Burgundy Walking holiday

16km, 5h, +316 m / -223 m. Leaving the vineyards and ascending into the hills you will mostly walk in the shade of a typical Burgundy oak forest after crossing the GR76 (a variant of the GR7; a long distance trail that crosses through France from East to West). As you leave the forest you can admire the exquisite views of Chateau “La Rochepot” as you walk to the village, which is also the best place to stop for lunch as the restaurant serves local specialities. We would recommend a visit to the Chateau after lunch. Finally, you will follow the GR7 to the small medieval market town of Nolay with its wooden framed houses and 14th-century market. Town: Internet, ATM, shops. All facilities.

18km, 5h, +372 m / -477 m. The first few kilometres of todays walk are a gentle climb through green fields filled with the beautiful Charolais cow. At the top, wide views of the Saone plain, with the Alps in the background, greet you before you reach the village of Santenay for a merited rest and some wine tasting. Follow the GR7 across the Canal du Centre, up Hermitage Mountain, and down through the vineyards to finally reach the destination of Rully. Please note: If you start the trip on a Friday or Saturday, you will stop in Chassey le Camp, a small hamlet 1km before Rully. Santenay is famous for it’s red wines from Pinot Noir grapes (and infrequently, it’s whites). The soil in Santenay is richer than in the rest of the Cote de Beaune so the wine tends to be more rustic than elegant. Rully is renowned for its straightforward and easy to drink dry white wines made from the Chardonnay grape. Town: Shops. All facilities.

18km, 5h, +325 m / -331 m. Today is a very pleasurable walk through vineyards and the “Cote Chalonnaise” to the village of Mercurey passing the ancient “Chateau de Montaigu” along the way where a tasting is essential. Returning back to Rully, via the GR7, you will pass through the quiet villages of Aluze and Nantoux. Mercurey is famous for producing more wine than any other village in the Cote Chalonnaise, 90% of which is red. Pinot Noir is the principal grape variety. It is firm, if a little rough, when young but it ages quite well. Town: Shops. All facilities.

15km, or 24km, 5h, +415 m / -392 m. Today you return to Beaune across a rolling landscape that includes some of the best vineyards in the area. Crossing the “Canal du Centre” again, in the village of Remigny, and walking through the famous vineyards of Chassagne and Puligny Montrachet you will ascend to Mont Melian passing through the villages of Auxey-Duresses, Volnay and Pommard. It is from here that you have a decision to make, either retrace the route from Day 2 for 4km back to Beaune, or, call a taxi (not included). Chassagne Montrachet is renowned for its white wines, produced at Grand Cru and Premier Cru levels and traditionally made from the Chardonnay grape. Puligny Montrachet is also renowned for its fine white wines and has a number of Grand Cru vineyards in addition to its Premier Cru wines. Blagny is best known for its Appellation status red wines. Auxey-Duresses is famed for its medium-priced red and white wines that are similar to those of Volnay and Meursault. Volnay is famous for producing a number of elegant red wines (More than half of Volnay’s vineyards have Premier Cru status) from the Pinot Noir grape. Its vineyards stretch from Pommard to Meursault and as Meursault is actually known for its white wines, the single red wine vineyard of Les Santenots is sold as Volnay Santenots. Town: Internet, ATM, shops. All facilities.

After breakfast your journey ends. Town: Internet, ATM, shops. All facilities.