• Chardonnay Wine Trail

• 1 March - 31 October

• £485 P/P (£85 for extra night FB at Igé & £115 for extra night FB at Fuissé)
• Single supplement £145)

• + or

• 5 nights, 4 days walking through Chardonnay vineyards of Burgundy, moving between guest houses

• Wine tasting of the local chardonnay wines including the world famous Pouilly-Fuissé label.
• The Burgundy ia a region synonymous with fine wine and great food
• Historically rich region with Romanesque churches, beautiful medieval villages and chateaux, ancient farmsteads and pre-historic sites
• The medieval cité of Brancion with its ancient chateau, church and quaint buildings
• Picturesque countryside with rolling hills and rocky outcrops.
• A choice of walks on three of the days
• Beautiful guest houses in historic properties

   

• Each night you'll be staying in a different guest house; all of which are chambres d'hôte style accommodation. They are 3 star equivilant in quality offering authentic and very comfortable accommodation. They are historic properties that have been lovingly restored where you'll be reserved a warm and generous welcome and enjoy mouth-watering home cooked fresh cuisine. You have the opportunity to book extra nights at Igé and at your beautiful final guest house in Fuissé

1. Transfers to and from Lyon if needed, 5 night's accommodation in small guest houses. All breakfasts, four lunches on walking days and 3 evening meals. Full walking notes and maps, transport of luggage between guest houses

1. Travel to Lyon, France. Lunches on arrival and departure days, 2 evening meals. Drinks in all but one of the guest houses Any excursions and entrance fees. Travel insurance

1. See full list of our independent walking holidays

Walking Profile

This independent walking holiday in the Burgundy region of France is made up of 4 walks moving between guest houses. There are different walking trail options on 3 of the days meaning that the grade ranges from easy to moderate. With the easier options the walking includes an average of about 15km with less than 300m ascent and descent in the day, whilst the moderate options average 18km and include some extra ascents. The walk takes place on good paths and tracks with the odd section on small lanes. Some paths can be rough and stoney in places with the odd steeper section, so walking boots are essential.

Day 1: Arrival

Pick up from Lyon or direct to your accommodation near Tournus in the heart of the Chardonnay wine growing region.

Day 2: Tournus - Cruzille

Your walking trail traverses through chardonnay vines before reaching your first village en route - Ozenay with its chateaux and beautiful 12th century church. You'll then climb to the medieval fortress of Brancion. This is a remarkable site with the remains of its chateau overlooking the rest of a well preserved hamlet protected by a series of walls. The hamlet contains delightful stone houses, a historic covered market and a Romanesque church on the hill top edge. After exploring Brancion, your trail follows ridges and valleys with pasture bordering the streams and above chardonnay vines. Dinner and night at guest house in Cruzille. 13km or 16km, +350m

Day 3: Cruzille - Igé

Today's walk passes the beautiful chateau at Cruzille before following a vine covered valley all the way to the pretty village of Bissy-les-Maconnais. Your route keeps to the slopes above the valley bottoms providing lovely views. You'll then have the chance to visit the caves at Azé an important site for primative man, 400,000 years ago. Following this period the cave was occupied by bears for about 300,000 years and as a result it contains the most important fossil record of bears in Europe. You'll finish your day near the village of Igé at a beautiful guest house with swimming pool, surrounded by vines. 17km, +200m

It is possible to have an extra night and day at Igé, where your host will be happy to give you a lift to the town of Cluny. This is one of the most important historic towns of the region. Enjoy looking around the ruins of the Abbey, once the most important religious building in Europe, and the historic properties that line the pretty streets.

Day 4: Igé - Pierreclos

From Igé your walking trail takes you through a mixed landscape of vines and pasture, and over hills to the imposing chateau at Berzé le Chatel, first dating from the 11th century, with its three defensive walls and 13 towers (chance to visit). You then have the chance to visit the beautiful village of Berzé-la-Ville with its typical stone houses and double arcades, as well as the chapel aux moins containing some remarkable frescoes. Your walking trail continues through vines passing under some rocky outcrops and passing through a number of pretty villages such as Milly Lamartine. Your final cultural stop of the day, which is rich in architectural treasures is the beautiful 12th century chateau at Pierreclos. Your guided visit can include wine tasting. Your guest house is nearby in the shadow of the chateau. 16km or 19km, +380m

Day 5: Pierreclos - Fuissé

A great days walking through elegant vine covered slopes of the most famous vines of this part of Burgundy - Pouilly-Fuissé. Your walking trail takes you through picturesque countryside and past the Roche de Soluté, which you have the chance ascend for amazing panoramic views from its summit. It is also the home of one of the most important pre-historic sites in Europe. The top and surrounds of this impressive rock, are covered in limestone specific grassland which is home to a rich flora and fauna. You then have a choice of routes to take you to your wonderful guest house at Fuissé located on a vineyard where you can try their quality Pouilly-Fuissé and Saint Véran wines. 13km or 17km, min +200m

Day 6: Departure or extra day and night at Fuissé with a suggest additional walk)

Breakfast and transfer to Lyon.

Please note that your walking holiday may different have stops from that shown above, due to the availability of guest houses. This will not however, affect the overall walking circuit.