Burgundy’s Route des Grands Crus

Route description

Start in Dijon, the old capital of the Dukes of Burgundy, with its ducal palace, glazed roof tiles and the stone owl you touch for luck. South of the city, leave the main road for the D122, the Route des Grands Crus, which runs through Gevrey-Chambertin and a string of villages whose names are those of famous wines.

At Vougeot, the Château du Clos de Vougeot stands among the vines at the heart of the Côte de Nuits; it was the monks’ wine estate, and giant medieval presses remain in its cellar. The D974 then continues through Nuits-Saint-Georges to Beaune, where the Hôtel-Dieu, a medieval hospital with a roof of coloured glazed tiles, is the main sight.

South of Beaune the vineyards of the Côte de Beaune give way to rolling farmland on the way to Cluny, whose abbey was once the largest church in Christendom. Only part of it survives, but its bell tower and ruins still show its scale.

The village lanes on the D122 are narrow, and parking is limited during the September harvest. Tastings are offered in many cellars, so agree on a driver. The Burgundy vineyards are a UNESCO World Heritage site, and spring and autumn are the most pleasant seasons.