Beaune, France: A Captivating Town in the Heart of Burgundy

Beaune is a delightful town in the heart of the Burgundy region in France. One could classify the town as wine-drenched, with many tasting rooms to choose from and wine cellars scattered throughout, all underground the stone buildings and cobblestone streets. 

Kevin and I spent a few lovely days in Beaune in 2015. We had been traveling for several weeks and this was our first stop with a washer, so we took full advantage and enjoyed de-smelling all of our clothing. Beaune offers lots of activities for tourists, particularly, but not limited to, those interested in Burgundy’s famous Pinot Noir grape. 

Beaune France Travel

Beaune Wine Tasting Cellars

Beaune dates back hundreds of years and the entire town is built on top of wine cellars that were originally constructed by ancient monks. That, plus the surrounding world-renowned vineyards throughout Burgundy, makes it a prime destination for wine connoisseurs (and wannabes like us). This was one of the reasons we chose a visit to the Burgundy region, and Beaune specifically. The first wine tasting we did was at Marche aux Vins, which included a "self-guided tour" in the cellars underneath their shop. "Self-guided" basically means that they aren't watching you aka they don't care how much wine you consume.

Beaune, France Wine Barrels

Old wine bottles in Beaune

Beaune wine tastings

The cellars were lit only by candle light and as you explore each room, a different wine is waiting for you. There are also little areas closed off by wrought-iron doors. Behind these doors are the dust covered uber-vintage bottles - we saw some dating back to the turn of the century. The next day we also visited Patriarche, another wine distributor with the largest underground cellar in Beaune. This cellar was a labyrinth of caves and the tour begins in the ruins of an old church. It included 15 tastings (but with the self-guided tour it turned out to be much more). The combination of the darkness and emptiness of the cellars and the old, dusty vintage bottles of wine gives these places such a unique, yet slightly creepy, atmosphere.

Candles in Beaune wine cave

Beaune wine cellars

Local Wineries Near Beaune, France

We didn’t have a car when we visited Beaune, and with limited time, we decided to stay put in the town. If we had more time, or if we returned, I would definitely be booking a tour to some local vineyards. There are unlimited options for tours - from small group tours to private ones, full day to half day, and even options to bike from vineyard to vineyard.

The Hospices de Beaune

We also visited the Hospices de Beaune, a must see if you are ever in the area. The Hospices is an old hospital dating back to the 1400s. While the museum itself is very interesting, the highlight is the architecture of the building, including the Flemish-style mosaic tile roof. 

Hospices de Beaune France

Moutarderie Fallot

Beaune is also home to the Moutarderie Fallot, a famous mustard distributor and the only company that has authentic "Dijon mustard" in the world. Yes, you read that right - all other Dijon mustards consist of grains coming from Canada and are not actually from the Dijon, or Burgundy, region. You are probably familiar with their mustard - they sell it in most grocery stores in the U.S. We got to take a tour of the facility and Kevin even got to make his own mustard! The tour was pretty interesting but the best part was the tasting at the end. You can definitely tell the difference between this mustard and Grey Poupon - it is much stronger and spicier. Kevin was in heaven in the gift shop where they had mustard vending machines for 1 Euro.

Beaune, France Farmer’s Market

It was also our first time on this particular journey with a kitchen, and it made us very happy to know that Beaune has a large farmer’s market each Saturday where we were able to get the best of French meat and produce. We have been to fresh food markets all over the world and I still think that the one we went to in Beaune might have been the best ever. We grabbed a huge haul and headed back to our Airbnb, where we made a charcuterie board and a pasta with fresh tomatoes and basil. 

Beaune Weekly Market

Beaune Market Produce

Beaune, France Town Square

If you have a chance, definitely check out the picturesque town square. Grab a drink or snack at one of the cafes and watch children enjoy the adorable old-fashioned carousel in the center of the square.

Beaune Carousel

Beaune France Wine Bar

Regional Burgundy Cuisine at La Ciboulette 

One of the outstanding meals we can remember was from our first night. Our Airbnb host recommended La Ciboulette, which is known for traditional Burgundy cuisine. We tried the duck breast and boeuf bourguignon, both of which were fantastic. We had another amazing meal at a restaurant I can unfortunately not remember the name of (I think L’ardoise) where Kevin had one of the best burgers of his life.