Sunday: Dijon or Beaune?
 

Which town would be the least 'closed up' for a Sunday visit? I'm trying to organize around a visit to Paris, Dijon and Beaune/area. It seems the museums in Dijon are open on Sunday, and so is the Tourist Office (for the 'Owl' trail brochure/map). In Beaune, I can see the Hospices de Beaune is open on Sunday, as is the Wine Museum & Musée des Beaux-arts. (planning to do surrounding area/villages on other days, when we pick up rental car)

So, any particular reason to avoid one or the other on a Sunday?

Thanks!

Large towns like Dijon IME (though i have not been in Dijon recently) are ghost towns on Sundays since shops must close by law. That said tourist things are open and cafes in the morning.

Beaune i suppose would be just as dead so flip the old coin though i suspect Beaune is more a tourist town and thus a bit more lively.

I don't think it makes any difference, but that would depend what you want to do. If the idea of being dead is shops being closed in Dijon, maybe. But Beaune is nothing but a tourist town and while I don't think I was there on SUnday, I can't imagine Beaune closes up on Sundays given it is so dependent on tourists (although that is speculation). I know some of its wine tasting/shops are open on Sunday, because I saw their hours listed in various places when I was planning my trip. Museums are not closed on Sundays in any city I know in France. I went to Beaune and didn't spend any time in shops so wouldn't care at all if they were closed up myself.

here are two wine caves/stores open in Beaune on Sundays, for example:

http://www.sensation-vin.com/en/

http://www.veuveambal-oenotourisme.com/

I've been researching a little more - I think we'll target Saturday in Dijon and Sunday in Beaune (town), then a couple days' exploration by car (thinking Autun, Saulieu?, Semur-en-Auxois, and around Nuits-St-Georges and Savigny-les-Beaune (chateau/museum). Then, of course, Paris.

<I think we'll target Saturday in Dijon and Sunday in Beaune (town)> If there is no special festival in Dijon for the week end (best part of the wine fair is on Sunday for ex) then I second your idea. Dijon is much busier on Saturdays with the food market but many Dijonnais like to enjoy their town when it is quieter. (That is what I did yesterday with DH :-) )

We've visited both cities on Sundays - Dijon for the annual Patrimonie. Except for the houses/sites open for the Patrimonie, everything in Dijon was closed up - except for the museums. Dijon was very alive on the three Saturdays we visited. Actually, there were festivals going on twice. Their market is very interesting.

Beaune relies heavily on tourism, so many things were open on Sunday - and lots of people there. More shops were closed on Monday than on Sunday.

Stu Dudley

Visit Tanlay & a few other chateaux while in Burgundy.

http://www.routedesducs.com/

Stu Dudley

I'm not sure it is worth a thread but if you wish to know the new Michelin starred restaurants in Burgundy
http://www.burgundyeye.com/restauran...ts-in-burgundy

Well, thank you all for the extra tips! My goal this week was to outline an itinerary and book the hotels. Was working on a Switzerland trip plan but our travel partners have some work and family issues this year, so we're postponing that one, and going to Plan B (for just hubby and me). I'm sure I'll have more questions later but thank you for your ideas today.