The small town located in the east of France, about forty kilometers south of Dijon, and is considered the center of viticulture Côte de Beaune. Beaune belongs to the Southern Department of Burgundy Côte d'Or and, surrounded by gentle wine hills and fertile fields, is located on the Paris-Marseille railway line.
Those who are used to traveling on their own and sightseeing without a guide and tour groups can rent a car in France at a rental agency and not depend on anyone. Renting a car in Nice will cost an average of 190 euros per week, in Marseille from 160 euros per week.
What makes a French small town so special?
Beaune proudly displays its long history as a city. Since the Middle Ages, the beautiful little town has been the center of the wine-producing region and is considered the capital of Burgundy wines.
Beaune borders the famous Côte d'Or wine region, and there are numerous wineries whose cellars form an underground labyrinth among the houses and streets of the city - some of them dating back to the Middle Ages.
Tourists who want to learn more about the art of winemaking can find all sorts of trivia about the arrangement and historical background of winemaking in the region in the Wine Museum at the Ducs Hotel.
But the attraction of Beaune does not only depend on its fine wines. The city itself also enchants with its romantic Old Town, which invites you to walk around and discover the many small streets. Walking through the historic center of the city, you can see the bright houses of the townspeople with their stucco and wrought-iron fences that lined up around the basilica.
There are so many restaurants, cafes, shops, delicacies and patisseries in the bustling city center that it can be overwhelming to see the variety. If the weather is good, you can enjoy tempting delicacies outside at one of the small tables with their checkered tablecloths. Especially at lunchtime, the restaurants fill up in the squares of the city.
When visiting Beaune, you can stay at the 600-year-old hotel of the 15th century - Dieu. Previously, this building served as a hospital, where until 1971 there were still patients. This place is one of the most beautiful buildings in France and is considered a gem of medieval architecture. The colorful tiled roofs still glisten, and inside is the Museum of the History of Medicine, which houses medieval wooden carved beds and even a winged altar.
When is the best time to travel to Beaune?
Between May and October, the best time to travel to Beaune is when temperatures are pleasantly warm with a few rainy days present. The month of July is especially attractive, because in the famous Hotel-Dieu, with the annual “Festival International D’Opera Baroque”, the most beautiful baroque festival in Europe takes place.