Burgundy - gites, cottages and villas to rent

Our guide to...

Burgundy

Visit Burgundy, and you’ll be sure to find that your taste buds are truly satisfied. It’s a central region, and is known as one of the best areas of France for the production of red and white wines. There are dozens of varieties to try, and plenty of vineyards that have opened their doors to the public. The foods, too, are well worth your money. Coq au vin and beef bourguignon are famous dishes from the region of Burgundy, and are served in many restaurants. Many visitors book self catering cottages and gites in this area purly to sample the local food and wine.

 Gitesearch - Wine barrels in winery near self catering cottages gites and villas in BurgundyBurgundy has a rich history, with Roman churches and atmospheric castles. It’s also the perfect place for scenic countryside walks, with beautiful forests and lakes. You won’t find big, well-known attractions – just wonderful open spaces in which locals prepare some of the best wines in the world. Made up of four departments, Burgundy is a place to go if you want a relaxing and peaceful gite or cottage holiday.

The department of Cote-d’Or is mostly rural, with vineyards where some of the world’s best wines are made. Castles and monasteries are the main attractions, and it’s worth paying a visit to the Palace of the Dukes of Burgundy which is located in Burgundy’s capital city Dijon. The city of Dijon is the only major tourist destination in Cote-d’Or, and is considered to be amongst the most beautiful cities in France. Traditional houses, gardens, museums and markets will fill your time in the city, and a little further afield you’ll find Lac Kir. With its beach, the lake is a great place to spend a relaxing summer day.

Nièvre is crossed by the Loire River, which helps to feed the many vineyards that thrive throughout the department. Smokey white wines are the main produce, and popular activities include boating on the river and touring Nièvre’s castles. The Regional Natural Park of Morvan is by far the biggest and best attraction – a forest park in the heart of Burgundy where you can go horse-riding, walking or river rafting before an afternoon of fishing.  If you’re looking for something faster, then a visit to Nièvre is an opportunity to watch a race at the Magny-Cours International Circuit.

As its name would suggest, the department of Saône-et-Loire lies between the Saône and Loire rivers. Like the rest of Burgundy, it’s known for its vineyards. Attractions in Saône-et-Loire include abbeys, castles and churches, as well as the La Roche de Solutre vantage point which is a rocky peak offering great views as a reward for anyone completing the climb. The underground prehistoric caves at Les Grottes d’Aze were once home to lions and bears, as well as early man, whilst living lions can now be seen at Touro Zoo Parc. The Touro Zoo Parc is one of Burgundy’s best animal attractions and includes a small theme park and water park, but if you’re looking for bigger thrills then don’t forget to visit the amazing Parc des Combes. If you’re travelling with kids then you can promise them a great day out at La Magie Des Elfes Et Des Lutins – a mystical forest garden that is home to hand-crafted elves and goblins, and is the perfect place for a picnic.

Named after the Yonne River, the district of Yonne is quickly growing in popularity as more and more people move to the area. Gîtes in Yonne are conveniently close to Paris for the occasional day trip, though the department itself has plenty on offer to reduce your need to travel. You won’t want to miss a visit to Avallon – a picture-perfect old town with traditional buildings, including quaint little gingerbread shops, set along winding cobbled streets. Perhaps the most unique attraction is the Guédelon Castle in Puisaye, where a team of fifty are working to build a castle using the same techniques and tools as would have been used in the Middle Ages. The castle is expected to reach completion in 2022. Also visit the show caves at Grottes d’Arcy-sur-Cure, where prehistoric paintings can still be seen on the walls.

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Areas of Burgundy

Yonne
Named after the Yonne River, the district of Yonne is quickly growing in popularity as more and more people move to the area.

Cote d'Or
The department of Cote-d'Or is mostly rural, with vineyards where some of the world's best wines are made. Castles and monasteries are the main attractions, and it's worth paying a visit to the Palace of the Dukes of Burgundy which is located in Burgundy's capital city Dijon. The city is considered to be amongst the most beautiful cities in France. Traditional houses, gardens, museums and markets will fill your time in the city, and a little further afield you'll find Lac Kir. With its beach, the lake is a great place to spend a relaxing summer day.

Nievre
Nièvre is crossed by the Loire River, which helps to feed the many vineyards that thrive throughout the department. Smokey white wines are the main produce, and popular activities include boating on the river and touring Nièvre's castles. The Regional Natural Park of Morvan is by far the biggest and best attraction.

Saone et Loire
As its name would suggest, the department of Saone-et-Loire lies between the Saone and Loire rivers. Like the rest of Burgundy, it's known for its vineyards.