Culture



Burgundy is a region with a hilly landscape, full of mysticism and culture. Burgundy, with about 1,610,000 inhabitants, has a rich history, with the creation of the Kingdom of Burgundy goes back to 408 AD. It is also the region of the vineyards. Chablis, Mâconnais and Côtes de Nuits are famous names. Cluny, Paray-le-Monial, Vézelay, La Charité-sur-Loire, Auxerre and Fontenay are pretty towns and villages from the Romanesque period.
The French themselves call this region the land of l'art et le plaisir de vivre, or the country where art and culture go together. Burgundy is a region rich in art. In Nevers, the city of the pottery, in the Hospices of Beaune and Dijon, the artistic capital. There’s a lot to admire in this area. Dijon is also the city where the Crème de Cassis comes from, an alcoholic drink of black currant.

 

Côte-d'Or

Like the landscapes, everything here is full of variation. The Côte-d'Or knows how to surprise their visitors. The old traditions seduced countless tourists. To begin the tour of vineyards and the "grands crus". This route is called the "Champs-Elysées of Burgundy '. The hills extend from Dijon to Beaune, there are many small villages where prestigious wines are to discover: Gevrey-Chambertin, Vougeot, Vosne-Romanée, Meursault.
A walk rich in flavor and history, cellars and winegrowers. And to complete the fun, why not accompany the wine tasting with tasty dishes? Poached eggs in wine sauce, the famous snails from Burgundy, the spice bread, anise pastilles 'Anis de Flavigny' and ham with parsley and cheese pastries, together with a glass wine or aperitif. Nobody even dares to think that loving good food could be a bad habit! Besides the culinary traditions and customs, there are also the cultural treasures. Everywhere they bear witness to the rich history of the Côte-d'Or. There are more than 200 castles several have been visited by famous people. There are treasures to admire, such as the Abbey of Fontenay or Citeaux, where the order of Cistercians originated.
There are beautiful medieval towns to visit that do not seem to have changed since the time when the narrow streets were laid out, or the half-timbered houses with fortified gates were built. Don’t forget Dijon, former capital of the Dukes of Burgundy and the city of Beaune with its brightly colored tiles. In some places, you can find even older traces, which you can for example discover by a trip to Alesia. This is the place where the famous battle between Julius Caesar and Vercingetorix has occurred.

 

Nièvre

In the south-west of Burgundy is the department of Nièvre with its capital, Nevers. The department is characterized by beautiful rolling hills, numerous streams, rivers, beautiful vistas, vineyards and farmlands with Charolais cattle.
Here lies the park of Morvan with its ancient forests and many lakes. Nearby are the vineyard of Sancerre and Pouilly sur Loire. These places are very famous for their white wines.
Cities such as Nevers and Decize, known for their history are definitely worth visiting. There are also many other attractions such as castles, stately homes and museums. In the quiet villages it seems as if time stood still. Very popular in this region are the many flea markets or garage sales.

Saône-et-Loire

You can visit the Romanesque centers (Autun, Cluny, Paray-le-Monial, Tournus), the famous cultural sites (the Buddhist center Kagyu Ling, the ecumenical monastery of Taizé and the Paray-le-Monial), the prehistoric and Gallo-Roman remnants (Solutré, Bibracte, Aze), the Route des Châteaux (castles route), and travel through the time of the industrial revolution at the locations of Le Creusot and Montceau-les-Mines.
Enjoy the authentic flavors and fragrances in many rural harboring or fifty starred restaurants where talented chefs express their skills in the preparation of dishes like the famous Bresse and Charolais beef. This food demands for delicious wine. Mâconnais (Pouilly-Fuissé, Saint-Veran, Pouilly-Vinzelles, Pouilly-Loche, Vire-Macon, Mâcon-Villages), Beaujolais (St-Amour, Moulin-à-Vent, Chénas, Juliénas), Côte Chalonnaise (Mercurey, Givry , Rully, Montagny, Bourgogne Côte Chalonnaise, Burgundy Cotes du Couchois) or Maranges.

Yonne

Yonne is the northernmost department of the Burgundy region and less than 100 km from Paris.
This department has a rich cultural heritage as one of the highlights of the Basilica of Vezelay, on the route to Santiago de Compostella. Pay a visit to the Cistercian abbey of Pontigny or the numerous Renaissance castles, the Colette museum or the towns of Auxerre and Sens.
Yonne is also known by the Chablis, but also truffles, snails and the famous Charolais beef can be taste everywhere. Whether you visit a peasant tavern or a star restaurant, the taste buds will be pampered.