Beaune
Days 6 & 7
Just when you think what you've already done can't be topped, you come to a place like Beaune and it gets even better. This is in the wine region of Burgandy, so of course we would be tasting the goods. It was here that I had my favorite dinner plus one of my best experiences...which was our side trip to a chateau with a tour given by the count who lives there! It was so much fun. More on that below. We were able to experience market day in Beaune. What a treat! So many types of foods and wares, even a large selection of clothes. We stocked up on some 10-euro sweaters in preparation for our next destination where we knew it was going to be cold. We also walked the ramparts which still stand and surround the historic center. We saw beautiful homes along the way. One building in particular caught my attention. A colorful mural painted on a building depicts a movie set for the filming of the popular 1966 French movie, La Grande Vadrouille, which was partially filmed in Beaune. Very eye-catching!
We stayed at Hotel des Tonneliers.
Wine is one of the things that makes this area shine. It is a must-visit for true wine lovers. We learned all about the layout of a label, the growing of grapes and the challenges that go into turning out the best bottles of red, white and rosé. I didn't keep track of how many different wines we sampled, but they were all very good!
The dinner I liked so much was in the basement of a family owned restaurant called Le Conty. I had their Boeuf Bourguignon. It was melt-in-your-mouth delicious and for me, the best meal of the whole trip! .
Hotel Dieu
Hotel Dieu des Hospices dates back to 1443. It's look is unique, with its Burgundian tiled roofs and large private courtyard, the Coeur D'Honneur (Courtyard of Honor). Inside, the line of red beds was the Pauper's Ward. There was also a ward for wealthy patients, the Saint Hugue Ward, with big, beautiful Baroque paintings on the walls and ceiling. We saw Rogier van der Weyden's Last Judgement art piece as well as many other impressive paintings. Also interesting were the displays of medical instruments used hundred of years ago. I loved the video they had of the shadow of a nurse tending to a patient. It made the whole experience come to life.
Chateau de Rully
This was one of my favorite afternoons. The count who lives at Chateau de Rully, Count Raoul de Ternay, is the one who gave us a very enjoyable tour. He said the chateau has been in his family since the 1190's and has been passed down from generation to generation. It was built as a medieval fortress. It is still his home and wine estate and he lives there with his wife and children. His wife made us the most tasty treat to have during our wine tasting. It was called gougere, a little round bite of cheesy deliciousness. The count poured wine for all of us and it was excellent. After the tour, we were treated to a picnic lunch under the trees on the grounds of the chateau. Our tour guide, William, and our driver, Luc, did a fantastic job of setting up the lunch, with a great selection of foods, some I had never even heard of, all delicious.
