I%26#39;m planning to spend 3-4 days in Burgundy Region after a few days in Paris. I haven%26#39;t yet decided on the specific logitics but more tan likely, the base will be in Dijon. Will be coming down by train but don%26#39;t want to rent a car. Want to do some sightseeing and a wine tour would be nice.
Is the publlc transport system quick, easy and cost-effective within and between towns? Can you sightsee by walking? Is there a good tour company with affordable half-day or full days in the Region? Or is there some way else you would recommend for getting around in Burgundy?
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I am sorry to be the bearer of bad tidings, but I really think that if you want to explore the Burgundy area you will need to rent a car. I do not think that public transport would be at all efficient, even if possible, which I kind of doubt. And the region is way to big to see anything much of on foot in three or four days. Just the wine producing area is about 150 kilometers froom north to south and several kilometers wide.
I think you would find it difficult to visit the vineyards and the charming villages of the Cote d%26#39;Or any other way, though I think some organized wine tours do depart from Dijon. But I think you%26#39;d be missing a lot if you couldn%26#39;t just wander the vineyards on your own for a day, going where you felt like going, stopping where you felt like stopping, rather than just being hustled around with a group.
And then there are a LOT of places in the Burgundy region worth seeing - some of them very much so - and they are scattered over an area about 200 kilometers from west to east and at least 150 km from north to south.
Just to give you a list, in no particular order, as they come to mind: Dijon, Beaune, Vezelay, Paray-le-Monial, Fontenay, Besancon, Ronchamp, Semur-en-Auxois. And this doesn%26#39;t even pretend to be a complete list, and it%26#39;s still probably more than you could begin to cover in three or four days, even with a car.
If you%26#39;re dead set against renting a car, however, I imagine there are probably three or four day escorted tours that you can take from Paris. That would not be my choice however.
There are wonderful roads to be discovered and beautiful scenery all over the area. If I were you I%26#39;d really want to do it on my schedule, and see the things I want to see.
One other thing is that I%26#39;d rather use Beaune or one of the smaller Cote d%26#39;Or villages as a base than Dijon.
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Hello,
We rented a car for three days in Burgundy. I don%26#39;t know what the public transport is like but I am sure the Tourist Office in Dijon would be able to assist you, perhaps before you arrive via e-mail. We found the roads quiet, compared to other parts of France we visited. We mainly travelled on scenic %26#39;D%26#39; roads. Lonely Planet says %26#39;the bus nestwork is extensive but sometimes puntuality and timetables leave a lot to be desired!%26#39; Other than renting a car they suggest using regional trains (Auxerre, Avallon, Beaune %26amp; Montbard). The countryside we saw was fairly flat and cycling may be an option.
We spent the first night in Dijon, then Vezelay and finally in Beanue before returning to Dijon. The scenery (late May) was wonderful - lush and green fields. We visited Avallon enroute to Vezelay, travelled through the Parc du Morvan to reach Beanue. Beanue is in the Cote D%26#39;or area and offers great opportunities for wine tours.
The small area of Burgundy we saw was great. One of the highlights of our four weeks in France. Vezelay, a tiny hilltop village with the Basilique Ste-Madeleine was wonderful as are the surrounding tiny villages. Don%26#39;t miss the Hotel-Dieu (hospice) in Beaune. We also enjoyed staying in %26#39;vieux%26#39; Dijon walking the little streets, Beaux Arts (especially the tomb of Philip the Bold).
Have a great time.
Raewyn, Bindoon, Western Australia
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I have to say I agree with the other two posts. My family have a holiday cottage in north Burgundy and car is the only realistic way to tour the countryside.
If you are only interested in cities then trains may be possible but you would need to book in advance and they often only run 4 times a day (twice there in the morning and twice back in the evening). There are no trains to villages, most of the village lines were closed years ago.
Buses are non existent - particularly outside school terms. The only ones you will see are long distance (e..g Dijon to paris)
To really appreciate Burgundy I%26#39;d hire a car, explore the towns and villages and get to see it. Otherwise there really isn%26#39;t another sensible alternative.
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Not sure if I am too late in replying to your message.
You should check the local train schedules (this is the slower train, not the TGV) One can take a train to some of the places, and then walk from the Gare (depot). There is also a bus system called Transco that goes to some of the small villages outside of Dijon. The ticket office of Transco is at the Gare (beyond the train station, pass the parking ramp stairs).
There are miles of marked walking trails in the woods on the Cote. Take the bus to Marsonnay and go hiking for the afternoon, or to Fixen (Transco bus). The others are correct, it is beautiful to hike through the vineyars and up on the cliffs, or through the woods.
A car is nice, but I do not think it is absolutely necessary.
Sue
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actually everybody%26#39;s right! you can either walk, take a bus, a taxi or rent a car.
In Dijon intra muros there is a small bus called diviaciti which takes you along the small streets of the old Dijon, it was not meant for tourists who usually don%26#39;t know it. I regularly take it to avoid parking the car in the town center. It takes about a dozen persons and it is free! (white and green) it is a great way to discover a very nice part of Dijon.
if you have any questions you can email me here:
axeleo4@hotmail.com
enjoy your trip!
corinne
BTW it is Marsannay and Fixin correctly spelled ;-)
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