The Côte d'Or Travel Guide

The Côte d'Or, a department in the Burgundy region of France, is world-famous for its exceptional vineyards and rich cultural heritage. Named after its golden slopes ("côte d'or" translates to "golden slope"), this area is a prime destination for wine enthusiasts, history buffs, and lovers of French cuisine.

Wine Region

The Côte d'Or is synonymous with Burgundy wines, especially renowned for its Pinot Noir and Chardonnay varietals. The region is divided into two main sub-regions:

• Côte de Nuits: Located in the northern part of the Côte d'Or, it is famed for producing some of the finest red wines in the world, including those from the prestigious villages of Gevrey-Chambertin, Vosne-Romanée, and Nuits-Saint-Georges.

• Côte de Beaune: Situated in the southern part, this sub-region is known for its exceptional white wines, particularly those from Meursault and Puligny-Montrachet, as well as notable reds like those from Pommard and Volnay.

Key Attractions in Côte d'Or

• Hospices de Beaune

  • Description: A historic hospital founded in 1443, known for its stunning Gothic architecture and colorful tiled roof.

  • Highlights: Museum tours, the annual wine auction, and historical exhibits.

• Palais des Ducs et des États de Bourgogne (Dijon)

  • Description: The former palace of the Dukes of Burgundy, now housing the Musée des Beaux-Arts and government offices.

  • Highlights: Art collections, historic rooms, and panoramic views from the Tour Philippe le Bon.

• Musée des Beaux-Arts (Dijon)

  • Description: One of France’s oldest museums, located within the Ducal Palace.

  • Highlights: Extensive art collections from antiquity to the modern era, including works by renowned artists.

• Abbaye de Fontenay

  • Description: A UNESCO World Heritage site and one of the oldest Cistercian abbeys in Europe.

  • Highlights: Beautifully preserved Romanesque architecture, tranquil gardens, and historical exhibits.

• Château de Savigny-lès-Beaune

  • Description: A unique château with a fascinating collection of vintage cars, motorcycles, and aircraft.

  • Highlights: Museum tours, the extensive vehicle collection, and the historic château itself.

• Route des Grands Crus

  • Description: A scenic wine route that stretches through the heart of the Burgundy wine region.

  • Highlights: Picturesque landscapes, charming villages, and opportunities for wine tasting.

• La Roche de Solutré

  • Description: A striking limestone escarpment and natural site with archaeological significance.

  • Highlights: Hiking trails, panoramic views, and prehistoric artifacts.

• Château de La Rochepot

  • Description: A restored medieval castle known for its colorful Burgundian tiled roof.

  • Highlights: Guided tours, historical exhibits, and beautiful architecture.

• Musée de la Vie Bourguignonne (Dijon)

  • Description: A museum dedicated to the traditional rural life and culture of Burgundy.

  • Highlights: Exhibits on local customs, traditional clothing, and everyday life in historical Burgundy.

• Cassinomagus Archaeological Park

  • Description: An ancient Roman site featuring well-preserved thermal baths and other ruins.

  • Highlights: Archaeological tours, interactive exhibits, and historical reenactments.

Villages and Towns in Côte d'Or

The Côte d'Or department in Burgundy, France, includes several notable villages, towns, and cities, each with its own unique charm and attractions. Here are some of the key places:

Cities and Towns

• Dijon

  • Highlights: The capital of the Côte d'Or and the Burgundy region, known for its rich history, vibrant cultural scene, and culinary delights, including the famous Dijon mustard.

  • Attractions: Palais des Ducs, Musée des Beaux-Arts, Les Halles Market.

• Beaune

  • Highlights: Often considered the wine capital of Burgundy, famous for its wine production and the Hospices de Beaune.

  • Attractions: Hospices de Beaune, Musée du Vin de Bourgogne, local wineries and vineyards.

Villages

• Gevrey-Chambertin

  • Highlights: Renowned for its prestigious red wines.

  • Attractions: Wine tastings, Château de Gevrey-Chambertin.

• Vosne-Romanée

  • Highlights: Home to some of the world's most famous vineyards, producing exceptional Pinot Noir.

  • Attractions: Domaine de la Romanée-Conti, village wine tours.

