A drive across Burgundy will take you through splendid hilly landscapes covered with vineyards. These "climates" are all winegrowing terroirs that bring the plots, grape varieties and know-how together. They all give rise to great vintages renowned throughout the world. Their discovery goes hand in hand with equally exceptional visits to museums featuring outsider art and modern art, a Cistercian monastery classified as a UNESCO World Heritage Site, and the house of the poet and novelist Alphonse de Lamartine.
This route was created by Jean-Michel Lorain, Owner and Maître de Maison of the Côte Saint-Jacques & Spa
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Restaurant and hotel on a river. The Côte Saint Jacques, in the heart of Burgundy, is a captivating destination. Most of the pleasant rooms have nice terraces, and there are panoramic views from the jacuzzi on the banks of the river Yonne. With an array of activities available, from cooking lessons, to strolling along the canal, an indoor swimming pool, a spa and special programmes for children, you will not be at a loss for things to do. Chef Jean-Michel Lorain, the hotel’s talented and exuberant owner, will welcome you like a friend, and if you’re lucky, he will let slip the secrets of his recipes.
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This outsider art museum is rather unknown, created by the architect and painter-sculptor Alain Bourbonnais in the sheds of his house in the countryside of Dicy. The museum houses wonderful pieces of atypical art imagined by eccentric fantasist and inspired artists who were farmers, miners or just young...
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On the route
Noyers-sur-Serein
With its many houses, partly made from wood and its historic fortifications, Noyers-sur-Serein is listed among the most beautiful villages in France. Many artists have lived in the village for decades. It is at number 53, place du Grenier à Sel, where one finds the famous Burgundian ceramist François...
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Fontenay abbey
Secluded and sheltered by vegetation, Fontenay abbey remains an amazing sight. This Cistercian 12th century monastery, with its magnificent Roman architecture, has been listed by UNESCO as a World Heritage site since 1981. As soon as you open its doors, you find such intimacy and grandness. We walk through...
Restaurant and hotel in a village. The name Bernard Loiseau evokes a unique sensory voyage and an authentic culinary experience. Chef Louis Philippe Vigilant has added his talent to the legacy left by his master, with cuisine based on simplicity, powerful tastes and new flavours. But the food isn’t the only attraction at this stunning Burgundy location: owner Dominique Loiseau has made this hotel exceptional in every way. The breakfast room is a listed historical monument. The dining rooms offer a panorama view of the gardens, the rooms are elegantly decorated and at the spa, the welcome is warm and attentive. This is a magical and timeless place where the idea of well-being takes on its full meaning.
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The name ‘La Côte’ brings to mind great Burgundy wines. Sixty-five kilometres of vines to each side of the road between the city of Dijon and the village of Santenay. Each hamlet or slope here is an international wine landmark. Along the Côte de Nuits, stop at Gevrey-Chambertin, Vougeot, Chambolle-Musigny,...
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A drink at Chez Bruno, wine bar
Located in the antiques quarter, in Dijon, this little bar is a meeting place for wine-lovers, viticulturists, and other oenologists. Well known in the world of gastronomy, its owner, Bruno Crouzat, has an excellent palate and a sensible motto: ‘My tastes are simple: I am happy with the best’. Over glasses...
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The Polar Bear at the François Pompon Museum (Saulieu)
His name is not well known, but his work has been exhibited all over the world. François Pompon (1855-1933) is exhibited at the Musée d'Orsay, and the Metropolitan Museum of Art in New York. A native of Saulieu, this animal sculptor is famous for his majestic Polar Bear, which has been copied many times,...
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On the route
Burgundy seen from the sky
A little over a mile northwest of the historic town of Autun, you’ll find the Morvan Aero Club at the Autun-Bellevue airfield. Open to all, this club of enthusiasts offers flights over the region in small planes (such as the Aquila 210, Robin DR420, and Piper PA28). An original way to discover the castles,...
