12.08.2023 - Burgundy (F)
Day 1
It is high time to get back on track. This time we cross France, for a tour of Burgundy and the Gard. Towards the evening we drive into Burgundy and after about 500 km we reach the medieval city of Auxerre. But what we had not taken into account is that there is also the extended Ascension weekend in France. A major event is planned in the vicinity of the campsite this evening. The area had been cordoned off by the police and there were a lot of people out and about. We were unlucky, the municipal campsite was full the entire weekend. A little further towards the historic centre there is a free motorhome stopover with about 10 places. Of course also fully booked. Visiting Auxerre will be for another time.
On the banks of the Yonne River we get a place at the camper stopover in the village of Gurgy. A very beautiful location, quiet with a beautiful view of the rippling water. We decide to stay here for 2 nights. The camper stopover, l'Escale de Gurgy, is located on the Quai des fontaines and has a very friendly manager. We pay €11/night, all amenities included!
For the rest of the evening we do nothing but rest and enjoy the setting sun on the water.
Day 2
We had a very quiet night. It was wonderful waking up to a light mist over the Yonne. A mother swan glided proudly through the water, with five young ones in her wake.
In the morning I explore the area by bike and take a short trip along the river bank. In the meantime, Monique, who stayed at the motorhome, read the Saturday newspaper.
In the afternoon the sun shone brightly. After a half-hour siesta we walk along a severed arm of the Yonne, cut off by a connecting canal with locks on both sides. Nature had completely taken over the banks and transformed the area into a quiet area. It was wonderful to enjoy that peace.
The evening passed like the day... enjoying it quietly.
Day 3
It's 9:30 am and we are ready to leave for our next destination. The sky turns black and we are hit by a heavy thunderstorm. Taking shelter under an umbrella, I am filling the water tank. We then leave Gurgy, and the rain is still pouring down from the sky.
We drive towards Chablis and as we approach the rain stops and the sun comes out again.
After doing the necessary shopping, we settle at the campsite de mon village du Serein on the Quai Louis Courier in Chablis.
In the afternoon we walk to the village of Chablis, which is also called the "golden gate of Burgundy". You enter the historic centre through the Porte Noël, which is no longer a real city gate but two round towers. It is a charming town famous for its prestigious wines. In the centre we find one wine seller next to another.
We visit some sights there, such as the Saint-Martin church, the former monastery and the attractive washhouse with nine arches, located on the bank of the river.
We didn't buy Chablis wine, but I couldn't resist enjoying a Petit Chablis on a cosy terrace.
An interesting fact is that the vineyards around the village, covering 4,800 hectares, are only planted with the Chardonnay grape.
Day 4
We leave Chablis and again it rains a little. The vineyards look gloomy and a few winegrower inspects his vines, ready to start picking at the end of September.
Today we visit the Abbey of Fontenay, one of the most famous sights in Burgundy. It is located in the middle of the forests of Marmagne, a hamlet belonging to Montbard. The abbey was founded in 1118 and in 1906 the abbey, previously used as a paper factory, was purchased by a wealthy banker (son-in-law of Montgolfier, descendant of the inventors of the hot air balloon) who began an extensive restoration of the abbey. It was restored to its former glory and is now on the UNESCO World Heritage List.
These abbey buildings represent everything the Cistercians stand for: simplicity, austerity, prayer and work. The abbey is built in such a way that a lot of light enters and everything is tightly measured.
Many buildings can be visited again, including: the abbey church, the chapter house. Above this room is the dormitory of the monks. According to the rules, they all had to sleep in one room. They slept on straw mattresses and their place was demarcated by low partitions.
The heating room was special: this small room with two fireplaces was the only room (besides the kitchen and the infirmary) where a fire was allowed in the entire abbey complex.
We also visited the former forge (where the monks used the power of the river, via a water wheel, to keep the machines running) and the bakery.
After our visit we drive a few kilometers further and settle for the night at the Camping Municipal de Montbard (Les treilles), located in Rue Michel Servet, Montbard. Although it is still high season, it is very quiet and there are only about 10 places taken.
Day 5
After cleaning up we leave Montbard and drive to the capital of Burgundy: Dijon, known as "the city with a hundred church towers" and of course also the mustard, "moutarde de Dijon".
Just before twelve we check in at camping du Lac Kir, located on Boulevard Chanoine Kir, about two km from the old city centre of Dijon.
After installing and having lunch we continue to enjoy the sun. Until 1.30 pm ... The heavens open and a hellish thunderstorm breaks out over Dijon. The rain falls for more than an hour. Taking shelter indoors was the only option. Afterwards we heard that vehicles in the area had to stand at the side of the road because the windshield wipers could not handle the large amount of water and that they could not see a meter away. Fortunately, there was no flooding or damage anywhere. The rest of the afternoon and evening passed quietly and with plenty of sunshine.
