Bussy-le-Grand

A visit to Bussy-le-Grand will bring you to the Château de Bussy-Rabutin, also known as Château de Bussy-le-Grand. Sitting on a hillside overlooking a picturesque valley that separates it from the village of Bussy-le-Grand, the Château is a beautiful and dramatic sight. It’s a little off the beaten path, but it’s well worth a diversion to explore a unique piece of French history. Surrounded by moats, gardens and eighty-four acres of parkland, the chateau dates from the 12th century but the elegant building you see today is from the 16th century.

The chateau has a scandalous history, being inhabited by a man with a passion for scandal. Roger de Rabutin, Comte de Bussy (1618–1693), fell into disgrace for allegedly having taken part in an orgy at the Château de Roissy, near Paris, during Holy Week. Bussy was ordered by Louis XIV to retire to his estates, where he passed the time by composing his Histoire amoureuse des Gaules.

This account of various courtly love affairs caused further scandal, and he was eventually sent to the Bastille, where he remained for more than a year. Bussy only obtained his release on condition that he retired once more to Bussy-Rabutin, where he lived in exile from court for seventeen years. Although he briefly returned to court in the 1680s, he soon returned to Bussy-Rabutin, dying there in 1693. During his exile he amassed a collection of portraits, which remains in the château.

Chatillon-sur-Seine

The charming town of Chatillon-sur-Seine is in a beautiful setting on the upper reaches of the Seine river, in the Cote d'Or department of north-eastern Burgundy. Explore the medieval houses and other notable monuments while strolling along the riverside in the center of town. The 17th century Hotel du Congres, the Church of Saint-Nicolas with its noteworthy stained glass windows and the Convent of the Cordeliers are among the buildings to discover here, as well as the Hotel Philandrier, an imposing renaissance style house with a large round tower.

The source of the River Douix is in a beautiful setting at the bottom of a cliff in Chatillon (on Rue de la Douix to the east of the town centre) , and there is the ruined 12th century castle and the roman style Church of Saint Vorles above the town, which contains a 16th century 'mise au tombeau' (statues representing christ being placed in his tomb). From the path next to the church you have views across the rooftops of Chatillon-sur-Seine.

The weekly market in Chatillon-sur-Seine is held each Saturday morning in the covered market.

Chorey-les-Beaune

Chorey-les-Beaune located in the Côte-d'Or department is famous for its light and supple red wine, moderately tannic but rich and characterful. While here, be sure to explore the Hospices de Beaune and Chateau de Pommard, just two of the top sights around Chorey-les-Beaune, a city also known for its restaurants. For wine connoisseurs, or visitors seeking a beautiful part of the Cote-d’Or, be sure to visit the Chateau de Chorey, a perfect destination for both!

La Rochepot

Located just 11 miles southwest of Beaune, La Rochepot is known for its castle, the Château de la Rochepot, as well as being famous for its wine making traditions. The castle dates back to 1180 when it was called "Château de La Roche Nolay". In 1403, the castle was bought by Regnier Pot, a knight, who renamed it.the chateau makes for a nice excursion that can be combined with a visit to some of the surrounding vineyards.

The beautiful Château de La Rochepot, with its tiled roof and many turrets, is a Gothic-Burgundian style of the 13th-century, rebuilt in the 15th-century, and fully restored in the nineteenth century, with glazed tiles of La Rocheport. In 1893 Cécile Carnot (wife of President Sadi Carnot) bought the ruins and offered his eldest son, the infantry Colonel Sadi Carnot (1865 to 1948) for 25 years undertaking a major meticulous historical restoration in the spirit of the 15th-century. In 2013, parts of the castle were listed as historical monuments and, in 2014, the castle, the outbuildings and the park were classified. Today, the castle is still owned by descendants of the Carnot family and is open to the public.

Levernois

The beautiful village of Levernois dates back to the 13th-century and today, has retained the charm and serene countryside feel. Located 3 miles from beaune, the village is an ideal starting point to explore the city and its surroundings, between parks, golf, prestigious vineyards, cultural heritage and rich gastronomy.

The village has the label Towns and Villages in Bloom (2 flowers), fruit of its commitment to enhance its landscape and to reserve a prominent place to the plant in the development of its public spaces. Levernois therefore invites relaxing strolls and easy living in a green and peaceful setting in the heart of the Burgundian heritage.

Morey-Saint-Denis

More-Saint-Denis is located on the Route des Grands Crus and is world renowned for its prestigious wines of Burgundy, including five Grands Crus and Premiers Crus twenty. The town is surrounded by fields of vineyards, where the pinot noir has been cultivated over many generations. The town is a perfect stop for lovers of excellent wine and fabulous gastronomy.

Nuits-Saint-Georges

Nuits-Saint-Georges, located in eastern Burgundy, is a charming town with a centuries-old history of winemaking. It gives its name to the Côte de Nuits, and its patron saint, Saint Georges, gives his name to their most famous wine. It is known for relatively powerful, complex red wines from the Pinot Noir grape variety, which represents 97% of production, with a small amount of white wine made from Chardonnay. Its AOC, which dates from September 1936, includes the commune of Premeaux-Prissey in the appellation. The most sought-after wines include Les Vaucrains, Les Cailles and Les St Georges itself.