Wine, Gastronomy and Heritage in Burgundy Tour. 5 days 4 nights

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1 Wine, Gastronomy and Heritage in Burgundy Tour 5 days 4 nights Wine is by far the most well known ambassador of Burgundy, but there is more than one Burgundy; each vineyard, each wine maker brings a different touch to the wine and during this tour we offer you the chance to discover for yourself not just the richness of the viticulture but also the cultural wealth of Burgundy. So, don t wait any longer! Come to Burgundy! Please note that this tour can be modified to suit your requirements. Day am Arrive in Macon Wine tasting of Maconnais wines In the Maconnais vineyards, the vines have a different appearance; this is not a line of ramparts like in the Côte d Or or the Côte Chalonnaise, here the landscape is a contrast between vines and valleys; and if for white wines the Chardonnay remains at the top, revealing with the more gentle climate nuances unknown further north, the Pinot Noir largely cedes its place to the Gamay for the red wines pm Lunch 1.30pm Leave for Cluny 2.30pm Guided tour of Cluny Abbey Founded in 910, the Benedictine Abbey of Cluny was governed by a series of remarkable abbots and became the home of the most important monastic order in the western world, with 10,000 monks spread all over Europe. The abbey church, which was once the largest in Christendom, is stunning with its out of the ordinary proportions. The tallest vaults in the Romanesque world culminate at more than 30 metres under the Holy Water bell tower, which remains today an indication of its huge size. Philippe Berthé, CMN, Paris 4pm Leave for Chalon sur Saône 5pm Taste the wines of the Côte Chalonnaise in the heart of the town. Introduction to the Côte Chalonnaise vineyards followed by wine tasting accompanied by gougères. The Maison des Vins was created in 1982 bringing together a handful of winemakers, cooperatives and wine merchants whose objective was to create a shop window for the Côte Chalonnaise. The Maison des Vins goal is to showcase the Grand Cru Burgundies of the Côte Chalonnaise. In just a few years the Maison des Vins has become an integral part of the Chalonnaise tourism and cultural landscape. There are two selections per year governing the life of this house; the Spring/Summer selection (from Easter to harvest festival) and an Autumn/Winter selection (from harvest festival to Easter). A jury assembled for the occasion made up of winemakers, professionals from the business and enlightened amateurs, who get together and blind taste the wines, finally selecting the 122 best wines. 6.30pm Arrive at your hotel in Chalon sur Saône and settle in. Dinner in the hotel and the rest of the evening at liberty.

2 Day 2 9am Leave the hotel 9.30 Arrive in Tournus 10am Guided tour of the Abbey Saint Philibert Built to house the relics of Philibert their founding saint, by monks from Noirmoutier who were fleeing the Norman invasion, the Tournus abbey is one of the most prestigious sanctuaries of Romanesque primary art. Remarkably well preserved, with its pink and ochre stonework it dominates the town of Tournus on the right bank of the Saône am - Wine tasting Vines, traditionally cultivated in Burgundy, are an important economic element to the Tournus people. The terroir, the exposure of the vines, the climate as well as the work of the wine makers brings out the best from the Chardonnay grape variety. The wine tasting will take place in a new discovery centre in Tournus dedicated to the vines and wines of Burgundy. From the geology to the art of wine tasting, taking in the grape varieties, the aromas and the lifecycle of the vine, all the secrets of Burgundy wine will be revealed! 1pm Lunch in a restaurant 3pm Leave for Cormatin 4pm Guided tour of the Chateau. Built at the beginning of the 17 th century, the Chateau de Cormatin maintains some rare original details, like its staircase and the decoration in some of its rooms. The principal dwelling and one wing at right angles surrounding the main courtyard are the only parts that remain. The estate consists of a 12 hectare park with flower beds, a large box maze and traditional kitchen garden. A planned garden has existed since 1620 which is when the current chateau was built. 6pm Leave for Chalon 7pm Dinner at your hotel and evening at liberty.