Day 6
We still have to take into account the unstable weather in the region for a few more days. In the morning the clouds quickly appear, but no rain falls. At 10am we walk from the campsite to the old city centre of Dijon. Around 11am the sun breaks through and soon the temperature reaches 30°C.
On the edge of the centre we stop in the Jardin Darcy, the first public park in France. Outside we walk under the triumphal arch (porte Guillaume) and immediately arrive at the city's main shopping street: the rue de la Liberté.
We deviate from the city for a moment and visit the first church, the Cathédrale Saint-Benigne. Back on our route we pass the Gallerie Lafayette, a little brother of the department store of the same name in Paris.
At the end of the street we arrive at the impressive Palais des Ducs, a palace of the Dukes of Burgundy. One of the wings currently houses the Musée des Beaux-Arts.
We cross the building and arrive at the beautiful Place de la Libération. The remarkable thing about the square is that it has a semicircular shape and almost all the sandstone houses that line the square have a restaurant. We enjoy a delicious menu du jour in one of those restaurants.
In the afternoon we continue our city walk and walk past a few churches, such as the Renaissance church of Saint-Michel and the Gothic church of Notre-Dame. Visiting all one hundred churches in Dijon would be a bit too much!
There is also no shortage of museums in the city. We only visit the small Rude museum, named after the famous sculptor. The museum is located in a room of the former Saint-Etienne church.
On the way back we walk through “Les Halles”, a beautiful cast iron construction from the Belle Epoque period. Four mornings a week, vegetables, fruit, meats, cheeses, etc. are sold.
After buying a number of regional products such as the famous mustard and a pain d'epices de Dijon (locally produced gingerbread), we end our walk on a shady terrace.
Day 7
We leave Dijon and drive south via the “Champs-Elysées of Burgundy” (road D974). We follow the northern part of the famous Route des Grands Crus wine route and are on our way to Beaune, the most important wine city in Burgundy. On this route we cross a number of wine villages that appeal to the imagination of wine lovers. Famous grands crus of Burgundy are made here. On both sides of the road one vineyard follows the other. The Pinot Noir grapes already look well ripened. The first village we encounter is Marsannay, the only village that produces wines of all 3 colors.
Then Gevrey-Chambertin and Vougeot. In this village we stop to visit the renowned Château du Clos de Vougeot. The castle was built in 1551 on the site of a small chapel.
We walk past the barrel house, a collection of unique old wine presses and the wine cellar. In the Renaissance kitchen, a whole ox could be roasted in the colossal fireplace. And upstairs in the beautiful Renaissance rooms, banquets are still organized for special guests.
After our visit we drive past Vosne-Romanée, the village where some of the most prestigious (and very expensive) red wines in Burgundy are made. We stop for something to eat in Nuits-Saint-Georges and via Alox-Corton we reach Beaune, where we will spend the next two nights at Camping Municipal Les Cents Vignes - Rue Auguste Dubois 10.
12.08.2023 - Burgundy (F)
Day 1
It is high time to get back on track. This time we cross France, for a tour of Burgundy and the Gard. Towards the evening we drive into Burgundy and after about 500 km we reach the medieval city of Auxerre. But what we had not taken into account is that there is also the extended Ascension weekend in France. A major event is planned in the vicinity of the campsite this evening. The area had been cordoned off by the police and there were a lot of people out and about. We were unlucky, the municipal campsite was full the entire weekend. A little further towards the historic centre there is a free motorhome stopover with about 10 places. Of course also fully booked. Visiting Auxerre will be for another time.
On the banks of the Yonne River we get a place at the camper stopover in the village of Gurgy. A very beautiful location, quiet with a beautiful view of the rippling water. We decide to stay here for 2 nights. The camper stopover, l'Escale de Gurgy, is located on the Quai des fontaines and has a very friendly manager. We pay €11/night, all amenities included!
For the rest of the evening we do nothing but rest and enjoy the setting sun on the water.
Day 2
We had a very quiet night. It was wonderful waking up to a light mist over the Yonne. A mother swan glided proudly through the water, with five young ones in her wake.
In the morning I explore the area by bike and take a short trip along the river bank. In the meantime, Monique, who stayed at the motorhome, read the Saturday newspaper.
In the afternoon the sun shone brightly. After a half-hour siesta we walk along a severed arm of the Yonne, cut off by a connecting canal with locks on both sides. Nature had completely taken over the banks and transformed the area into a quiet area. It was wonderful to enjoy that peace.
