BURGUNDY

INDEPENDENT WALKING HOLIDAYS

Secret Burgundy - Chardonnay Vines & Historic Villages

7 nights - £610 - 6 days walking between guest houses

The southern Burgundy is a treasure of historic chateaux, villages, and of course romanesque churches set in rolling countryside carpeted with vines and forests. A number of rocky outcrops punctuate the vineyards such as the celebrated “roche de Solutré” important for its pre-historic human activity. Our walking holiday allows plenty of time to visit the historic town of Cluny. Great food in lovely B&B style guest houses. More holiday details

Burgundy: Chardonnay Wine Trail

+

5 nights - £485 - 4 days walking between guest houses

This short break walking holiday traverses the southern Burgundy through the heart of the Chardonnay wine growing region. These dry and fruity wines have their most famous ambassadors in the Pouilly-Fuissé & Saint Veran labels. As well as the wines, this holiday explores a landscape full of historic treasures. Historic chateaux, villages, and romanesque churches are set in rolling countryside punctuated by a number of rocky outcrops Great food in lovely guest houses.

Romanesque Burgundy - the Monk's Trail

7 nights - £575 - 6 days walking between guest houses

A circular trail including the historic town of Tournus famous for its Romanesque Abbey. Your route follows in the footsteps of monks of medieval times crossing valleys and hills with meadows and Maconnais vines, between charming historic villages and hamlets such as Blanot and the fortified cité of Brancion.

Full list of independent walking holidays

Beautiful Brionnais: Secret Hills of Burgundy

+

7 nights - £645 - 6 days walking between guest houses

A circular trail through the secret region of Brionnais in the Burgundy, France. A patchwork of fields in secluded valleys and ridges with vast panoramic views towards the Loire Valley or the hills of the Beaujolais. It also has fine architecture to rival some of the more popular parts of Bugundy. Delightful villages such as Semur-en-Brionnais decorated with lovely floral displays harbour remarkable churches, abbeys and chateaux.

GUIDED WALKING HOLIDAY

Historic Walks in Chardonnay Country: 23 - 30 September 2012

7 nights - £755, two-centre based, day walking

A Guided walking Holiday in the picturesque and relatively quiet southern Burgundy hills. Enjoy a large number of delightful historic sites (chateaux, villages, church, pre-historic sites) set in a pretty landscape of chardonnay vines, secluded valleys and rocky outcrops.

INDEPENDENT CYCLING HOLIDAYS

Classic Burgundy: From April to mid October

Easy+ - 7 nights, 6 days independent cycling tour - moving between guest houses, charming accommodation full of local character

Beautiful towns and villages with historic chateaux, abbeys and churches. Sweeping views across rolling countryside with vineyards and forests. A dedicated off-road cycle path for much of the holiday. Wine tasting. Gourmet food.

Beaujolais, Burgundy, Charolais - 3 regions tour: From April to mid October

Moderate+ - 7 nights, 6 days independent cycling tour - moving between guest houses, charming accommodation full of local character

Varied cycling through vines, pastures and forests with sweeping views across rolling countryside. Wine tasting visits possible in a region famous for its gastronomic delights. Beautiful towns and villages with historic chateaux, abbeys and churches. A dedicated off-road cycle path for some of the holiday.

Burgundy

The southern Burgundy region of France is a treasure of historic churches and chateaux set in rolling countryside, carpeted with vines and forests. A number of rocky outcrops punctuate the vineyards such as the celebrated “roche de Solutré”, important for its pre-historic human activity.

The Burgundy region is well-known for its fine wine and gastronomic food, a reputation that is richly deserved. You will have plenty of opportunity to sample both during our cycling and walking holidays.

Burgundy is one of France's main wine producing areas. It is well known for both its red and white wines, mostly made from Pinot Noir and Chardonnay grapes, respectively, although other grape varieties can be found. Our independent cycling and walking holidays take place at the limit between the red Beaujolais wines some of which include the Grand cru such as Moulin au Vent and the white chardonnay wines of the Côte de Macon. In the Mâconnais, white wine production is centered around the town of Mâcon and the Pouilly-Fuissé region. The full bodied wines of the Pouilly-Fuissé have long held cult wine status. Our self guided walking holiday passes through this area. With the exception of Pouilly-Fuissé, the wines of the Mâconnais are the closest Burgundy example to "New World" Chardonnay though it is not identical. The various Burgundy appellations or AOCs are classified from carefully delineated Grand Cru vineyards down to more non-specific regional appellations. The practice of delineating vineyards by their terroir in Burgundy goes back to Medieval times, when various monasteries played a key role in developing the Burgundy wine industry.

In addition to the food and wine, you will have plenty of time on our cycling and walking holidays to see the varied and rich architectural delights of the region, such as those found at Cluny, a very important spiritual, political and artistic centre of the Middle Ages with its Benedictine abbey. This Burgundy town is filled with historic monuments and you'll have enough time to explore its pretty streets.

Our cycling and walking holidays in Burgundy pass through a number of wonderful historic villages. Enjoy exploring their small alleys and backstreets where around each corner, a new surprise awaits. Berzé la Ville is one such village crammed with gorgeous limestone houses, their fronts decorated by double storey columns and arcades. This picturesque village is also home to a number of historic monuments such as its church, the chapelle aux moines which formed part of the abbey of Cluny and a gypsum quarry.

The countryside is also adorned with a number of important and imposing chateaux, such as at Pierreclos. However the most impressive is the Chateax at Berze le Chatel. Its walls and 13 towers were built between the 11th and 14th centuries and it sits on the end of a ridge overlooking the main valley that cuts through the southern Burgundy region. Another feature of note on your walking holiday are the romanesque churches which decorate each parish such as those at Tramayes or Mazille.

Although the southern Burgundy hills are smaller than those of the Beaujolais to the north they have a feature which is distinct and which gives them some stunning, naturel view points on your independent walking holidays in this part of France. The eastern hills are lined with rocky cliffs or bluffs such as the Roche Coche, Vergisson or the celebrated Roche de Solutre. This last site is also an important archeaological site being home to man from 70,000 to 35,000 years ago. Formed by the different rock types found in the area, these rocky summits will allow you to gaze down over the beautiful countryside. Concave slopes rise smoothly from the valleys, covered in vines and a patchwork of pasture defined by hederows or stone walls. Villages occupy the valleys or strategic positions whilst above the vines the rounded summits are covered in forest.

Our independent walking holiday in this part of the Burgundy travels through the highlights of this lovely region over the course of memorable 6 days.

Discover more information about the average weather conditions in the Burgundy

Charolais & Brionnais

One of our cycling holidays passes into the Charolais regions. The Charolais is a softer and gentler landscape than the Beaujolais to the south east, and is characterised by numerous valleys and an intricate patchwork of fields. The world renowned Charolais cattle graze in the lush pastures, which frame the farms, hamlets, and chateaux that pepper the countryside. There are numerous churches and chapels dating from the 10th and 11th centuries across the area representing a rare and magnificent collection of roman architecture.