Burgundy
is one of the great historic regions of France; indeed, in the Middle
Ages, Burgundy was the great dukedom which rivalled in power and
prestige with the kingdom of France; in those days it covered a large
part of central eastern France, including half of modern-day
Switzerland.
Today, Burgundy is one of the
administrative regions of France, lying astride the main lines of
communication between Paris and Lyon; anyone travelling by train or on
the French motorway network between Paris or north-east France, and
Lyon and the south of France, must pass through Burgundy. The region is
bordered by the river Loire, in the west, and by the
Franche-Comté and Champagne regions in the east.
The Burgundy region is made
up of four French departments. Northern Burgundy comprises the
department of the
Yonne
(89), capital
Auxerre,
a rolling agricultural area bordering on the outer fringes of the Paris
region. In the west, the
Nièvre
(58), capital Nevers, is a hilly department that includes the highest
peak of the
Morvan
hills (Le Haut Folin, 903 m), and a large part of the Morvan
regional nature park. The
Côte-d'Or
department (21), around Dijon, is hilly in the north west, and flat in
the south east; finally the department of
Saône & Loire
(71) in the south of the region stretches from the banks of the Loire
in the west to the foothills of the Jura in the east, and includes
large flat expanses of the Saône valley.
The historic and modern capital of the
Burgundy region is
Dijon
(population 150,000), a thriving administrative and cultural centre,
which is also a major communications and freight-distribution hub. The
city is just 1hr. 40 mins. from Paris by direct TGV high-speed train
service. Dijon has a historic city centre, with old narrow
streets, and houses built in the local pale honey-coloured stone; of
particular interest to visitors are the Palace of the Dukes of
Burgundy, and the gothic Cathedral of Saint Bénigne.
Access:
by TGV from Paris Gare de Lyon, or from Lille; train from many cities,
motorway from Paris, Lille, Strasbourg, Nancy, Lyon, Geneva. There is
currently no commercial airport in Burgundy operating regular
international flights.
Main
tourist attractions in
Burgundy
Hospices de Beaune - photo Soyignatius |
- Les
Hospices
de Beaune - the mediaeval hospital at Beaune, one of the
most unusual ancient monuments in France.
-
Beaune
area: the vineyards
of Burgundy, cellars and estate visits.
-
The cathedral at Autun
- a well-preserved romanesque cathedral, in the heart of the Morvan
hills.
-
The church of St
Philibert, Tournus; one of the oldest churches in France
(early 11th century).
-
The romanesque churches of Burgundy, including the remarkable Abbaye de
Vézelay
(UNESCO World Heritage Site).
-
The Cistercian abbey at Fontenay
(UNESCO World Heritage Site), near Montbard.
-
The Morvan
regional natural park. Area of outstanding natural beauty.
-
Dijon:
historic city, palace of the dukes of Burgundy, Cathedral.
-
The Burgundy canal (Canal
de Bourgogne) and river Saône waterways.
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