This week, I’m taking you on a tour to discover all the things to see in Beaune! The capital of Burgundy wines, Beaune is famous for its hospices, ramparts, and glazed tile roofs. But it also has a magnificent city center where history and gastronomy compete to charm visitors.
So today, I invite you to visit Beaune through its charming streets and incredible hospices. Are you ready for a lovely stroll?
PRACTICAL INFORMATION FOR ALL THE THINGS TO SEE IN BEAUNE
How to get there?
Beaune is located 40 minutes south of Dijon, 1 hour 40 minutes north of Lyon and 3 hours 15 minutes from Paris. Rent a car here if you need to. By train, it takes 2 hours 15 minutes from Paris, 30 minutes from Dijon and 1 hour 30 minutes from Lyon.
Compare car rentals to find the best price in Beaune !
Where to stay to visit all the things to see in Beaune?
Here are several suggestions for charming accommodations in Beaune!
3 recommended accommodations for visiting all the things to see in Beaune
LES REMPARTS
- In the city center
- Historical house
- From €250
ABBAYE DE MAIZIERES
- 12th century setting
- With a pool
- From €200
BEAUNE HÔTEL
- Close to the city center
- Very good value for money
- From €100
How long to visit all the things to see in Beaune
It is possible to visit the hospices and the town center in half a day, but a full day will allow you to fully enjoy all the things to see in Beaune. The second part of a weekend can then be spent exploring the surroundings of Beaune and the region’s vineyards.
What to bring back from Beaune?
The wines of Beaune are obviously a must, and you can buy them after a visit to a vineyard or at wine merchants in the town center. But other regional specialties are sure to tempt you: crème de cassis, anis de Flavigny and pain d’épices are all delicious local products to take home as souvenirs! You’ll find them at Mulot & Petitjean, a gingerbread specialist at 1 Place Carnot.
Mustard is another important specialty in the region, so I also recommend visiting the Fallot mustard factory, which offers traditional mustards and other mustard-based products. You can also take an interactive guided tour of the mustard-making process followed by a tasting (€10) at 31 rue Faubourg Bretonnière.
At the restaurant, you can also try œufs en meurette (eggs in red wine sauce), escargots de Bourgogne (Burgundy snails), jambon persillé (ham with parsley) and more. If you’re looking for a good place to eat in Beaune town center, don’t hesitate to visit Les Caves Madeleine. The restaurant serves exquisite dishes made with local produce, and the charming wine cellar setting adds to the pleasure of the meal! – 8 rue du Faubourg Madeleine.
THE HOSPICES: THE TOP THINGS TO SEE IN BEAUNE
The Hospices history
The Hôtel-Dieu was founded in 1443 by Nicolas Rollin, Chancellor of the Duke of Burgundy. At the time, it housed a hospital for the poor during the Hundred Years’ War, which ravaged the surrounding area. The sisters who cared for the patients contributed to the reputation of the place. They continued to run the hospital until 1971, when it was transferred elsewhere.
Other branches were created around Beaune, and the complex is now known as the Hospices de Beaune. It is, of course, one of Beaune’s must-see attractions!
The main courtyard
The Hôtel-Dieu is now a vast complex of extraordinarily well-preserved buildings, comprising several courtyards and outbuildings. It is hard to imagine that the basement contains huge cellars with enormous reserves of wine. These are actually sold every year at auction to raise money for charity and medical research.
You enter the Hôtel-Dieu through the magnificent cour d’honneur, symbol of the hospices. Its beautiful Gothic facades and warm-colored glazed roofs are famous throughout the world! The cour d’honneur is full of details, with spires, ochre half-timbering, and a beautiful well in the center of the courtyard. I recommend visiting in the morning, when the light brings out the full splendor of the colorful tiles.
Exploring the rooms
The main courtyard is bordered on one side by the Salle des Pôvres and the chapel. The huge Salle des Pôvres once housed the patients’ beds, and today you can see a row of beautiful red canopy beds. The magnificent roof structure catches the eye. At the back, the chapel of the Hôtel-Dieu is an integral part of the room, demonstrating the strong link between medicine and religion.
The tour of the Hospices de Beaune continues through the other rooms, where medical objects, costumes, and medieval paintings are on display. You learn a lot about the methods of the time, which gives you an appreciation of the importance of the Hôtel-Dieu in the Middle Ages. Several rooms also depict daily life in the hospices, with the sisters working with the sick, as in the kitchen. I also loved the laboratory and pharmacy, where you can see countless potions and remedies used in the past.
The last rooms contain spectacular paintings and tapestries.
Practical information Hospices de Beaune: Open every day from 9:00 a.m. to 6:30 p.m. – €7.50 (reduced rate: €5.50) – website
OTHER THINGS TO SEE IN BEAUNE: THE HISTORICAL STREETS
There is more to Beaune than its magnificent hospices… Its old town is also full of charm and offer some of the best things to see in Beaune!
