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Southern Burgundy Bike Trips
On this page, you will find...
If you would like to see a map of our different French routes, it is here.
And, for a comparison of our South Burgundy route with our other French trips, see here.
A trip that showcases all that you’ve heard about France, and much that you haven’t. The world’s most precious vineyards, 15th century villages, Renaissance castles, great art, some of France’s best cuisine, and one of her most beautiful cities, long ago a capital of a vast country.
But we also spend time off the beaten track, in deep forests and pastoral farmlands, far from famous wine towns.
Cluny, once a center of medieval spirituality, is now a backwater, charmingly presided over by a “Tower of Cheeses.” The 14th c. Nolay market pavillion stands on one of the prettiest town squares we know, the lot forgotten by time. And one of our best cycling days follows an old rail bed, past a castle with a hedgerow maze in which your bike’s gps is going to be of absolutely no use.
Come and travel with us in the very heart of France, a place that knows how to live!
The following trips visit Southern Burgundy:
Biking Transcontinental (5 weeks)
Visits Northern Burgundy, Switzerland, the Italian Lakes, the Austrian Alps, and the Danube Valley
Tour de France (3 weeks)
Visits Southern Burgundy and two other French routes
Burgundy Biking (2 weeks)
Visits Northern and Southern Burgundy
C’est Cheese (2 weeks)
Southern Burgundy and Switzerland
Harvest Time on the Red Wine Roads (2 weeks)
Couples Southern Burgundy with Bordeaux & the Dordogne, for a harvest season ride in the world’s most famous red wine regions.
2 Weeks in France and Italy
Visits Southern Burgundy and Tuscany (May), or Umbria (September)
Pinot Noir Burgundy follows this itinerary exclusively.
Departure dates and prices are in a table, below.
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Day-by-Day Itinerary: Southern Burgundy
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Day of the Week
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Description
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Typical distances, in km
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Sunday
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Access Package or Riders Coming from Other Trips: DIJON
Most of you will travel to Burgundy from Paris. Destination: the capital. Of Burgundy, that is. 90 minutes at 200 mph on this thing they call the TGV. Others may come from Geneva, or Lyon....
However you get there, Dijon is one of France's most interesting cities. Burgundy’s gastronomic, as well as political, center: a perfect introduction to our route. The region’s four most famous products are well-displayed: mustard, cassis (black currants), wine, and snails. Mix and match them according to taste (editorial comment: yuck). Visit the old town, the medieval Cathedral, the Palace of the Ducs de Bourgogne. Or perhaps dabble in a wine tasting. A Blue Marble Trip Coordinator is typically in Dijon on Sunday night, and will organize an informal dinner for willing participants.
Half Baggage |
Lots, but probably on a train
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Monday
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Meeting Your Trip.
Riders starting with this route assemble in Dijon on Monday morning.
VINEYARDS of the CÔTE de NUITS
Enter the grape greenery at Burgundy’s heart. Cycling through vineyards is one of our favorite pastimes. As you get used to it, you start to feel the special rhythm of this unusual agricultural domain. We pass through Marsannay-la-Côte, Fixin, Gevrey-Chambertin, Chambolle-Musigny, Vougeot, Vosne-Romanée... along the Route des Grands Crus (loosely, the “Great Wine Road”) on our way to Nuits-St.-Georges. Names familiar from any great restaurant’s wine list. The town of Nuits lends its name to the whole area: the Côte de Nuits.
Surrounding us tonight are arguably the world’s best red wine vineyards, producing the elixir so carefully tasted by the Brotherhood of the Knights of Winetasting in Vougeot (no, we are not making this up). |
25 k, but it feels like so much more
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Tuesday
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BEAUNE, MEURSAULT
More vineyard biking today, and more famous names. After a climb to a ridge above the valley for a spectacular view of the whole hillside and the Saône River basin, we pass into the southern half of this famous wine-producing region and to Beaune, the center of the Burgundy wine trade, and center of the appropriately-named Côte de Beaune. Pause for lunch, visit the 15th-century hospital or the wine cooperative, wander through the walled town. Pernand-Vergelesse, Aloxe-Corton, Pommard, Volnay, Meursault, Puligny-Montrachet, Chassagne-Montrachet add their prestigious names to yesterday’s wine list.