3 Day 3 9am Guided tour of Chalon sur Saône old town Chalon came into being as the main port to the Eduens people during the Gaulish period and saw its glory days at the beginning of the Middle Ages as the Merovingian capital of Burgundy, and then as the site of famous international fairs. Chalon sur Saône also owes its fame to Joseph Nicephore Niepce, who was born here in In 1824 he is credited with inventing photography just a few kilometres from here. Today it is a city of Art and History, where the Old Town has half-timbered houses built between the 15 th and 17 th centuries, the restored facade of St Vincent s cathedral and the classical mansions of the 17 th and 18 th centuries am Leave for Rully on the Côte Chalonnaise Admire this unique landscape interspersed with the hills of the Côte Chalonnaise; this area, measuring 25 kilometres long by 7 kilometres wide, is located in the department of Saône et Loire. The vineyards originally planted by the monks of Cluny have been here for over a thousand years and stretch along the south east facing hillsides. 11am Arrive at a Vineyard With a guide, discover the processes involved in making Cremant de Bourgogne, amongst traditionally used machines and tools. Tour the vaulted cellars carved out of the rocks, and have the mysteries surrounding the making and maturing of wines explained. Taste 6 wines: Rully, Givry, Mercurey, Montagny, Bouzeron and Cremant de Bourgogne pm Buffet lunch: enjoy a light bite composed of traditional regional produce, accompanied by the wines from the tasting. 2pm Leave for Vougeot in the Côte de Nuits The landscape rises as you enter the Côte de Nuits; a band of around twenty kilometres known affectionately as the Champs Elysees of Burgundy is revealed. This is the home of many Grand Crus and Premier Crus. 3pm Guided tour of the Chateau de Clos de Vougeot During the 12 th century Cistercian monks built a series of wine making and maturing cellars in the middle of the vines. Over the course of several centuries the buildings were transformed into a chateau. Today this place is still imbued with traditions that are best shown during the Chapters of the Brotherhood of the Chevaliers du Tastevin. 4.30pm Wine tasting at an estate in Nuits St Georges 6pm Leave for Chalon sur Saône 7pm Return to your hotel 7.30pm Dinner in a gourmet restaurant 11pm Return to your hotel for the night.

4 Day am Leave for Dijon 10am Guided tour of Dijon town Mustard, spice bread, blackcurrant liqueur... our specialities are part of the heritage of our Burgundian capital! During the course of this tour, they will also have an effect on your tastebuds 12pm - Lunch in town 2pm - Leave for Beaune 3pm - Guided tour of the Hôtel-Dieu de Beaune Today the Hôtel-Dieu covers a large area of the centre of Beaune with its museum, its three courtyards, its outbuildings, its 15 th century bastion and its hundreds of metres of cellars housing, most notably, the Hospice s own wine collection. The four buildings that are open to the public, surrounding the main courtyard, represent the configuration of the traditional Hotel-Dieu. In the main paupers ward, which is decorated with unique multicoloured beams, there is a sense of peacefulness that leaves nobody unmoved. The Sainte-Anne, Saint Nicolas, Saint Hugues and Saint Louis wards are full of treasures: statues, furniture, pottery, paintings, tapestries... and the kitchen has been restored in the exact image of that which was there over a century ago. The polyptych of the Last Judgement, a major work painted by the Flemish artist Rogier Van der Weyden, is beautifully displayed in a climate controlled room. 4.30pm - Leave for the Côte de Beaune The Burgundy wine capital, the Côte de Beaune is full of famous and evocative names: Aloxe-Corton, Beaune, Pommard, Volnay, Meursault, Puligny-Montrachet, Chassagne-Montrachet. 5pm - Wine tasting at a château :Discover the enclosed vineyard, the cellars and taste the wines of the estate. 6.30pm - Leave for Chalon-sur-Saône 7.00pm - Dinner at your hotel, evening at liberty.

5 Day 5 9am Leave your hotel in Chalon sur Saône and head to Guédelon 12pm Lunch in the Guédelon Tavern A mediaeval menu is served here. 2pm Guided tour of the site The guide takes you on a tour around the site, showing the main trades and skills and explains the role and function of this type of fortress, bringing to life the day to day reality of the builders of Guédelon. You will see the work already completed and that currently under construction. This is a genuine journey through time. 4pm Leave for St Bris Le Vineux The world famous vineyards of Chablis and Grand Auxerrois are equidistant between Beaune and Paris, and it is certain that vines arrived in Burgundy from the north during the Gallo-Roman period. 5pm Visit to the Bailly Cellars and wine tasting Famous for their Cremant de Bourgogne, the Bailly cellars are in a former underground quarry, the stone from which was used in the construction of many of France s great national monuments (Notre Dame de Paris for example). The wine cellars, whose galleries cover 4 hectares and are 50 metres below ground, are a magical place to discover. 6.30pm Leave for Auxerre 7pm Arrive in Auxerre End of the tour.

6 Prices: Number of people Based on 3*** hotel Price per person Supply of coach/group , Subject to modification and availability on confirmation. Price includes: Wine tasting in Macon Lunches on days 1, 2, 4 and 5, drinks included Guided tour of Cluny Abbey Wine tasting in Chalon sur Saône Guided tour of St Philibert s Abbey Wine tasting in Tournus Entry fee and guided tour of the Chateau de Cormatin Guided tour of Chalon sur Saône Wine tasting and snacks at Rully Guided tour of Clos de Vougeot Chateau Wine tasting at Nuits St Georges Dinner in a gourmet restaurant Guided tour of Dijon town Entry fee and guided tour of the Hotel Dieu in Beaune Wine tasting on a Côte de Beaune estate Entry fees and guided tour of the Chateau de Guedelon Tour and wine tasting in a wine cellar 4 nights half board accommodation in a 3*** hotel in Chalon (excluding drinks) Local taxes Price does not include: Personal expenditure Transport