FRANCE:  BURGUNDY & BEAUJOLAIS
Wine Regions with a Taste of History

Day 1 Perouges: Our trip begins in Perouges. With its narrow, cobblestone streets and picturesque medieval setting, it is easy to see why filmmakers have chosen Perouges to shoot such movies as The Three Musketeers and Monsieur Vincent. After touring the village, we ride through scenic farmland and the Saone River Valley. World-renowned chef, Georges Blanc caps our day with a gourmet dinner complemented by a sampling of local vintages at his Relais & Chateau hotel in Vonnas. (basic route: 28 miles easy)

Day 2 Tournus: Before our ride, we visit Chateau de Pierreclos and the Roche de Solutre. After cycling through the Maconais countryside, we arrive in Cluny, the center of what was a vast medieval Christian empire. We continue cycling north to Chateau Cormatin and finish our ride at our Tournus country bed & breakfast.
(basic route: 27 miles easy, extended route: 41 miles moderate)

Day 3 Beaune:  From Tournus, we ride toward the Cote d’Or and the Grand Crus, site of Burgundy’s most famous vineyards, including Pommard, Mersault, and Puligny-Montrachet. Our route winds down golden hillsides to the Cote St. Nuits and Chambolle-Musigy. We ride to Clos de Vougeot, a 12th century Chateau and Gevrey Chambertin, and spend the night at Hotel Le Cep in Beaune. (basic route: 24 miles easy/moderate, extended route: 57 miles moderate)

Day 4 Vezelay: We begin the day with a tour of the Hospice de Beaune (Hotel Dieu), a hospital built in 1443. Our cycling route starts at the medieval hilltop village of Chateauneuf-en-Auxois, where we enjoy panoramic views from a 12th-century chateau. We ride through the countryside to Saulieu, renowned for its fine cuisine, and transfer to Vezelay to visit the Basilique Ste-Madeleine. We stay at L’Esperance and indulge in another gourmet Burgundy feast. (basic route: 29 miles moderate, extended route: 60 miles moderate

Days 5 and 6 Dijon: We set out from the Cisterian Abbaye de Fontenay. Despite being used as a paper-mill until 1906, the Abbey’s well preserved gardens and fountains make this an important and beautiful stop on our historical trip through the region. Our bicycle journey continues along a canal and through lush farmland until we transfer to Dijon and the Hotel Sofitel La Coche. (basic route: 32 miles easy/moderate)

Day 6 - We tour Dijon, the capital and heart of Burgundy. This visit includes the Palais des Ducs, which now houses the Musee des Beaux-Arts and the tombs of Philip the Bold and John the Fearless. We also tour the 13th-century Cathedral Notre-Dame, noted for its stained glass, stonework, and grand tower. We visit the Renaissance church of St-Michel before concluding our week-long cycling escapade.