Bourgogne was the last place in France my husband
and I visited before moving back to the States. It was a month before our departure, and we
felt it was befitting that we return to the place where we began our first roadtrip in France.
Bourgogne is known as the spiritual heartland of two of
France’s raisons d’être, food and wine. The vineyards along la Côte d'Or,
stretching only 37 miles from Santenay to Dijon, are filled with some of the
most prestigious names in French winemaking.
Rows of terraced vines rise in tiers above the D122, N74, D1138 highways
(La Route des Grands Crus), passing through the towns of Puligny-Montrachet,
Volnay, Beaune, Nuits-St-Georges, Vosne-Romanée, Gevrey-Chambertin, and
Marsannay-la-Côte, and it is one of the most scenic areas in France to drive
through.
Beaune
Bourgogne is also filled with beautiful cities and towns,
and our favorite is Beaune. Located
about 30 minutes south of Dijon, Beaune is the unofficial capital of the Côte
d’Or and is one of the best places in France for wine tasting.
Also, as relatively unknown town in the region, it is an
ideal place for a stopover, especially since there is a large selection of
charming hotels. It’s
also a city known for some of the finest (haute) cuisines in the world and world-class restaurants. So, my husband and I were not surprised when we had one
of the best meals we’ve ever had in Beaune at the restaurant Le Fleury. Also, the town has a wonderful outdoor market
on Saturday mornings, which offers a large selection of produce as well as
crafts, and of course, the medieval architecture of Hotel Dieu is definitely a
must see.
Hospices de Beaune, Hôtel Dieu
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wonderful outdoor market
our beautiful Hotel Belle Epoque
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Besançon
Besançon was one of the first cities we’d visited in France,
and as a beautiful little town close to the German border, it
was always an ideal stopover on our way home from France.
Dijon
Dijon, known mainly for its mustard, is one of France’s most
appealing provincial cities. It’s also famous for its elegant medieval and
Renaissance architecture, excellent museums, and lively center that is perfect
for strolling. Unfortunately, we’d
underestimated its size and its beauty, as it was impossible to cover all the
notable landmarks in a day. We definitely
plan to return to Dijon to explore and discover more of this
beautiful city. 
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Abbaye de Fontenay
Lyon
Commercial, industrial and banking powerhouse for the past
500 years, grand old Lyon (Lyons) is the focal point of a prosperous urban area
of almost two million people, France’s second-largest conurbation. Outstanding art museums and a dynamic cultural
life lend the city a distinctly sophisticated air. 
Semure en Auxois
Although we’d merely driven through Semure en Auxois, it was
one of the most visually stunning towns we’ve seen.
Vezelay
Beautifully perched up on the top of the hill, Vezelay is one
of the most well-preserved UNESCO heritage sites in France.
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