Burgundy can be explored through a range of travel interests: its historic wine-growing landscape, waterways and notable cultural sites. The specific landscapes and sights offer more guidance than a generalised idea of the region.

Wine-growing landscape and Climats

The UNESCO-listed Climats, terroirs of Burgundy comprise precisely delineated vineyard plots on limestone- and clay-rich slopes. They stretch for 50 kilometres south of Dijon to Maranges. As a living wine-growing landscape, the Climats are connected with centuries-old traditions, diverse terroirs and winemaking expertise. The terroirs are as much a part of the picture as the work that has shaped winegrowing over generations.

Burgundy is considered a travel destination that brings together wooded paths, canals, historic monuments, religious buildings, gastronomy and distinctive wines. Those with a particular interest in wine can use the Climats as a starting point for choosing their focus; those who would rather combine scenery and activity will find a different emphasis in the riverside and cycling routes described here.

Water, riverbanks and paths

In Besançon, the historic old town sits in a loop of the Doubs, surrounded by wooded hills. Quiet waterways and riverbanks complement the townscape; they are suitable for walking and cycling and are also accessible to users of EuroVélo 6. The town centre and riverbanks thus offer different perspectives side by side, without having to lose sight of the old town.

On the shore of the shallow high-altitude lake of Bellefontaine lies a highly protected marshland area with boreo-arctic vegetation and sensitive fauna. The lake is fed by springs and snowmelt and borders Lac des Mortes. A circular route around the lake is possible. This is a different way to experience the landscape from the cycling and riverside routes near Besançon: here, the lake and marshland shape the scenery; there, it is the combination of the old town, river and wooded hills.

A trip on the water can also be combined with other interests. Boat trips can bring together visits to wine cellars, characterful towns, abbeys and castles, as well as routes along towpaths. On the Louhans–Mâcon route, passengers can disembark and cycle along the river on the Voie Bleue. If you are planning this kind of combination, you can include both a water journey and cycling in your day’s itinerary, rather than treating them as separate travel ideas.

Abbeys, architectural history and museums

A cultural history itinerary can include a wide range of stops. The GR 654 connects the UNESCO-listed basilica in Vézelay with the UNESCO-listed priory in La Charité-sur-Loire. The Saline Royale in Arc-et-Senans is UNESCO-listed and a former saltworks. It was designed by Claude-Nicolas Ledoux and built between 1775 and 1779. These dates and its former function give the site a different historical point of reference from the religious buildings along the pilgrimage route.

Fontenay Abbey is privately owned, open to visitors as a UNESCO site and protected as a historic monument. In Luzy, the Hôtel de Nault de Champagny houses 13th-century Aubusson tapestries, which are accessible year-round. The 14th-century Tour des Barons houses a museum of local life. These examples differ not only in their architectural history, but also in what visitors will find there: an abbey, accessible tapestries or a museum of local life.

Choose accommodation based on your travel interests

When looking for accommodation, first decide which experiences matter most to you: wine-growing landscapes, architectural and cultural history, waterside paths or cycling. You can then tailor your search to the specific places and activities you want to include. This keeps your choice focused on your travel interests, rather than bringing different landscapes and sights together in a single itinerary.

Discover more destinations: Cote-Dor, Nièvre, Saône-Et-Loire, Yonne, Midi Pyrenees, Saint Pierre, Alsace, Auvergne.

See the overview of destinations in France: France.