• Nuits-Saint-Georges

  • Highlights: Known for its robust red wines and charming village atmosphere.

  • Attractions: Cassissium (blackcurrant museum), wine cellars, local markets.

• Pommard

  • Highlights: Famous for its full-bodied red wines.

  • Attractions: Wine estates, Pommard Castle.

• Meursault

  • Highlights: Celebrated for its exceptional white wines.

  • Attractions: Meursault Castle, wine tastings.

• Puligny-Montrachet

  • Highlights: Known for producing some of the best white wines in the world.

  • Attractions: Vineyards, wine estates.

• Aloxe-Corton

  • Highlights: Renowned for both red and white Grand Cru wines.

  • Attractions: Corton hill vineyards, local wineries.

• Santenay

  • Highlights: Notable for its spa and wine production.

  • Attractions: Santenay Castle, thermal spa, vineyards.

• Savigny-lès-Beaune

  • Highlights: Known for its charming atmosphere and quality wines.

  • Attractions: Savigny Castle and its museum, local wine tastings.

• Flavigny-sur-Ozerain

  • Highlights: A picturesque medieval village known for its anise-flavored candies and as a filming location for the movie "Chocolat."

  • Attractions: Abbaye de Flavigny, Saint-Genest Church, charming streets.

Other Notable Villages

• Volnay: Famous for its elegant red wines.

• Chambolle-Musigny: Known for its high-quality red wines.

• Fixin: Offers beautiful landscapes and fine wines.

• Saint-Romain: Renowned for its scenic beauty and historical sites.

Top 10 Vineyards in Côte d'Or

The Côte d'Or in Burgundy is renowned for its exceptional vineyards, many of which produce some of the most prestigious wines in the world. Most of these top vineyards in the Côte d'Or are only accessible by appointment and may be challenging to visit, with some being highly exclusive and primarily reserved for wine industry professionals and serious collectors.

Domaine de la Romanée-Conti (Vosne-Romanée)

• Highlights: Produces some of the most sought-after and expensive wines in the world.

• Notable Wines: Romanée-Conti, La Tâche, Richebourg.

Domaine Leroy (Vosne-Romanée)

• Highlights: Known for its biodynamic practices and high-quality wines.

• Notable Wines: Clos de Vougeot, Richebourg, Romanée-Saint-Vivant.

Domaine Armand Rousseau (Gevrey-Chambertin)

• Highlights: Renowned for its Grand Cru wines from Gevrey-Chambertin.

• Notable Wines: Chambertin, Clos de Bèze, Charmes-Chambertin.

Domaine Comte Georges de Vogüé (Chambolle-Musigny)

• Highlights: A prestigious estate producing elegant and refined wines.

• Notable Wines: Musigny, Bonnes-Mares, Chambolle-Musigny.

Domaine Leflaive (Puligny-Montrachet)

• Highlights: Famous for its exceptional white wines.

• Notable Wines: Montrachet, Chevalier-Montrachet, Bâtard-Montrachet.

Domaine Ponsot (Morey-Saint-Denis)

• Highlights: Known for its traditional winemaking methods and high-quality red wines.

• Notable Wines: Clos de la Roche, Clos St. Denis, Chapelle-Chambertin.

Domaine Faiveley (Nuits-Saint-Georges)

• Highlights: One of the largest and most respected producers in Burgundy.

• Notable Wines: Corton-Charlemagne, Chambertin-Clos de Bèze, Nuits-Saint-Georges.

Domaine Méo-Camuzet (Vosne-Romanée)

• Highlights: Produces rich and complex wines, focusing on Grand and Premier Crus.

• Notable Wines: Richebourg, Clos de Vougeot, Vosne-Romanée.

Domaine des Comtes Lafon (Meursault)

• Highlights: Renowned for its exceptional white wines and biodynamic practices.

• Notable Wines: Meursault, Montrachet, Volnay Santenots-du-Milieu.

Domaine de la Vougeraie (Premeaux-Prissey)

• Highlights: A biodynamic estate producing a wide range of high-quality wines.

• Notable Wines: Vougeot Le Clos Blanc, Gevrey-Chambertin, Nuits-Saint-Georges Les Damodes.

