Five Reasons to Explore Burgundy (as if fabulous wine weren't enough)

Fairy tale chateaus nestle into this rolling green countryside, where nearly 4,000 independent winemakers practice their craft. Burgundy produces some of the most prestigious wines in the world, but there are many other reasons to visit this magical region.

Romantic, rustic scenery

The Saône River is the "female" counterpart to the Rhône, which it joins in the town of Lyon. The curvy Saône winds through rolling green hills covered with vineyards, forests, mustard fields, ancient castles, and tiny villages. Cream-colored Charolais cows dot the landscape and are said to outnumber the residents.

Centuries of history

The Burgundy region spans from Dijon to Mâcon and encompasses the Saône River and Valley. The Duchy of Burgundy dates to the 9th century, and its rulers amassed fantastic power and wealth over centuries, expanding their territory as far as the North Sea. A strong sense of independence marks Burgundy's history, and it frequently warred with the Kingdom of France until it became a part of the nation in the 17th century.

Further south, Cluny Abbey in Burgundy was the center of Christianity during the Middle Ages. The influence of the Benedictine monks extended from Spain to England, and the massive structure was the largest church in Christendom until the completion of St Peter's Basilica. Though much of the Abbey was destroyed during the French Revolution, visitors can "see" the structure in its former glory through computer-generated imaging.

Art and architecture

The Dukes of Burgundy resided in Dijon, and as great patrons of the arts, they spent fortunes creating a beautiful city. Half-timbered homes and splendid gothic churches line cobblestone streets. The east wing of the grand Palais de Ducs houses Museum of Fine Arts, one of France's richest art collections.

There are many other magnificent churches and structures in the region. Saint-Philibert de Tournus survived the Revolution without damage and is a wonderful example of Romanesque architecture from the 11th century. The gothic Royal Monastery of Brou seems to be covered in white lace and features the colorful varnished roof tiles unique to the area.

Culinary delights

The Saone and Rhone Valleys are called the markets and stomachs of France. Beginning in the 1950s, Lyon workers on holiday would drive along the Saone and Rhone Rivers, sampling culinary delights along the way. Gastronomic tourism in the area was born.

The cuisine of the "Valley of Gastronomy," is influenced by excellent regional wines and the presence of dairy products from the north. Specialties include Dijon mustard, whose recipe dates to the 14th century, beef bourguignon, escargot, pauchouse, a freshwater bouillabaisse-style stew prepared with a variety of fish from the Saone, and cheese. Napolean Bonaparte's favorite cheese was the extremely pungent Epoisses, a decadent, custardy regional classic.

Wine is still the star of the show

Burgundy is one of only five wine-producing areas in the world to be enlisted as a UNESCO World Heritage site. The monks of Cluny Abbey cultivated their land to produce wine for the Mass and gradually refined the art of winegrowing.

They created precise plots of land, called Climats, whose soil produced wines of varying character. Thousands of Climats and over 100 unique appellations exist in the region today, which produces some of the most delicious (and expensive) wines in the world.

A great new way to explore Burgundy

AmaWaterways River Cruises introduced a new itinerary called "The Essence of Burgundy and Provence." Travelers can unpack once and enjoy the sights, history, and flavors of this charming region. Sailings are available in 2021 and 2022.

I hope you enjoyed learning about Burgundy. If you have any questions at all, don't hesitate to contact me and I will get right back to you.