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Burgundy & The Rhone
Burgundy is without doubt France's most prosperous region with a great celebration of wine, delicious food and home to some of the most visually-spectacular countryside and medieval villages. Here, you will embark on a cultural discovery while tucking in to France's most astonishing cuisines.
HIGHLIGHTS
Witness astounding medieval villages of Burgundy & The Rhone
Savour exquisite wines and gastronomy
Stay in refined boutique hotels
Enjoy an insightful experience with the local characters
ITINERARY
DAY 1: PARIS / JOIGNY
Leave Paris today to begin a stunning drive into the beautiful countryside of Burgundy where we will arrive into the medieval city of Joigny, nestled on the banks of the Yonne River and on our approach, be treated to mesmerizing views of one of the most beautiful water cities in France. We then enjoy a walking visit into the old town where you have the opportunity to admire the unique wood-carved houses that provides Joigny with its identity as well as the churches of Eglise St Jean, Eglise St Thibault and Eglise St Andre. We then arrive at the renowned La Cote Saint Jacques where you will spend the night enjoying a wonderful introduction of the wines in the region with a sommelier and this evening, we welcome you to Burgundy with a degustation dinner with 2 Michelin Star Chef Jean-Michel Lorain.
Overnight: La Cote Saint Jacques, Joigny
Meals: Degustation Dinner
DAY 2: JOIGNY / VEZELAY / NOYERS / CHABLIS / JOIGNY
We begin the day with a short drive to the hilltop village of Vezelay, nestled on the edge of the Avallonais and an important UNESCO-listed site of Christendom where it is part of the pilgrimage route of St James to Santiago de Compostela in Spain. Visit the unmistakable 12th Century monastic church, Madeleine of Vezelay with its remarkable masterpiece of Burgundian Romanesque art and architecture, the largest in France. Thereafter, a short drive takes us to the beautiful town of Noyers sur Serein decorated with picturesque timbered houses, medieval arcades and nestling in a meander of the River Serein. Later, a scenic drive takes us into the heart of Chablis, perhaps the most renowned Chardonnay-producing region of France where we will visit and sample some of the finest Grand Crus wines with our selection of amazing wine estates. Finally, we return to Joigny.
Overnight: La Cote Saint Jacques, Joigny
Meals: Breakfast
DAY 3: JOIGNY / AUXOIS COUNTRYSIDE / LA BUSSIERE SUR OUCHE
We leave Joigny today and drive into the rolling Auxois countryside to arrive at our first stop, the medieval and well-preserved village of Semur en Auxois - designated as one of the most beautiful village in France. We take a walk through the cobbled streets lined with timbered houses for a sensory step back in time experience. Thereafter, a short drive arrives us at the 18th Century Burgundy Canal with picturesque views of the waterfront and charming houses. We then visit the 12th Century UNESCO-listed Romanesque Fontenay Abbey - home to the white monks of the Cistercian order. The route then takes us to the hilltop village of Flavigny sur Ozerain with its stunning and idyllic surroundings so beautiful that it inspired the film, "Chocolat" starring Johnny Depp, as its setting. Finally, we arrive at the impressive Abbaye de la Bussiere, a former 12th Century Cistercian abbey that has been transformed into an amazing Burgundian retreat. This evening, enjoy a refined degustation dinner in the Michelin Star Restaurant Le 1131 headed by Chef Guillaume Royer.