The evening passed like the day... enjoying it quietly.
Day 3
It's 9:30 am and we are ready to leave for our next destination. The sky turns black and we are hit by a heavy thunderstorm. Taking shelter under an umbrella, I am filling the water tank. We then leave Gurgy, and the rain is still pouring down from the sky.
We drive towards Chablis and as we approach the rain stops and the sun comes out again.
After doing the necessary shopping, we settle at the campsite de mon village du Serein on the Quai Louis Courier in Chablis.
In the afternoon we walk to the village of Chablis, which is also called the "golden gate of Burgundy". You enter the historic centre through the Porte Noël, which is no longer a real city gate but two round towers. It is a charming town famous for its prestigious wines. In the centre we find one wine seller next to another.
We visit some sights there, such as the Saint-Martin church, the former monastery and the attractive washhouse with nine arches, located on the bank of the river.
We didn't buy Chablis wine, but I couldn't resist enjoying a Petit Chablis on a cosy terrace.
An interesting fact is that the vineyards around the village, covering 4,800 hectares, are only planted with the Chardonnay grape.
12.08.2023 - Burgundy  (F)
Day 1
It is high time to get back on track. This time we cross France, for a tour of Burgundy and the Gard. Towards the evening we drive into Burgundy and after about 500 km we reach the medieval city of Auxerre. But what we had not taken into account is that there is also the extended Ascension weekend in France. A major event is planned in the vicinity of the campsite this evening. The area had been cordoned off by the police and there were a lot of people out and about. We were unlucky, the municipal campsite was full the entire weekend. A little further towards the historic centre there is a free motorhome stopover with about 10 places. Of course also fully booked. Visiting Auxerre will be for another time.
On the banks of the Yonne River we get a place at the camper stopover in the village of Gurgy. A very beautiful location, quiet with a beautiful view of the rippling water. We decide to stay here for 2 nights. The camper stopover, l'Escale de Gurgy, is located on the Quai des fontaines and has a very friendly manager. We pay €11/night, all amenities included!
For the rest of the evening we do nothing but rest and enjoy the setting sun on the water.
Day 2
We had a very quiet night. It was wonderful waking up to a light mist over the Yonne. A mother swan glided proudly through the water, with five young ones in her wake.
In the morning I explore the area by bike and take a short trip along the river bank. In the meantime, Monique, who stayed at the motorhome, read the Saturday newspaper.
In the afternoon the sun shone brightly. After a half-hour siesta we walk along a severed arm of the Yonne, cut off by a connecting canal with locks on both sides. Nature had completely taken over the banks and transformed the area into a quiet area. It was wonderful to enjoy that peace.
The evening passed like the day... enjoying it quietly.
Day 3
It's 9:30 am and we are ready to leave for our next destination. The sky turns black and we are hit by a heavy thunderstorm. Taking shelter under an umbrella, I am filling the water tank. We then leave Gurgy, and the rain is still pouring down from the sky.
We drive towards Chablis and as we approach the rain stops and the sun comes out again.
After doing the necessary shopping, we settle at the campsite de mon village du Serein on the Quai Louis Courier in Chablis.
In the afternoon we walk to the village of Chablis, which is also called the "golden gate of Burgundy". You enter the historic centre through the Porte Noël, which is no longer a real city gate but two round towers. It is a charming town famous for its prestigious wines. In the centre we find one wine seller next to another.
We visit some sights there, such as the Saint-Martin church, the former monastery and the attractive washhouse with nine arches, located on the bank of the river.
We didn't buy Chablis wine, but I couldn't resist enjoying a Petit Chablis on a cosy terrace.
An interesting fact is that the vineyards around the village, covering 4,800 hectares, are only planted with the Chardonnay grape.
Day 4
We leave Chablis and again it rains a little. The vineyards look gloomy and a few winegrower inspects his vines, ready to start picking at the end of September.
Today we visit the Abbey of Fontenay, one of the most famous sights in Burgundy. It is located in the middle of the forests of Marmagne, a hamlet belonging to Montbard. The abbey was founded in 1118 and in 1906 the abbey, previously used as a paper factory, was purchased by a wealthy banker (son-in-law of Montgolfier, descendant of the inventors of the hot air balloon) who began an extensive restoration of the abbey. It was restored to its former glory and is now on the UNESCO World Heritage List.
These abbey buildings represent everything the Cistercians stand for: simplicity, austerity, prayer and work. The abbey is built in such a way that a lot of light enters and everything is tightly measured.
Many buildings can be visited again, including: the abbey church, the chapter house. Above this room is the dormitory of the monks. According to the rules, they all had to sleep in one room. They slept on straw mattresses and their place was demarcated by low partitions.
