Beaune

Based in the city of Beaune, Authentica Tours offers you the opportunity to discover and taste some of the best wines in the world without having to worry about a designated driver. Not only will you be driven from vineyard to vineyard in luxury, but you will also have the services of your own personal English-speaking wine expert to guide you in your search for the best Pinot Noir and Chardonnay on offer. When you book a private or small-group tour with Authentica Tours you can access private tastings and small family-owned wineries, learn all about the wine-making process from vineyard to tasting room experience wine and food pairing.

Authentica Tours, 21200 Beaune, France, Phone: +33-6-87-01-43-78

You will be able to hear the chiming bells of the Basilique Notre-Dame throughout the town of Beaune. The Burgundian-Romanesque Basilica dates back to the 13th century and features interesting architectural styles including Romanesque, Gothic and Renaissance. The church is best known for an impressive collection of 15th century tapestries which depict the life of the Virgin Mary. Although entry to the church is free you will need to pay a small amount to see the tapestry collection. The basilica has several very beautiful stained-glass windows which fill the smallish interior with lots of light and if you are lucky enough to visit at the right time you may hear the pipe organ being played.

Basilique Notre-Dame, 4 Impasse Notre Dame, 21200 Beaune, France, Phone: +33-3-80-26-22-70

Attractions for Couples

At the Beaune Cote Plage outdoor enthusiasts can enjoy a relaxing day of swimming, sunbathing, picnicking and fishing just minutes from the center of Beaune. This open-air leisure complex is unique in that the four swimming pools are completely free of chemicals and only use naturally purified water which has been biologically filtered through regeneration ponds. The four natural ponds are surrounded by acres of lawn where you can soak up the sun. Besides swimming you can try the aquatic climbing all, the water slide and the various diving boards. If you enjoy fishing you can try your luck at one of 12 well-stocked fishing ponds.

Beaune Cote Plage, Chemin des Tauperies, 21200, Beaune, France, Phone: +33-3-80-22-92-02

For almost three centuries Bouchard Pere & Fils (Bouchard father and sons) have been producing wine at their Burgundy vineyards and winery in Beaune. No visit to this remarkable wine region of France would be complete without visiting this historic winery to learn about their precision wine making. Bouchard Père & Fils are headquartered in a former Louis XI fortress which the family acquired in 1820. The largely-intact building is a national historic monument which today houses deep underground cellars where the famous wines are matured. You can visit the Cave du Chateau (within the fortress) to learn all about their wine production and enjoy a tasting and private tastings of special vintages are also available by appointment.

Bouchard Père & Fils, 15 Rue du Chateau, 21200, Beaune, Phone: +33-3-80-24-80-45

You can deepen your knowledge and appreciation of the complex wines of Burgundy by attending one of the four wine programs on offer at the Burgundy Wine School in Beaune. The wine school is located on a typical cobbled street within the walled old town and is open all year round to educate and fascinate wine enthusiasts. You can choose to attend the school for a short 90 minute course or go all-out and spend a full eight hours (spread out over two days) learning about the brilliant wines of the region. Courses include the history of the region, the importance of Terrior (all the factors that influence the final product) and, of course, tasting. The longer courses include visits to all the major wineries in the region.

Burgundy Wine School, 15 Rue Bellecroix, 21200 Beaune, Phone: +33-6-68-84-24-28

Founded in 1726, Chateau de Pommard is one of the oldest and largest wine producers in Burgundy. Here in the heart of France’s wine growing capital, the Chateau offers visitors the chance to learn all about the wines of the region at their Wine Experience Center. Depending on what you would like to learn about you can join one of their Chateau experiences; the Wine Experience will teach you how to taste wines, the Climats Experience will enlighten you about the importance of Terrior and the Gourmet Experience will teach you about pairing food and wine. Finally, you could sign up for the Wine Harvest Experience, where you get the chance to hand-pick the new season’s crop.

Chateau de Pommard, 15 Rue Marey Monge, 21630 Pommard, Phone: +33-3-80-22-07-99

Recommended Activities

Another of Burgundy’s gems, the stately old Chateau de Savigny les Beaune stands overlooking a superb 12-hectary property. The beautiful old stone chateau was originally built in 1340 and there are amazing cellars dating to the 14th and 17th centuries filled with barrels of maturing wines. Today the chateau is also the setting for a rare collection of vintage aircraft, motor cars and motor cycles which you can admire as your tour the property. In addition, there are also several old straddle tractors and fire engines on display. You can stop by for a wine tasting after you have strolled around the large outdoor museum.

Chateau de Savigny, Rue General Leclerc, 21420 Savigny-les-Beaune, Phone: +33-3-80-21-55-03

Alain Hess has followed in the illustrious footsteps of his father and grandfather, who have been cheese makers for several decades, and is now the master cheese-maker at the Alain Hess Cheese Shop in Beaune. Foodies and gourmands will love this delightful emporium of cheese where you will be able to taste and buy unique, one-of-a-kind cheese creations like his distinctive Delice de Pommard, Truffled Royal and wonderful Port-refined Stilton. Slowly the shop has evolved to be a one-stop gastronomic paradise stocking not only a very wide variety of cheeses but also a range of cured sausages and meats together with delicious Burgundy wines to accompany them.

Cheese Shop Alain Hess, 7 Place Camot, 21200 Beaune, Phone: +33-3-80-24-73-51

The superb Burgundy region of France has so much to offer visitors but many will leave having only just scratched the surface. Detours in France offer you the chance to delve a little deeper as you join one of their self-guided walking and cycling tours which can be customized to your tastes and fitness levels. Hikers and cyclists can set their own pace and enjoy the wonderful scenery as they follow a customized GPS tour which can be downloaded to a smart-phone. This is the ideal way to enjoy the remarkable scenery as well as the brilliant wines and foods of Burgundy and get some great exercise to work off all those extra calories. The company will take care of all details, book your hotels and transfer your bags.

Detours in France, 57 Rue du Faubourg Madeleine, 21200 Beaune, Phone: +33-9-63-20-71-56