Burgundy


“Pourquoi ne peut-on pas rester pour l’éternité?”
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Olivia Inge
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Explore the Enchanting Region of Burgundy 

Beautiful, unspoilt villages and towns are abound in the Auxois and the Morvan, the two regions of Burgundy which surround Missery. Take a stroll through Saulieu's Saturday morning market, feel the warm dappled light filtering through a canopy of trees, taste a range of cheeses or hams from the producers themselves, rub shoulders with the locals catching up at the Chablis bar, between their morning shop and their family lunch. With its numerous restaurants and a fabulous Basilica in which to discover a stunning collection of wooden medieval polychrome, its quaint high street and its charming Pompon museum, Saulieu is the perfect spot for a lovely walk and a bit of shopping. 

Avallon, Semur-en-Auxois, Flavigny–sur-Ozeron (where the film Chocolat was set), Châteauneuf-en-Bourgogne, Dijon, and Nolay are some of the other charming towns or villages of Burgundy worth exploring. The neighbouring town of Mont-Saint-Jean has a medieval château, a popular annual antique fair and panoramic views over the Serein valley – an ideal destination for an afternoon’s promenade.

But of course, at the heart of the Burgundian vineyards sits the town of Beaune, the ancient seat of the Dukes of Burgundy. With its colourful roof tops, its windy streets, and its smart shops, Beaune is the perfect starting point for a wine tasting tour. If you are a guest at the Château de Missery, then you must visit the famous Côte de Beaune, enjoy its great wines, and explore one of the best hotspots of wine and French dining in the world.

Discover elegant Châteaux and Stunning Nature

Burgundy has always been known for its elegant châteaux - family homes which have evolved over the centuries. Those most worth visiting locally are Bussy Rabutin, Commarin, Sully-en-Bourgogne, Époisses, Bazoches and Chateauneuf.

Certain abbeys and religious sites are not to be missed, in particular Fontenay (where Cyrano de Bergerac was filmed), Vézeley, Citeaux, and Cluny, which is further to the South of Burgundy. 

The stunning countryside that frames Missery is made up of two regions. To the west, the region of Morvan is a combination of granite and high altitude hills (up to 800m) covered in forests and lakes (reservoirs for the Paris water system). To the east, the region of Auxois presents a countryside similar to that found in England, with rolling hills, woods, streams and open fields, peppered with white Charolais cattle. With that, there are plenty of opportunities to hike or cycle, or take part in many of the other activities on offer. 

More Information about Burgundy 

If you would like to learn more about the region of Burgundy, its history, architecture, local customs and its cuisine, continue exploring our site, or dive into the following titles:

  • The Michelin Guide to Burgundy, by Jura
  • The Companion Guide to Burgundy, by Robert Speaight & Francis Pagan
  • La Bourgogne Vue du Ciel, by Yann Arthus-Bertrand
  • A Château of One’s Own: Restoration Misadventures in France, by Sam Juneau
  • Food Wine Burgundy: A Terroir Guide (Terroir Guides), by David Downie & Allison Harris
  • France (Horrible Histories Special), by Terry Deary and Martin Brown
  • The Cooking of Burgundy and the Lyonnais, by Ann Willan
  • Burgundy Gastronomic, by Ann Willan, Olivia Callea and Hamish Park
  • Hugh Johnson’s Pocket Wine Book, by Hugh Johnson
  • Oz Clarke’s Wine Companion: Burgundy Guide, by Clive Coates
  • Burgundy, by Ian Dunlop
  • French Provincial Cooking, by Elizabeth David
  • The Perfectionist: Life and Death in Haute Cuisine, by Rudolph Chelminski
  • Bernard Loiseau, Mon Mari, by Dominique Loiseau
  • The Discovery of France, by Graham Robb
  • The World Atlas of Wine, by Hugh Johnson
  • Truc, Astuces et Tours de Main, by Bernard Loiseau and Gerard Gilbert
  • Life in the French Country House, by Girouard
  • Les Châteaux de Bourgogne, by Vignier & Champollion
  • A Traveller’s History of France, by Robert Cole

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