Wandering around Beaune, Cote d'Or department Burgundy France. A taste of this wonderful town.

Описание: We visited Beaune in September 2023 on the last day of our holiday in Burgundy. Beane is a town in the centre of Burgundy region of France, between Dijon and Autun in the Cote d'Or department. Best known for the wine produced in the region, Beaune is a pleasant town to explore when you are in the region.

The principal attraction in Beaune is the Hotel-Dieu. Found in the heart of the walled old-town of Beaune, the Hotel-Dieu was a hospital in the 15th century, and has now been immaculately preserved and renovated. It was founded in 1443 by Nicolas Rolin, chancellor of the Duke of Burgundy, and his wife, Guigone de Salins. It is only when you step into the main courtyard that you see the flamboyant roof with varnished tiles, a shining symbol of ducal Burgundy and now world famous. A classified historical monument. Other highlights in the Hotel-Dieu complex include the wells, the kitchens and the ancient pharmacy.

The old town in Beaune is quite compact, based around the medieval hospital complex and with several streets of shops and old buildings surrounding the centre. Elsewhere in Beaune you can visit the Church of Notre-Dame, which has some impressive 15th century wall-hangings (tapestries) relating the story of the life of the Virgin Mary, and the clock tower, dating from the 12th century, is a classified historic monument.

On the edges of Beaune you can spend some time strolling around the ramparts: the walk around the ramparts is about two kilometres long. Enroute you will see some medieval half-timbered houses as well as the Porte Saint-Nicholas, one of the original gateways that controlled access to Beaune town centre; the Chateau de Beaune; and the gardens and statues of the Theatre de Verdure and the Square des Lions. If you don't want to follow the entire walk around the ramparts, the part between the Porte Saint-Nicholas to the north and the castle to the east is the most interesting section.

There are several museums in Beaune including:

the Museum of Wine (find it to see the building even if you don't plan to enter - the 15th century building was once the meeting place for the Burgundy dukes);
the Musee des Beaux-Arts in the Convent of the Ursulines;
the Jules-Marey Museum (for early video photography)

Attractions nearby
Wine enthusiasts will want to follow the Burgundy Wine route between Beaune and Dijon, of course visiting the villages and vineyards such as Nuits-Saint-Georges along the route. Even if you are not interested in wine be sure to visit Dijon. About 40 kilometres north-east of Beaune it is our favourite town in Burgundy and a visit is highly recommended.

Music: Pixabay.com