Home > Green Ways and Red Wines: Beaune and Cluny

Green Ways and Red Wines: Beaune and Cluny

L\'itinéraire passe par des petites villes charmantes 5
Cycling along the Burgundy canal on a quiet path The route will take you through vineyards and quaint villages Cluny's Abbey Honnor entrance The itinerary follows the Burgundy canal on a quiet path Biking tours in Burgundy will take you through some of the world's most famous vineyards
L'itinéraire passe par des petites villes charmantes

Green Ways and Red Wines: Beaune and Cluny

  • Level
  • PriceFrom 995 euros
  • DAY7 nights / 8 days

More info: Receive detailed hotel list, bike specs, and route description

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Description

Featuring one of France’s longest greenways, Burgundy is a cyclist’s paradise. Our colorful itinerary takes you to the world’s most exceptional vineyards, from those producing varying shades of Burgundian red wines to the Charolais white! Travel through a palette of colors as varied and diverse as the remarkable tiled roofs that top the Hospices de Beaune. Each stop on your cycling tour adds to the mosaic of exceptional medieval sites scattered around Burgundy.

If the scenery draws out your inner artist, the local gastronomy and wines will turn you into a food critic! Delve into the hearty local cuisine, typically featuring Burgundian wine sauces, and discover which wines please your palate.

This tour focuses on the area south of Beaune. To explore the region north of Beaune (between Beaune and Dijon), we recommend our Essential Burgundy: Beaune and Dijon tour.

 

For travel and cycling tips to Burgundy and Beaujolais, visit our "Travel and cycling tips" section.

Itinerary

D1Arrival in Beaune

 

Arrive in Beaune at the time of your choice. The earlier you arrive, the more time you’ll have to drink in — figuratively and literally — the wine capital of Burgundy. Its cobblestone streets offer world-class attractions including the 15th century Notre-Dame Basilica; the Hôtel-Dieu, with its famous multi-colored tile roof; and the Wine Museum.

Stop at any of the numerous wine caves (wine cellars) for an introduction to the many names you’ll see on vineyard signs in the days ahead!

D2Beaune — Beaune loop Short Option: 36 km/22 miles, 430 meters/1,410 ft of climbing; Long Option: 58 km/36 miles, 230 meters/755 ft of climbing

 

The first ride is a loop from Beaune to the Abbey of Citeaux in Saint-Nicolas-lès-Cîteaux. Founded over 900 years ago, it’s still a functioning abbey — the Trappist monks who call it home produce and sell Cîteaux cheesehoney sweets, and caramels. From the Abbey, the route takes you through the best Pinot noir vineyards of BurgundyChambolle-Musigny and Nuits-Saint-Georges, among others.

D3Beaune — Rully Short Option: 34 km/21 miles, 230 meters/755 ft of climbing; Long Option: 47 km/29 miles, 430 meters/1,410 ft of climbing

 

You can take it easy today as the ride is fairly short and leisurely through ‘Chardonnay territory’. The villages of PommardMeursault and Santenay are an ideal introduction to the region and provide you with many good options for lunch.

Your hotel is in the center of the village of Rully and boasts an excellent restaurant. A slightly longer route will take you up to the village of Saint-Romain before rejoining the normal itinerary.

D4Rully — Buxy 27 km/17 miles, 370 meters/1,215 ft of climbing

 

Today’s route carries you south through the Côtes Challonnaises and the village of Mercurey, which produces one of the best examples of the pinot noir appellation of the same name.
The terrain transforms into rolling hills with a succession of hamletscreekswoods, and of course vineyards.

You will stay in the pretty medieval village of Buxy for 2 nights.

D5Rest day in Buxy or optional ride to Cluny Short Option: 38 km/23 miles, 300 meters/ 985 ft of climbing; Long Option: 80 km/49 miles 600 meters/1,970 ft of climbing

 

You may opt to spend the day relaxing or browsing the streets of Buxy and perusing its shops, or you may choose to do our recommended loop.
Our optional ride from Buxy takes you south to the world-renowned Abbey of Cluny, which was built in 910 AD, and still towers as a monument to Romanesque architecture and medieval Europe’s prestigious center of Christendom. Prior to the building of Saint Peter’s in Rome, it reigned as the largest church in the world and earned a reputation for producing popes.

The ride back to Buxy will be done on a cycle path.

D6Buxy — Nolay 47 km/29 miles, 610 meters/2,001 ft of climbing

 

After breakfast, travel northwest to the rural town of Couches, after crossing the Canal du Centre. This itinerary is definitely a good contrast and a nice balance to the wine-making area, as you’ll be crossing a land of cattle farmsoak woods, and isolated farms.

This ride ends in the market town of Nolay, where you will overnight.

D7Nolay — Beaune Short Option: 23 km/14 miles, 340 meters/1,115 ft of climbing; Long Option: 40 km/25 miles, 520 meters/1,705 ft of climbing

 

The ride from Nolay takes you up to Bligny-sur-Ouche and down to the Canal of Burgundy at Pont d’Ouche. After riding along the peaceful canal on the towpath, you will cycle back to Beaune.
This 15-km stretch is a smooth downhill through a lovely forest before reaching the great vineyards of Alex Corton.

D8Departure

 

After breakfast, depart at the time of your choice.

Booking & Prices

  • Price Details
  • 7 nights in 2- and 3-star hotels and guesthouses of charm

  • 995 euros per person in March, April, and October. Single supplement is 360 euros
  • 1,035 euros per person in May, June and September. Single supplement is 370 euros
  • 1,075 euros per person in July and August. Single supplement is 430 euros

These prices include:

  • 7 nights' accommodation
  • Daily breakfast
  • Luggage transfers
  • Meeting with our local representative
  • Marked maps and/or cue sheets and route notes
  • Pre-loaded GPS unit (subject to availability) or navigation app
  • Tourist information
  • Assistance if necessary (you will be provided with our local rep’s mobile number)
  • Service charges and most taxes

These prices do not include:

  • Visitor/tourist taxes, to be paid directly at each hotel
  • Expenses of a personal nature
  • Travel insurance
  • Bicycle rentals. Hybrid bikes are available at the rate of 125 euros per bike. E-bikes are available at the rate of 235 euros per bike.

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