The historic center of Beaune is roughly square in shape, surrounded by ramparts that are still standing along much of the perimeter. Let’s start our walk at the Collégiale Notre Dame, located in the heart of the historic center.
Around the cathedral
The collegiate church is one of the last large Romanesque churches in Burgundy, inspired by the famous Abbey of Cluny. Its entrance and cloister are particularly beautiful, so be sure to take a look inside. All around you will find narrow cobbled streets lined with old stone houses, perfect for strolling. The neighborhood is truly charming!
Opposite the collegiate church, don’t miss the pretty Maison du Colombier. And on the other side of the church, you will find the beffroi de la place Monge. Like the Hôtel-Dieu and the ramparts, it dates back to the Middle Ages, when the Dukes of Burgundy gave Beaune its letters patent. At the time, the belfry overlooked the town hall square, which has since been destroyed. It is surprising to find a belfry in Burgundy, as they are more commonly associated with Lille and northern France!
Finally, don’t forget to take a look at the former residence of the dukes, which has been converted into a wine museum. Its inner courtyard has beautiful architecture that is somewhat reminiscent of the Hôtel-Dieu.
Beaune ramparts, one of the top things to see in Beaune
From the collegiate church, take Rue de Lorraine to the town hall. The street is lined with beautiful houses, some of which are very old. At the end, the town hall consists of long buildings surrounding a huge courtyard. Right next to it, the Saint-Nicolas gate is one of the gateways to the town center.
From there, you can join the rampart walk. This is the ideal place for a stroll above the town, as the ramparts still surround much of the town center. I really liked these high walls dotted with stone towers, which feel steeped in history. Just imagine, the very first ramparts were built in the 4th century! You can see several bastions and watchtowers, each with its own history and purpose. This short guide to the rampart walk will help you on your way.
Around place Carnot
Back in the narrow streets of the city center, you will see many remarkable monuments and houses. The pretty Place Carnot is somewhat the center of activity within the ramparts. Here you will find many shops, but also pretty streets in the surrounding area.
Next to Place Carnot, the pretty Chapelle Saint Etienne is all that remains of the former Carmelite convent of Beaune.
Finally, the Passage Saint Hélène will take you from Place Carnot to the imposing Marie de Bourgogne gate, which now houses the Museum of Fine Arts.
The cellars: the most exciting things to see in Beaune!
In the 18thcentury, Beaune became the center of the Burgundy wine trade. Former winegrowers and coopers founded thegreat wine estates that still exist today. You will see them everywhere on the edge of Beaune’s historic center: they are truly part of the landscape!
It’s hard to realize that beneath our feet lies a huge network of cellars hiding millions of bottles! It’s the stuff of dreams, isn’t it? The “climats” (plots) of Burgundy wines were classified as a UNESCO World Heritage Site a few years ago!
You can, of course, visit the cellars and finish with a wine tasting!
For example, Maison Champy offers a tour of its 15th-century cellars and a tasting of five wines classified as villages and premiers crus (1.5 hours). You can also learn about wine with a tasting class at the Besancenot estate (2 hours).
Other wine-related tours and activities:
Book your cellar tour in Beaune!
OTHER THINGS TO SEE IN BEAUNE REGION
– Through the vineyards :
The Burgundy vineyards can be explored by bike! You can follow the Voie des Vignes from Beaune to Santenay, which passes through vineyards and small villages… The website La Bourgogne à vélo will give you all the information you need. And if you’re traveling by car, you’ll also be spoiled for choice when it comes to exploring the wine route. The Grands Crus route, for example, connects Santenay and Dijon and passes through famous villages. Gevrey-Chambertin, Vosne-Romanée, Nuits-Saint-Georges—do any of these ring a bell? 😉
– Meursault Castle (15 minutes away): Part of the film La Grande Vadrouille was shot in the small village of Meursault, famous for its castle. It has some beautiful cellars, the oldest of which date back to the 12th century, and is known for its fine wines. You can visit the cellars and taste the estate’s wines in an incredible setting.
– Citeaux Abbey (30 minutes away): built in 1098, this is the founding abbey of the Cistercian order, renowned for its very strict rules. In the 14th century, it was at the head of a huge network of abbeys in Europe.
– Dijon (40 minutes away): the capital of Burgundy, known for its mustard, is a lovely destination for a day or a weekend. On the agenda: a visit to the Palace of the Dukes of Burgundy, gardens, half-timbered streets, museums, and even gourmet tastings.
– Semur-en-Auxois (50 minutes): I highly recommend exploring the Semur-en-Auxois region, a charming medieval town in the west of the Côte d’Or. Nearby, you’ll find the striking Château de Bussy-Rabutin, the sublime and legendary Fontenay Abbey, and the village of Flavigny! Check out my article dedicated to the Semur-en-Auxois region here!
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