July, 2003:
Having just been to Beaune in 2024, this trip from 2003 is fresher for us. We’ll only highlight those sites that we didn’t see in 2024. Once again, as for most of our 2003 France trip (until Nice), we were accompanied by our daughter Sybil and son-in-law Brian.
We wine-tasted in Beaune in the now permanently closed Couvent des Cordeliers and made the obligatory stop at the Hospice de Beaune.
Wine Tasting at the Couvent des Cordeliers
Hospice de Beaune
One of the highlights of our Beaune trip was our bike ride through the vineyards and sunflower fields north of Beaune, in Savigny des Beaune, Aloxe-Corton, and Ladoix-Serrigny.
Biking through the vineyards and sunflower fields north of Beaune
One of our stops while biking was at the Château de Savigny-lès-Beaune, a 14th century fortified castle listed as a historical monument. This incredible place is home to unique collections: fighter planes (over 75 of them), motorcycles, Abarth racing cars, models, fire engines, tractors and many other curiosities. Since 1979, Michel Pont, owner of the Château de Savigny-lès-Beaune, has opened the museums to the public every day to share his passions. He also let us taste some of his wines for a small tasting fee.
Château de Savigny-lès-Beaune
We also drove south of Beaune to see the beautiful Château de la Rochepot, a 12th-century feudal castle of neo-Gothic-Burgundian style, rebuilt in the 15th century. In the 19th century, it was completely restored and covered with glazed burgundy tiles. It was closed during our 2024 visit, as the new owner of the castle is in jail on fraud charges.
Château de la Rochepot