Best Vineyards in Côte d'Or That You Can Visit

While some of the most prestigious vineyards in Côte d'Or are difficult to visit, several renowned vineyards welcome visitors more readily. Here are some of the best vineyards in Côte d'Or that you can visit:

Domaine Chanson (Beaune)

• Highlights: Located in a historic 18th-century bastion, Domaine Chanson offers an excellent tour of its cellars and tastings of their superb wines.

• Visit Policy: Open to the public; guided tours and tastings available by appointment.

Maison Joseph Drouhin (Beaune)

• Highlights: This well-known producer offers comprehensive tours that include their historic cellars under the city of Beaune.

• Visit Policy: Open to the public; guided tours and tastings available by appointment.

Bouchard Père et Fils (Beaune)

• Highlights: One of the oldest wine houses in Burgundy, offering tours of their extensive cellars and tastings of their wide range of wines.

• Visit Policy: Open to the public; guided tours and tastings available by appointment.

Château de Pommard (Pommard)

• Highlights: A beautiful estate offering tours, tastings, and wine education experiences, focusing on their biodynamic practices and exceptional wines.

• Visit Policy: Open to the public; guided tours and tastings available by appointment.

Domaine Drouhin-Laroze (Gevrey-Chambertin)

• Highlights: A family-owned estate offering informative tours and tastings of their high-quality wines from the Côte de Nuits.

• Visit Policy: Open to the public; guided tours and tastings available by appointment.

Patriarche Père et Fils (Beaune)

• Highlights: Known for its vast cellars beneath Beaune, offering extensive tours and tastings.

• Visit Policy: Open to the public; guided tours and tastings available by appointment.

Domaine Jean-Marc Brocard (Chablis)

• Highlights: Specializes in Chablis wines, offering tours of their vineyards and tastings of their crisp, mineral-driven wines.

• Visit Policy: Open to the public; guided tours and tastings available by appointment.

Domaine de la Vougeraie (Premeaux-Prissey)

• Highlights: A biodynamic estate with a wide range of wines, offering tours and tastings.

• Visit Policy: Open to the public; guided tours and tastings available by appointment.

Louis Jadot (Beaune)

• Highlights: A prominent Burgundy producer offering comprehensive tours and tastings of their extensive range of wines.

• Visit Policy: Open to the public; guided tours and tastings available by appointment.

Domaine Armand Heitz (Chassagne-Montrachet)

• Highlights: Offers vineyard tours, tastings, and insights into their sustainable winemaking practices.

• Visit Policy: Open to the public; guided tours and tastings available by appointment.

Cultural and Culinary Highlights

• Burgundy Cuisine: The Côte d'Or is celebrated for its gastronomic heritage, featuring dishes like Boeuf Bourguignon, Coq au Vin, and Escargots de Bourgogne. Local markets and restaurants showcase the best of regional produce and specialties.

• Annual Events: The region hosts various festivals and events, including the Fête de la Vigne in Dijon and the Hospices de Beaune Wine Auction, drawing visitors from around the world.

Scenic Beauty

The Côte d'Or's landscape is a mosaic of rolling vineyards, dense forests, and charming villages, making it perfect for scenic drives, cycling, and hiking. The Route des Grands Crus, a picturesque wine trail, takes travelers through some of the most famous vineyards and quaint villages in the region.

Visiting Tips

• Best Time to Visit: Spring and autumn are ideal times to visit, offering pleasant weather and vibrant vineyard colors. The wine harvest season in September and October is particularly special.

• Transportation: While a car is the best way to explore the region, there are also well-connected train services to major towns like Dijon and Beaune.

• Book in Advance: Many of these vineyards require appointments for tours and tastings.

• Plan Your Route: Many of these vineyards are located near each other, making it possible to visit multiple estates in one day.

• Wine Tasting Etiquette: Be respectful of the local customs and knowledgeable staff. Tasting fees may apply, which are often waived if you purchase wine.

• Transportation: Consider hiring a car or joining a guided wine tour to visit multiple vineyards conveniently.

• Guided Tours: Consider joining a guided wine tour that includes some of these top vineyards to ensure access and a comprehensive experience.