Restaurant and hotel in a village. A true institution of French gastronomy and a charming hotel, the Maison Lameloise has cultivated art de vivre since more than 90 years. In medieval times the cuisine attracted already the Dukes of Burgundy. This long and delightful story is continued by Chef Éric Pras, MOF (Best Craftsman of France), and Frédéric Lamy at the head of the former coach house dating back to the 15th century. The fresh, precise and delicate cuisine of Éric Pras gives this iconic restaurant a new, young image. With the fine tart of Burgundy snails and the potagère of fresh herbs or the suckling veal chop rubbed with marjoram and orange, it pays a delicious tribute to the region and the heritage of the property.
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Fostering organic farming since 2004, this beautiful area of Chevannes in The Côte de Nuits vinifies over 17 hectares, of which six are on the estate. Chambolle, Nuits Saint-Georges, Gevrey-Chambertin and Morey Saint-Denis…, you can find these excellent wines and much more on our wine list. These fruity...
For Yohann and Stéphanie Chapuis, their bet has paid off. They have re-ignited the flame of this legendary restaurant in Tournus by honouring Jean Ducloux, the patron saint of Burgundy gastronomy. Trained in the kitchens of many a historic Relais & Châteaux, chef Yohann has taken traditional cuisine...
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Lamartine House Maison de Lamartine
It is at Milly, alongside other children of winemakers, where Alphonse de Lamartine grew up. A carefree and happy childhood marks the work of the writer. In 1830, a short time after having been elected at the French Academy, he inherited the family house before running unsuccessfully for a seat at the...
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Cluny Abbey
It is hard for us today to imagine that during the 12th century Cluny was the most important abbey of the West. Founded three centuries earlier in 910, the abbey has congregated nearly 10,000 monks. The “promenade of angels” maybe has lost its shine since then, but it remains one of the key places for...
Restaurant and hotel in town. Atop an enchanting hill, the Villa Florentine offers all the spirit and charm of the Italian Renaissance right in the heart of Lyon. The lush green terraces of this 17th century former convent offer exceptional views of the historical city of Lyon, a Unesco World Heritage site. Period furniture and contemporary works meet in the rooms, havens of peace and softness. An exquisitely calm pool invites you to a voyage of the senses. In the kitchen the chef deploys treasures of refinement and places the culinary focus on the product. At nightfall, the sparkling city lights join together with the stars.
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Located in the west of Lyon, in Écully, the restaurant Saisons welcomes you to Château du Vivier — the prestigious showcase of the Institut Paul Bocuse, an internationally renowned school of culinary arts and hotel management. In the heart of a seven-hectare park, this exceptional restaurant with its...
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Gourmet stroll through the Halles de Lyon - Paul Bocuse
The Halles de Lyon is considered to be the "stomach of the city", and is an essential stop for food lovers. The producers' stalls are adjacent to areas dedicated to enjoying a quick lunch on the run. Regional products such as Lyon-style quenelles, cold cut platters, Beaujolais wines, and praline tarts...
**Offer cannot be combined, valid for an itinerary in at least 2 different Relais & Châteaux establishments, reserved with Relais & Châteaux concierges, discount applicable on certain rates and certain establishments. List available from our concierges.
Total price communicated as an indication, based on a stay of the number of nights recommended on this webpage, taking place in the next 3 months, and based on double occupancy (excluding recommended activities, excluding properties not bookable online).
Reservation Service
To give you inspiration, Relais & Châteaux presents the Routes du Bonheur:
Suggestions for travel itineraries that you can fully personalise according to your wishes and the experiences you would like to discover. Our consultants are available to help customise your route and assist you in making reservations at our properties. It is up to you to reserve any recommended activities on-site or nearby that might interest you.
** Offer cannot be combined, valid for an itinerary in at least 2 different Relais & Châteaux establishments, reserved with Relais & Châteaux concierges, discount applicable on certain rates and certain establishments. List available from our concierges. Call our concierge to tailormade your booking and itinerary*. *Price of a local call
The most beautiful vineyards of Burgundy
This route was created by Jean-Michel Lorain, Owner and Maître de Maison of the Côte Saint-Jacques & Spa