Beaune is the wine capital of Burgundy, a walled town at the foot of the Côte de Beaune. Its symbol is the Hôtel-Dieu of the Hospices de Beaune, a charity hospital founded in 1443 by Nicolas Rolin, chancellor of the Duke of Burgundy, with its famous glazed-tile roofs. The vineyards around, the Climats of Burgundy, have been on the UNESCO World Heritage list since 2015.
Why stay in Beaune
It is the ideal base for Burgundy wine: tasting cellars in the town, great villages such as Pommard, Volnay and Meursault next door, and excellent restaurants.
Things to see in and around Beaune
The Hospices de Beaune
Visit the Hôtel-Dieu: the courtyard under its coloured roofs, the great Hall of the Poor and Rogier van der Weyden’s Last Judgement altarpiece.
The old town and the ramparts
Walk the ramparts and bastions, the Notre-Dame collegiate church with its tapestries and the squares full of wine shops and cafés.
Cellars and the Cité des vins
Many wine houses have cellars under the town open for tastings, and the Cité des Climats et vins de Bourgogne explains the vineyards and their wines.
The Côte de Beaune
A wine road links Pommard, Volnay, Meursault, Savigny-lès-Beaune and Aloxe-Corton, with vineyard paths for walks and bike rides.
Best time to visit
April to November, with the harvest in September; the Hospices wine auction takes place each year on the third weekend of November.
Getting there
Beaune has TGV and regional trains towards Dijon, Lyon and Paris, and lies where the A6 and A31 motorways meet. The nearest airports are Lyon-Saint-Exupéry, Dijon-Bourgogne and Geneva.
What to eat
Burgundy classics: bœuf bourguignon, coq au vin, œufs en meurette, escargots, jambon persillé, Époisses cheese and Dijon mustard, with Côte de Beaune wines.
FAQ
When is the Hospices de Beaune wine auction?
Every year on the third weekend of November, a charity sale of the Hospices’ own wines.
Is Beaune good without a car?
Yes for the town itself, which is compact and walkable; to tour the villages, join a wine tour, rent a bike or take a short taxi ride.
