 |
|
|
|
| |
Walking Through Burgundy |
|
A Gentle self-guided walking amongst the vineyards and historic towns and villages of Burgundy |
Ref: EX-DFU
8 days
from £685 (minimum 1 passengers)
|
|
Destination:
France
<
Go Back
|
|
Gentle self-guided walking amongst the vineyards and historic towns and villages of Burgundy
The region of Burgundy styles itself ‘The Land of Great Art and Good Living’ and this trip enables you to appreciate both aspects to the full; some healthy walking in between ensures you feel you have earned the excellent food and even better wine. Throughout the trip we realise that the noble grape rules in this region, but there is also plenty more of interest: we pass ancient abbeys, magnificent chateaux, picturesque mediaeval villages and woods of beech and chestnut. The walking is on good footpaths, normally well waymarked, across undulating terrain with no more than 400m of ascent in any one day. The itinerary has been carefully designed to ensure you see both the famous towns and villages of this region, and those parts off the beaten track. Savigny les Beaune is one such place - the most important of the Cotes d’Or wine villages but also boasting an elegant chateau that dates from the 14th century. Another is Nolay, built on the site of a Gallo-Roman settlement and retaining many fine mediaeval buildings and narrow streets lined with half-timbered houses. The trip ends in the old ducal city of Beaune where we find the imposing mansion of the Dukes of Burgundy, the basilica of Notre Dame and the truly stunning Hotel Dieu, its steeply pitched roofs tiled in an exuberant mosaic of red and gold.
Extend your stay:
Extra accommodation can be booked for you in Nuits St Georges at the beginning of the trip or in Beaune at the end of the trip. Prices are £53 per single room, £68 per twin/double room at Nuits St Georges, £63 per single room, £77 per twin/double room at Beaune, all B&B, plus a £5 booking fee in each case.
Further Information
Special equipment required:
small rucksack, waterproofs, walking boots.
Extra Expenses:
allow about €75 for your lunches. 3 evening meals are not included: €20 will buy a good 3 course dinner, however, a more extensive gastronomic experience can cost €50 a head. Entrance fees to the various sites we pass/visit are not included; most cost €4-8.
Transport:
Approx additional costs not included; RER in Paris €2 each way, taxi from Dijon to Nuits St Georges €12, taxi from hotel to Beaune Station €10.
Children:
Children are accepted on this trip: as a guide we suggest aged 12 and over.
Joining locally:
the local joining point is the hotel in Nuits St Georges.
Group & Staff:
Min. 1, self-guided, luggage transferred and emergency telephone assistance provided.
Accommodation:
The accommodation is chosen for convenience of location to give a balanced walking itinerary, and where possible to use hotels that are traditional Burgundian buildings with some character. Most are small and family-run so you will experience some typical local hospitality. We stay five nights in 2-star accommodation and two nights in 3-star. All are comfortable with twin, double or single rooms with en-suite facilities.
Reduction for third and fourth person sharing a room £35
Food:
All breakfasts are included and are continental style, taken in the hotels. Lunches are not included and we recommend you carry a picnic which can easily be purchased along the way. Four dinners are included and are taken at the hotels on days 1,2 3 and 6. Here you will be offered the ‘demi pension’ menu. It is normally possible to ‘trade up’ and pay a supplement for a more expensive meal if you so choose. In Nolay and Beaune accommodation is on a bed and breakfast basis, but both places have some outstanding restaurants, and the choice is yours. The cooking in this region is superb and should be a highlight of the trip, but please note that it is very much meat based. If you are vegetarian, please advise us when you book and be aware that the choice of dishes may be limited. Fish dishes should normally be available and a Burgundian specialty is eggs poached in red wine. Wine is not included: many good wines are available at reasonable prices but if you wish to sample some of the ‘grands crus’ of this region, then you should expect to pay around €30 for a bottle.
|
Day 1 | Take the Eurostar train from London Waterloo to Paris Gare du Nord, RER (regional train) to Gare de Lyon and then by train to Nuits St Georges, where our hotel is about 1km from the train station (taxis normally available). Those with land-only arrangements start at the hotel in Nuits St Georges. | Day 2 | We head west from Nuits St Georges up onto the plateau and after 10km join the Grande Randonnee (GR) 76. Turning south and we enjoy some lovely views before heading to the famous wine village of Savigny les Beaune, a total distance of 21km. Here we can visit the superb old chateau.
3 Today we walk 18 | Day 3 | Today we walk 18 km, heading south at first through Pommard and then west to the charming village of St Romain. There is just one small hotel in the village - this is certainly ‘undiscovered Burgundy’. | Day 4 | Our route, now on the GR7, heads west and then south climbing 200m above the village and up the limestone escarpment. The effort is rewarded with a marvellous view and it is only a total of 12km to our next destination, Nolay, so there is no rush today. We spend 2 nights here in a hotel on the old market square. | Day 5 | A free day to relax and enjoy Nolay and its environs. Nolay is delightful, off the beaten tourist track, and it boasts a magnificent fourteenth century market hall, said to be unique in France. Nolay was an important trading town, where wines of the region were traded for corn, skins etc. There are interesting streets, antique shops to explore and the town has some excellent restaurants and wine cellars. There is a walk of 6km or 10km up to a 13th century chapel with lovely views over the town. | Day 6 | A walk of 21km takes us south from Nolay to Meursault. This is the most varied walk of all, through meadows, forests, vineyards, and for some of the time walking along the edge of the escarpment giving sweeping views across the countryside. | Day 7 | It is a pleasant walk of some 9km on minor roads and tracks through vineyards to Beaune, or you may prefer to take a taxi at additional expense if you want to maximise your time in this fascinating old town. There is much to see; ancient buildings, narrow streets and plenty of shops make it a delightful place to wander. The many excellent restaurants make it easy to enjoy both lunch and dinner and toast the completion of the walk. | Day 8 | A short taxi ride to the train station, where we take the train to Paris and the Eurostar service back to London. Those with land-only arrangements end at the hotel in Beaune. |
Departures Between | Price from | 27 Mar 04 - 31 Oct 04 | *£685 | | *Prices subject to confirmation |
|
FLIGHT INCLUSIVE PRICE
Depart any day except Tuesday from 27 March to 31 October 2004
Prices are based on two people sharing a twin room.
Single room supplement £140 (compulsory if travelling alone).
Approx additional costs not included:
RER in Paris €2 each way,
taxi from Dijon to Nuits St Georges €12,
taxi from hotel to Beaune Station €10.
Insurance £25
This holiday is operated by Exodus Travels Ltd. ATOL 2582.
|
| |
|
|
|
Walking Through Burgundy
A Gentle self-guided walking amongst the vineyards and historic towns and villages of Burgundy
|
|
|
|
|
 |
|
