Page 133 - (DK Eyewitness) Back Roads Travel Guide - France

DRIVE 11: Slopes of Gold 131

0 kilometres 10
Left Vintage poster of a famous crème de cassis
0 miles 10 producer at Le Cassissium, see p132 Below Canal de
Bourgogne near Noyers, see p134
L‘ABBAYE DE
FONTENAY PLAN YOUR DRIVE
Montbard
Start/finish: Beaune to Nolay.
Fain-lès-Montbard
Number of days: 4, including a day to
Canal de
cover the vineyards and villages of the
Bourgogne
Venarey-les-Laumes Côtes de Beaune, a day in the Morvan
FOUILLES D’ALÉSIA
Alise-Sainte-Reine park region and half a day between
Thenissey Vézelay and the château of Bazoches.
Pouillenay
FLAVIGNY- Distance: 360 km (225 miles).
Semur-en- SUR-OZERAIN Salmaise
Auxois
Road conditions: In the départements
of Yonne and Nièvre, some roads are of
Posanges Villy-en-
Auxois poor quality; however, there are warn-
Vitteaux ings of very sharp corners and unstable
Brenne
road edges. In the Morvan park there
Précy-sous-Thil St-Thibault KEY are many potholes on smaller roads.
Drive route
Fontangy When to go: Burgundy summers are
Aubigny-lès- very hot, and winters are long and
CÔTE-D’OR Sombernon Sombernon
wet. The area of the Morvan park is
Missery espe cially to be avoided then.
Chailly-sur- Pouilly-
Armançon en-Auxois Autumn is the best time to visit.
Commarin
Opening hours: Most sights and
Thoisy-la-
Berchère Vandenesse-en-Auxois national museums usually close on
CHÂTEAUNEUF-EN-AUXOIS
Monday. Municipal museums close
Clomot Ste-Sabine Veuvey-sur-Ouche on Tuesday.
Liernais LE
Bruant CASSISSIUM
Pont d’Ouche Meuilley Main market days: Beaune: Wed, Sat;
Bouilland Nuits-St- Saulieu: Thu, Sat; Autun: Wed, Fri;
Arnay-le-Duc Georges
Bard-le-Régulier Nolay: Mon.
Fussey
Bligny-sur-Ouche Savigny- Shopping: After ordering bottles of
lès-Beaune ALOXE- post-home wines from the cellar
Barnay CORTON
doors in Beaune and its wine-growing
region, head to the villages to buy
Cordesse Igornay Ivry-en-
Montagne
Thury BEAUNE artisan picnic and gardening baskets,
SAÔNE- Pommard made from willow, wicker and wire.
ET -LOIRE Château de Sully
Meursault Major festivals: Beaune: Festival
Creusefond Épinac Cours Eau Jardins, Jul–Sep; Jazz à
La Rochepot
Puligny- Beaune, Sep; Vézelay: Rencontres
la Drée
NOLAY Montrachet
Auxy Demigny Musicales de Vézelay, Aug; Saulieu: Fête
Montagne des Chagny du Charolais and Nuits Cajun and
AUTUN Trois Croix
521 m Zydeco, Aug; Autun: Féte du Livre, Apr.
DAYTRIP OPTIONS
Parts of the itinerary make perfect day
trips. Wine enthusiasts can visit the
Côte de Beaune vineyards; castle and
countryside lovers will like the area
around Châteauneuf-en-Auxois;
families will enjoy the Lac des Settons
and the activities it offers. For more
details, see p137.