As the dazzling jewel in the crown of France’s wine making regions, Burgundy has long attracted wine and travel enthusiasts to the surrounding vineyards that brought us Chardonnay and Pinot Noir
The region, also known as ‘Bourgogne’, can be found on the slopes settled along the Côte d’Or: a 50km stretch of limestone hills with the ideal exposure and meso-climate for producing some of the finest and most expensive wines in the world.
The historical town of Beaune is considered the wine capital of Burgundy and comes swathed with a heritage of hidden tunnels, cobbled streets, striking gothic facades and wine cellars offering unique tasting experiences.
Many visitors to Burgundy use Beaune as a base to explore the surrounding wine regions, which include Chablis, Côte de Nuits, Côte de Beaune, Côte Chalonnaise and Mâconnais. The town is a walled city with many of the original battlements, ramparts and the moat having survived the medieval and renaissance periods. Hotels in Beaune, Burgundy cater for wine tourists from across the world, with around 50 different hotels in the town centre and surrounding area providing 4,500 rooms of varying standards to visitors.
Beaune hotels directly in the centre of town can be more difficult to find, but they do have the advantage of being closer to principle sights and attractions including the majestic Hospices de Beaune, a former charitable hospital for the poor that was founded in 1443 and remains one of the finest examples of French 15th century architecture – although it is now a museum as opposed to a place of medicine.
At Wine Paths, our local experts can organise luxury stays in Beaune as well as exclusive wine tours and activities of the Burgundy region that are tailor-made to your specific requirements. Our portfolio of hotels in Beaune include the five-star Hostellerie le Cedre – a sumptuous upscale hotel featuring 40 individually decorated rooms surrounded by beautiful gardens scattered with centennial trees.
The hotel is within walking distance from the town’s Musée du Vin de Bourgogne wine museum and the Musée de l'Hôtel-Dieu, which houses local art and furnishings from the Middle Ages. It also features the gourmet Restaurant Le Clos du Cèdre, where guests can dine on exquisite food in an elegant master house from the XIX century.
Elsewhere, the Hotel le Cep and Spa Marie de Bourgogne owes its charm to the union of two private mansions and their 16th century courtyards – featuring 65 rooms including 29 suites, all of which are named after Burgundy wines. This luxury boutique hotel in Beaune also boasts a state of the art spa and wellness centre with over 12 different sensorial experiences, including cryotherapy, hydrotherapy, and balneotherapy. And the neighbouring Michelin starred Loiseau des Vignes restaurant is regarded as one of the finest in the region, serving traditional dishes from Burgundy that are revisited by the head chef, Mourad Haddouche. It is also the only restaurant in Europe to serve its entire wine list of 70 bottles by the glass.
Visitors will, of course, be attracted by wine but there is more to Burgundy than simply wine tasting – with the Côte d’Or alone claiming 27 per cent of the country’s historic sites and the region’s vineyards recently being recognised as a UNESCO World Heritage Site.
Visit our destination guide to the region before planning a stay in the lap of luxury at one of the best hotels in Beaune, Burgundy.