We are staying at auberge la lucarne and will have a car for the two and a half days we are in that area. From there we travel to Dijon.
My question is: take the train to Dijon? take a day trip by train from Dijon to Beune ( we have three full days in Dijon)? OR do we need a car in Beune?

Neither of us like to drive all that much--leaning towards the train, but would I value your input.

Well you definitely do not need a car in Beaune, a compact and fine fine old regional town that is also a commercial center for Burgundy wine, with tastings in town.

That said i think the beauty of this area is best appreciated by driving or biking along the Burgundy Wine Road (Route des Vins Bourgogne sp/) that meanders along the foothills of higher hills and on which many celebrated wine houses and vineyards are located. The whole road slices thru a carpet of vineyards as far as the eye can see. It's a short drive between Dijon and Beaune but you pass thru several world-renown wine villages (Nuits-Saints Georges, etc.) and can stop and see the wine cellars, etc. But if Beaune is your only goal definitely take the train.

Pal said it all (better than I can possibly do!)
There are buses also which go along the wine road to Beaune. I would leave the car at the car agency by the train station as you don't need a car in Dijon either.
Where will you be staying in Dijon?
L'auberge de la lucarne (run by Leslie Caron)looks very nice.
Happy travels!

If I'm not mistaken your hotel is north of Auxerre, and the drive to Dijon passes thru some lovely countryside. A stop in Vezelay would definitely be worth it, even if it's a bit out of your way if driving.

You'd probably have to go into Auxerre to drop off your car and to get a train.Avis and Europcar are next to the station. Be sure to check train schedules carefully and co-ordinate them with the opening hours for the car rental places. We ended up having to drop off our car a day early as one train to Paris left before they opend and the next when they were closed for lunch!

Neither Dijon or Beaune require a car, if you just want to stay in town

Coco - how often do these buses run - frequency enough to get off and on? I know you can also take trains to the famous wine villages like Nuits Sts Georges, etc. Could go by bus to Beaune then return by train - a bit quicker i think.

PalenqueBob - good question about the busses. We took a train from Beaune to Dijon several years ago, and as I remember, several of the train stations in the villages were quite a ways out of town. Busses, I assume, would drop you off in the center of town. However, we were there this past Sept, and not many of the villages were really worth a lot of time - especially compared to the wine villages in Alsace.

Stu Dudley

Well there are buses several times a day, according to the moment of the day, running every hour. The schedule has to be read carefully if you don't want to be stuck in the middle of nowhere!
The bus line 44 is the one to go to Beaune and even to Chalon sur Saône (70km from Dijon) One can take a direct bus from Dijon to Beaune or a bus which stops in every little village along the wine coast. I would take the second one and go as far I can and then go back to Dijon using a direct line or the train.

You can load the schedule here (click on "télécharger le guide des horaires du Transco"
http://www.cotedor.fr/jahia/Jahia/ac...e?article=3967

Hi H,

As noted, your route will take you past Auxerre, which is worth 1/2 day.

You will also pass near Vezelay and Avallon if you follow the highway.

You might want to consider a stop at Chateau Tanlay if your schedule permits.
http://www.chateaux-france.com/chavi...=5900&l=EN

Likewise the Fontenay Abbey.

I think that you will find having a car greatly enhances your visit to Burgundy.

There have been very good reviews of this apartment in Dijon:
www.myhomeindijon.com/

>We are staying at auberge la lucarne...<

I am SOOOOOOOO jealous.

Having a car in Beaune is not a liability. It's easy to drive in the city. If you decide against keeping the car, do make sure your hotel is centrally located. I agree with others that the countryside around Beaune is worth seeing. IMO your stay in the area would be enhanced by keeping the car.

Thanks to all of you. I will keep the car for the stay in Burgundy.

I am VERY excited about Auberge La Lucarne. We are both fans , but ff M. Caron is there, I might be making the rest of the trip solo. My husband has been in love with her since he saw "An American in Paris".

I'll give you the details when I return.

Merci to all