Going to France in July. Want to see Burgundy area. Husband and I are big into wines. We were thinking of staying in Beaune for several days and traveling out from their to surrounding towns. Is it a good central location to do this? Would a train be ok or would we need a car for the day trips? Any ideas on places to visit in that area? After 2 days, we will be heading to Paris for 2-3 days. Is Reims, Chateau-Thierry, Chalons-en-Champagne, or Epernay worth a day trip?

You'll need a car to visit the smaller and better producers in Burgundy. Beaune is a good location if you want to stay in one place and visit producers both north and south of Beaune. If you're into the bigger reds, I'd stay at Chateau Gilly. So close to Clos Vougeot, Gevry-Chambertin, etc. Skip the Marche aux Vins in Beaune--not worth the admission price and you'll get to taste much better wines at the local producerts. Do spend some time at the Hotel Dieu in Beaune--site of the famous wine auction. One "non-wine" place to visit near Beaune is Le Rochepot. Since you're big into wines, I'd at least overnight in the Epernay/Reims area. Two great places are: Royal Champagne in Ay and Boyer in Reims. Write or call ahead to set up appts for tours at most of the champagne houses. Have a great time!

Lori (or someone else) <BR>Could you please give me a few names of wineries and their location so that I could call ahead. Which are the best wineries to see near Beaune?<BR>Thank you so much

Jamie, I have topped my trip report for you. The title is "just got in from paris". If you have the patience to read on...it's quite long, there is some info there about my trip to Beaune and Dijon. We also went for the wine and were delighted with our trips into the little villages surrounding Beaune. I agree with Lori about the Marche aux Vins. There's so much more out there and visiting the wineries yourself will be an experience you can't duplicate anywhere else! Enjoy!

I agree with Lori on Marche Aux Vins - we liked a few and so we bought the bottles, only to be disappointed with the quality of the wine. <BR><BR>

I have a little file on Beaune that I would be happy to e-mail.

Robin & Lori-I too will be in Beaune the first week of June. I got this off this site:<BR>You've selected the ideal area for wine tasting! You'll see many signs for wine tasting and tours on the roads as you drive south of Dijon. Look for the word "degustation" and you'll find wine tasting opportunities. Many of<BR>the wineries require advance reservations. Below is a list of a number of them that I don't think require advanced reservations. They are all located in Dijon or in towns just south of Dijon. It's rare to find a wine bargain in Burgundy. (Perhaps you can settle for a jar or two of pate.) Here's the list:<BR><BR>Dijon: Caves de l'Espace Grevin, 13 Avenue Albert 1er. Open daily. Tastings beneath the city's waxworks museum.<BR>Dijon: Caveau de la Port Guillaume, Place Darcy. Open every afternoon.<BR><BR>Beaune: Cave des Hautes-Cotes, Route de Pommard. Open Monday - Saturday.<BR>Beaune: Cave des Cordeliers, 6 Rue de l'Hotel-Dieu. Open daily. Tastings in a Franciscan friars abbey.<BR>Beaune: Marche aux Vins, Rue Nicolas Rollin. Open daily. Wine-tasting cellar in front of the Hospices. <BR>Beaune: Patriarche Pere et Fils, 7 Rue du College. The largest cellars in Burgundy.<BR><BR>Nuit-St-Georges: Morin Pere et Fils, 9 Quai Fleury. Open daily. An 18th century cellar.<BR>Nuit-St-Georges: Cave Moillard-Grivot, Route RN74. Open Monday to Friday.<BR><BR>Santenay: Domain de la Buissiere<BR><BR>Vougeot: La Grande Cave, Route RN 74. Open daily. Tasting of "grands vins" in ancient cellars.<BR><BR>I would also add:<BR>Roty, Anne Gros, Vincent Girardin and Laurent. Sorry but I don't have addresses. Cheers!

tothetop

We are leaving to tour the Burgundy region by car next week, in Beaune we selected Le Cep for our hotel. We love wines and are fanatical over Vosne Romanee, Nuits Saint George, basically corte d or area,(terrior) I have found many possibilities for visits, especially if you have favorites. Refer to archives on wine spectators web sight,, this will give you a large list of wineries you can visit in each region,(and also tell you if they speak english). Reims is our next stop at Gerard Boyers Les Crayers, rumor has it, this place has it all.If you love Champagne and food, my friends tell me this is a must...<BR>Careful of Drinking and Driving, spot checks!<BR>All the best

I would love some of your information regarding Beaune. We have just decided to take an impromptu trip in October, and we are looking for a nice place to stay without breaking the bank.<BR><BR>We have been to Beune before, but it was just for the day as we were staying about an hour away. Once we realized how charming it was and how perfect for wine lovers - which we are - we decided this time to actually stay in town. We found Hotel Le Cep and it looks wonderful, but as this is an unplanned and unsaved for trip, we are wondering if there is something a notch down that is as convenient.<BR><BR>We would prefer to spend around $150 American.<BR><BR>Also, does anyone have any idea how long the drive is from Beziers (Canal du Midi) to Beaune by way of the Autostrada. Maps show it as approximately 400 kilometer, but I am not the best map reader.<BR><BR>Thanks for all your help.

We were the Hotel dela poste which has a great restaurant. we visied the Hotel- Dieu now a museum where there is yearly wine auction the third sunday of November (the world's largest charity auction) to benefit the collective hospitals of Beune. This building with its magnificent paved courtyard and superb mulicoloured roof of glazed roof-tiles justifies a visit to Beume.