At the end of the day, a little side valley takes us into the Hautes Côtes de Beaune, and to Nolay, a charming 17th century market town.
Half Baggage |
55 k
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Wednesday
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La ROCHEPOT, the CÔTE de BEAUNE
Depending on how you feel, today could be as short as a trip to a local swimming hole. But there is a lot of good biking at your door. Santenay, at the base of the hill where our hotel sits, is another of Burgundy’s great crus. There’s a nice waterfall at the Cirque du Bout du Monde (“hole at the end of the world”), in case your shower doesn’t work so well. And La Rochepot offers a jewel of a fortified castle, restored stone by stone by former French President Sadi Carnot.
Add to this some beautiful views and as many wine towns as you can drink, and you’ll have plenty of inspiration to encourage you to cycle out.
Half Baggage |
15 - 80 k
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Thursday
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The CÔTE CHALONAISE
A beautiful ride through the hills of the Côte Chalonaise, but also including 45 flat k on a rail-to-trail bike path. The best! Givry is the most prestigious wine town along the way, Buxy is the prettiest lunch stop, swimming holes abound, and Cormatin has a castle out of a fairy tale. The silliest game of the day is chasing each other through it’s maze.
Cluny was long the center of medieval spirituality, but our favorite thing about the town is that the central tower is called the Tour des Fromages — Tower of Cheeses. More things should be named after cheese. |
80 k
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Friday
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The SAÔNE VALLEY and the MÂCONAIS
We drop down to the Saône Valley after a morning climb over the ridge. Stop for a picnic in one of the glens of the forest of Chapaize. Or just make straight for Tournus, whose 11th century abbey is named for an obscure looney. Or maybe the reverse.
End the afternoon lounging by the river in Tournus, watching teens-on-scooters cruise the bridge. Then a quick train ride undoes your work of the past week, and carries you back to Dijon in time for supper.
Trips ending with this route disband on Friday evening, upon arrival in Dijon. Our Dijon Access Package includes a hotel night in Dijon, and ongoing train tickets to a variety of points like Paris. Breakfast is also on offer to any who have time for it.
Riders continuing with us will also overnight in Dijon. Our final Burgundian dinner will involve all the snails that can’t run fast enough to get away. Yum!
Half Baggage
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45 k
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Saturday
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CONNECTION DAY.
The first morning train from Dijon to Paris’ Charles de Gaulle airport reaches the airport at 8:30a. Book same-day flights accordingly!
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Pinot Noir Burgundy — Facts & Figures
2013 Dates |
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Baggage Services Offered** (optional) |
Difficulty of the Ride |
May 20 - 24
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$1,450 US
$1,450 C
975€
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Daily, Half |
Moderate
Either distance or hills keep you busy on most days, but the harder rides are well-supported. |
July 29 - Aug. 2
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Daily, Half |
Sept. 30 - Oct. 4 |
Daily, Half |
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* Prices in $ and € do not include precisely the same things. Click here for details.
Prices of Optional Extras (links lead to explanations)
| Currency |
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$ prices include
the bike.
See here for information on bringing your own.
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** At least 4 riders must subscribe to a given baggage service for it to operate. The services listed are those currently offered on the departure in question. Services which appear in bold already have at least 3 subscribers (so, one more would ensure their operation).
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Daily |
Half |
| $US |
$290 |
$144 |
$200 |
| $C |
$290 |
$144 |
$200 |
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| €uros |
220€ |
112€ |
155€ |
140€ |
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| Specific information on reaching your trip’s start in... |
Dijon |
| Specific information on departing from your trip’s end... |
Dijon |
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Services