Overnight: Abbaye de la Bussiere, La Bussiere sur Ouche
Meals: Breakfast & Degustation Dinner
DAY 4: LA BUSSIERE SUR OUCHE ( BEAUNE & THE COTE DE NUITS)
We spend an amazing day beginning with a short drive to Beaune, the wine and gastronomic capital of Burgundy where we admire the charming walled old town. Begin our visit to Hotel Dieu, which is part of the ancestral property of the Hospice de Beaune, a charitable organisation founded in 1443, the emblem of Burgundy is indeed a 15th Century masterpiece. Another unmistakable visit is the La Moutarderie Fallot, an exceptional family-run mustard mill where you discover Burgundy's signature condiment that has been passed down for generations. Learn about the process of mustard production and an interactive trail of its legacy. Thereafter, we embark on a visit to the Cote de Nuits wine region where grapes are still harvested the primitive way by hands and the region is home to some of the most outstanding and expensive wines in the world. Our experience will be spent visiting some of the most distinctive Grand Crus in the Gevrey-Chambertin and Nuits Saint Georges area. A highlight is a visit to the Chateau du Clos de Vougeot where we gain insights into the ancient winemaking facilties and the Cistercian monks' cellars constructed between the 12th and the 16th Centuries.
Overnight: Abbaye de la Bussiere, La Bussiere sur Ouche
Meals: Breakfast
DAY 5: LA BUSSIERE SUR OUCHE / SAONE TO THE BEAUJOLAIS
We leave the Abbaye de la Bussiere today and head south along the River Saone through the hilly, rocky landscapes to the vineyards of the south of Burgundy - the Cote Chalonnaise, Marconnais (Pouilly-Fuisse) and the Beaujolais. En route, we discover the wine growing techniques of the Cote Chalonnaise, where the monks of Cluny began planting vines over 1,000 years ago and the opportunity to sample wine in a family estate and enjoy lunch in a traditional restaurant in a charming village. As we approach the Marconnais vineyards, marvel at the sphinx-like Roche de Solutre overlooking the charming vines of Pouilly-Fuisse providing one of the most spectacular backdrops in Burgundy. Thereafter, arrive into the stunning surroundings of the Chateau de Bagnols - a monumental and historic castle-converted hotel complete with a stunning moat and a drawbridge that takes you back in time.
Overnight: Chateau de Bagnols, Beaujolais
Meals: Breakfast & Lunch
DAY 6: THE BEAUJOLAIS
Enjoy a day of wine splendours in the land blessed by the wine gods - The Beaujolais region with a most subtle blend of terroir, grape varieties and local characters offering not just a "wine festival" sampling some of the amazing Grand Crus but also a sensory experience that extends over 17,324 hectares that reaches to the north of the gastronomic capital of France, Lyon. Today, we will have a great insight into the much-revered Gamay grape that are used in the Beaujolais appellations from Nouveau to village Crus and experience a very privatized wine sampling and tour that is not usually open to the public. This evening, we celebrate a fitting finale with a degustation dinner at Chateau de Bagnol's Michelin Star Restaurant 1217 with talented Chef Jean-Alexandre Ouaratta to cap off a most amazing sojourn.
Overnight: Chateau de Bagnols, Beaujolais
Meals: Breakfast & Degustation Dinner
DAY 7: THE BEAUJOLAIS / LYON
Today, we transfer to Lyon Saint Exupery Airport or to the heart of Lyon for your onward journey.
Meals: Breakfast
HOTELS
La Cote Saint Jacques is a third generation family restaurant and hotel nestled on the banks of the Yonne River in Joigny and has been one of the earlier member hotel of Relais & Chateaux since 1977. 32 refined rooms and suites provide an elegant atmosphere and warmth and guests can enjoy a wonderful gastronomic experience with 2 Michelin Star Chef Jean-Michel Lorain.
Nestled in the heart of a handsome 7 hectare park, the Abbaye de la Bussiere exudes a feeling of peace and tranquility situated between Dijon and Beaune and the ideal base to explore the tremendous Cote de Nuits and Nuits Saint Georges wine region. Be treated to a sensory gastronomic experience with 1 Michelin Star Chef Guillaume Royer in its Restaurant Le 1131.
The Chateau de Bagnols is situated in the heart of the Beaujolais vineyards and the hills of the Lyonnais, in the land of the Golden Stones. A historical building since 1217, the fortress thrills with its French "art de vivre", its richly-decorated frescoes, tapestries and period fireplaces while combining modern elegance and contemporary comfort. Savour to Michelin Star Chef Jean-Alexandre Ouaratta's at Restaurant 1217.
