Come and join us! Cote d'Or

The Cote d'Or covers an area from Chatillon-sur-Seine in the north to Beaune in the south. What links Chatillon and Beaune are wines, as both are famous for their vineyards.

Burgundy has revelled in its fine wines for centuries since the fame of the region's wine spread throughout Europe in the 14th century.

Following the French revolution the Napoleonic laws of equal inheritance split vineyards into tiny fractions, which has resulted in a bewildering number of appellations, which even today results in a dauntingly complex clasification system.

Chatillion-sur-Seine is the most northerly town in the Cote d'Or, left a ruin following WW2 it is now a reasonably modern town. In 1953 the 6th century BC tomb of a Gaulish Princess was discovered near Vix at Mont Lassois. In the Musée Archéologique is the magnificent Vix treasure including jewelley, artifacts of Greek origin and the bronze vase .

Montbard is celebrating the 300th anniversary of the birth of Buffon. (See the post regarding Buffon) and there is a calendar of events this year to pay homage to its famous son. Montbard is a town which boasts a TGV station and Paris is accessible in one hour.

Near to Montbard is the Abbaye de Fontenay. It is the oldest surviving Cistercian foundation in France, founded in 1118 by St Bernard. The abbey thrived and remained in use until the Revolution when it was sold and converted into a paper mill. In 1996 the abbey came into new ownership and was restored to its original glory. if you visit please note the dove cote and the most extravagant kennels I have ever seen. The dogs were so precious they were guarded by servants!

Semur-en-Auxois is a fascinating medieval town. The town straddles the river Armançon and crossed by the Pont Joly and boasts a tower with an amazing crack which has been there for nearly 600 years! The town hosts a fete every summer called the Fete de Bague. There is a horse race, a fair and a medieval market. Near to Semur-en-Auxois is the village of Epoisses which is famous for it's cheese. The cheese is still manufactured in the village by age old methods and can be bought at the fromagerie. It also has a magnificent chateau and a huge 15th century dovecote.

Alise-Sainte-Reine is a charming village that clings to the side of Mont Auxois. Named for Alise a Christian Gaul who was beheaded for spurning a Roman officer, later she was martyred and the re enactment of her martyrdom takes places the first week of September. Each July Alise-Sainte-Reine hosts an outdoor rock concert that takes place in the Théàtre des Roches, litterally a stage hewn out of the rocks.

Above Alise-Sainte-Reine, Alesia atop Mont Auxois is the site of Caesar's victory over the Gauls led by the chieftan Vercingetorix in 52BC after a six weeks seige. Napoleon 3rd commissioned a statue of Vercingetorix to be made, the figure stands 7metres tall and is placed on a 7 metre plinth. As no one knows what a Gaul looks like the face is that of Napoleon himself. Nearby is the archaelogical site of the Roman town showing streets, theatre and forum.

Dijon, as a city, is spreadeagled but the centre retains the charm and architechtual spledndour which is a legacy of the Dukes of Burgundy. Famous for it's deorated rooves, mustard and pain d'épices, the Dijon of today has a rich cultural life and a renowned university. The Palais des Ducs houses the Musée des Beaux Arts and Rue Verrerie, an ancient cobbled street, was once the old merchants' quarter and is lined with medieval half timbered houses; some with fine wood carvings.

When talking about wines in Burgundy ones thoughts turn to the Cote's de Nuits and the Cote's de Beaune where vinyards run almost unhindered from Dijon to Santenay. The names of famous houses are like nectar to wine lovers Gevrey-Chambertin, Meursault, Vosne-Romanée, Vougeot, Nuits-St-Georges, Pommard and Aloxe-Corton.

Beaune itself is home to the famous Hotel Dieu which was founded in 1443 by Nicolas Rolin and his wife to counter the effects of poverty and famine on the residents follwing the 100 year's war. The Hotel Dieu served as a hospital until the 1970s. Today it is a serves as a museum with the Great Hall of the Poor, the kitchen, pharmacy, Cour d'Honneur, the chapel, the Christ-de-Pitié statue and the Last Judgement Polyptych. On the third Sunday in November there is an annual charity auction of the wines from the 53ha of vineyards owned by the Hospices de Beaune, the wines are auctioned by candles; the bid when the candle burns out is the buyer.

Visit St Jean de Losne on the banks of the Saone river in June for the blessing of the boats followed by boat trips, concerts and other entertainment. Boats of every size and type assemble annually for the event.

Situated on the edge of the Morvan Saulieu is the most westerly town of the Cote d'Or. Saulieu is famous for it's statue of a Charolais bull which now stands by the tourist office. Since the 17th century Saulieu has been revered for it's Burgundian cooking and the Charolais cattle markets. Each August Saulieu hosts the world renowned Festival des Nuits Cajun de Saulieu, which takes place this year 2 to 5 August. Musicians from all over the world play at the festival; many from Louisiana. There is Cajun music, food and films.