Page 329 - (DK Eyewitness) Travel Guide - France

century tapestries. With some
hints of early Renaissance style, ANNUAL CHARITY
they delicately illustrate the life WINE AUCTION
of the Virgin Mary in 19 scenes. Wine lovers will know
of the Hospices de
Musée du Vin de Beaune wine auction,
Bourgogne which has been held at
" ⌂ Rue d’Enfer § 03 80 22 this famous medieval
08 19 # 10am–6pm Wed–Sun hospital each November
(also Mon Apr–Sep) ¢ Dec– since 1859. It is one of
mid-Mar the most prestigious
events in the wine
calendar of France, and
20 all of the proceeds go
to the modern hospital
Brionnais and various charities.
In the 2015 auction, the
! E4 ⌂ Saône-et-Loire most expensive barrel
~ Mâcon £ Paray-le- ever sold went for
Monial, Roanne @ Paray- €117,700 (£83,300).
19 le-Monial n Marcigny; 03
Beaune 85 25 39 06
A small, peaceful rural district, monastery, while the church
! E4–F4 ⌂ Côte d’Or £ @
n 6 blvd Perpeuil; www. the Brionnais, grazed by white at St­Julien­de­Jonzy has a
Charolais cattle, is squeezed
very finely carved tympanum.
beaune-tourisme.fr
between the River Loire and A small town by the River
The old centre of Beaune, the Beaujolais foot hills in the Genette, La Clayette is graced
snug within its ramparts and far south of Burgundy. by a château (not open) set in
encircling boulevards, is very The area has an abundance a lake. In nearby Curbigny is
walkable. Its indisputable of Romanesque churches, the 18th­century Château de
treasure is the Hospices de most built of the local ochre­ Drée, with its Louis XV and
Beaune, while the Hôtel des hued stone. The 11th­century Louis XVI salons and chapel.
Ducs de Bourgogne, built in church of Anzy­le­Duc has a Southeast of La Clayette,
the 14th–16th centuries, majestic three­tiered poly­ lonely Montagne de Dun rises
houses the Musée du Vin de gonal tower and exquisitely just over 700 m (2,300 ft) and
Bourgogne. Behind its flam­ carved capitals. At Semur­en­ offers a pano ramic view. Full
boyant façade is an interesting Brionnais, the birthplace of of sleepy corners and quiet
display of trad itional wine­ Cluny’s abbot St Hugues, the byways, this is one of the best
making equipment. church was inspired by his places to picnic in Burgundy.
Further to the north lies the
Collégiale Notre­Dame, begun
in the early 12th century. The
mainly Romanesque church
contains five very fine 15th­

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