We drove from Eze to Burgundy passing by beautiful lavender fields in Avignon and Sault and sunflower fields near Beaune. Beaune is the wine capital of Burgundy in the Cote d’Or area in eastern France. The annual wine auction of Hospice de Beaune is the primary wine auction in France. Beaune is surrounded by some of the best wineries in France. We visited several on this trip including Santenay, Clos de Vougeot, and Domaine Faiveley. The medieval town of Beaune is relatively small and very nice for exploring on foot. The Hospices de Beaune or Hotel-Dieu de Beaune, in the center of town, is a former charitable hospital for the poor built in 1443. Nowadays, Hospice de Beaune is a non-profit organzation which owns about 150 acres of donated vineyard land producing excellent wine for auction.
Lavender museum in Provence
Lavender fields
Hay bales in the field.
Chateau de Santenay – one of the largest wine producing estates in Burgundy.
Chateau de Santenay with its glazed tile roof.
We based ourselves in Beaune at Hostellerie le Cedre for the next few days.
Hospices de Beaune
Polychrome roof of the Hospices de Beaune.
Hospices de Beaune is considered one of the finest examples of Northern Renaissance architecture.
Courtyard at the Hospices de Beaune.
Room of the Poor is furnished with curtained beds on both sides.
Kitchen of Hospices de Beaune
Old dispensary
Wandering around Beaune
The Collégiale Basilique Notre-Dame
Collégiale Basilique Notre-Dame built in Burgundian Romanesque style.
Waiters on their break
Clos de Vougeot vineyard in Cote de Nuits.
Clos de Vougeot
Sun dial at Clos de Vougeot.
The cool cellar at Clos de Vougeot
Large old wooden barrels at the winery.
Sunflower fields outside of Beaune.
A visit to the cellars of Domaine Faiveley.
Wine maker checking the wine.
