The walled capital of Burgundy vin is surrounded by the Côte d’Or vineyards. It’s a leading light in œnotourisme (wine tourism), but also a very pretty place to visit with 15th-century architecture and quaint cobbled streets that look like something from a storybook. Situated on the Bouzaise River, Beaune is part of the Côte-d’Or département, southwest of Dijon — which provides the majority of its major transport links. Restaurants, cafes and bi-weekly markets delight gourmands and of course, a wine tasting session is all but mandatory. Here are our favourite places to stay in town.
Hostellerie Cèdre & Spa Beaune
Overlooking Beaune’s ramparts, this 40-bedroom hotel places an emphasis on wellbeing and good food. Its refined Michelin-starred restaurant, Clos du Cèdre, is housed in the adjacent 19th-century wine grower’s mansion with original decor and an outdoor terrace. There’s a lounge bar with an imposing fireplace, games, a piano and library, as well as a cigar cellar beneath ground. And there’s the Nuxe Spa, located in a stunning vaulted stone cellar with a jacuzzi, hammam and chic treatment cabins. Bedrooms are colourful yet serene, with reverse cycle air conditioning and Nuxe bath products.
Hostellerie De Levernois
A charming riverside hideaway, Hostellerie De Levernois is a rustic white mansion, surrounded by six hectares of parkland and century-old trees. Ingredients from its vegetable garden are used in the creation of Bistrot du Bord de l’Eau’s dishes, all of which are cooked in the original 18th-century kitchen. Choose wine from a selection of around 1000 bottles, kept in the property’s cellar. Rooms boast period features such as wooden beams and exposed stone walls, complemented by upmarket French country chic decor. The Relais & Château property is just three miles from the station and minutes from the highway, yet feels wonderfully secluded.