosy5Kzwj0
The British guy is a squadron leader shot down above Paris and brought to Beaune to escape into the non-occupied zone.

Worth a try and visit a 'cave'. But the experience is starting to bother the vignerons who want to sell, not organize tasting sessions. So check wisely where you go.

Get a copy of the Michelin Green Guide and you'll have itiniraries and things to see in the neighbourhood.

I'd do a day trip by train to nearby Dijon - more monumental old buildings than Beaune - check the tourist office web site for the Owl Trail - a walking tour around one of France's nicest big cities.

And bike along the marked Burgduny wine road -from one wine village to another passing famous wineries in between. Put your bike on any regional train to escape the Beaune area of heavy traffic. there is a string of small wine villages between Beaune and Dijon - like Nuits-Sts-Georges- world-famous wine bottle names.

Top attractions: The Hôtel-Dieu - now a museum. The city walls, from several angles, boating, the Fontenay Abbey, the wine museum, the Basilique Notre Dame; neaby, as mentioned, Dijon, also Chalon-sur-Saône to the south and, a bit further south, Cluny (read up on it), Rochepot castle, lots of good restaurants serving bœuf bourguignon and other regional goodies, and lots of wineries everywhere...

The Marche aux Vins does a very good wine tasting

http://www.marcheauxvins.com/?lang=en

This may be helpful reference http://www.beaune-tourism.com/tasting/wineries#!/page/1

And this is an experience (La Cave de l'Ange Gardien) we particulalrly enjoyed whilst in Beaune
https://www.tripadvisor.in/Attractio...che_Comte.html

At the Hospice de Beaune, don't miss the magnificent painting by Roger van der Weyden, in a separate room.