The heating room was special: this small room with two fireplaces was the only room (besides the kitchen and the infirmary) where a fire was allowed in the entire abbey complex.
Day 8
Today we visit Beaune, the capital of Burgundian wines. The city is considered the trading centre for Burgundy wines (the largest wine auction in the world takes place every third Sunday in November at the Hospices de Beaune).
We enter the historic city with its remarkable monuments through the city gate.
Of course, a visit to the famous Hospices de Beaune should not be missed. It is one of France's most historic, prestigious monuments and also the city's biggest attraction. You can walk a complete route along the city walls, but you can also choose to go in a different direction in the meantime, for example in the direction of the centre.
This “Hôtel-Dieu” is a pearl from the Burgundian Middle Ages, built in the 15th century to help the sick most in need. Behind the sober slate roofs at the front is the beautiful courtyard (le cour d'honneur), around which buildings are located with beautiful roofs with glazed tiles and high dormer windows. During our visit we also admire: the impressive salle des Pôvres (infirmary for the poor), the Gothic chapel, the kitchen and the pharmacy. We also see a painting by a Flemish master: the polyptych of the Last Judgment by Rogier van der Weyden.
A little further on in the city we visit the former city palace of the Dukes of Burgundy. Now it houses the Burgundian Wine Museum.
We don't end our visit to the city with a Burgundy wine, but with... an ice cream sundae. Nice in this exceptionally warm weather.
Day 9
The day before yesterday we did the northern part of the route du Grands Crus, today we continue the route and drive along the southern part via the D973. Once again vineyards as far as the eye can see and old wine villages. We literally drive through the heart of wine growing, through villages such as Pommard, whose region has been considered for decades  one of the best for Burgundy wines.
We then drive through Meursault, known for its white wines. The village's charming old buildings also provided the backdrop for scenes from the film La Grande Vadrouille. And via Santenay, the village with the castle of Philip the Bold - Duke of Burgundy (castle was closed), we reach the last destination for today: Nolay.
This town is nestled between cliffs and vineyards. It is a town with a rich history. We walk through the narrow car-free streets and notice that it has retained much of its medieval architecture, but most are in a dilapidated state. The old grain hall on the centre square reveals that Nolay was once an important trading hub in the region.
We escape the scorching sun for a moment on the only terrace in the town and I drink a local red Burgundy wine as an aperitif.
After lunch and the necessary siesta, we drive a little further to the campsite Les Chaumes du Mont – Route de Couches campsite in Nolay, just next to a lake. Since no one is present to check in, we find a quiet spot and settle in while waiting for check-in.
Day 10
After an evening with an incredible amount of insects (moths galore, mosquitoes, flies and European hornets!) we had a quiet night.
At 9 o'clock in the morning the temperature already rises to 27°. We have already cleaned up and are leaving. We leave the route des Grands Crus behind us and enter the Bresse. We have arrived in Louhans. The city known for its poultry, the "poules de Bresse", a white chicken with blue legs - expensive, but tasty.
It's Monday morning and it's market day. The historic city centre is full of stalls. We walk through the 400m long main street. It still has 157 arcades resting on 200 pillars. But we don't see much of it. On either side of the street there is one stall next to the other and there is a lot of traffic. We stroll through the crowd past the church. Here are all the stalls with regional products.
At the post we reach the Champ de Foire square. Here is the famous poultry market. It is now 11 o'clock when we walk past the cages with chickens. To be honest, I think the market has literally already lost a lot of its feathers. There were still beautiful chickens, but few Bresse chickens. There were many other stalls among the poultry stalls. I thought it was a bit of nostalgia, because our poultry and rabbit markets have disappeared.
In the afternoon we settle one km further at the municipal campsite les Trois rivières at the Chemin de la Chapellerie.
We let the rest of our visit to the city pass us by. It is now 36°C and we decide to lie lazily in our seat, in the shade of a number of trees.
Day 11
When you wake up there is again not a cloud in the sky. Very warm weather is forecast again. We leave a little earlier than usual and after doing some shopping we drive further to the southern border of Burgundy. In the morning we stop in Tournus. We park at the free camper stopover on the Sâone and walk to the Saint-Philibert Abbey, the heart of the town. The part around the abbey is the oldest and most beautiful part of Tournus. The Abbey of Tournus is excellently preserved, better than its much more famous competitor, the Abbey of Cluny, but more about that tomorrow.
We take the time to visit the Abbey Church, partly because it is cool there. In the crypt, everyone had to make do with the light of their smartphone as the general lighting was broken. The monks must have had the same statue at the time, albeit each with his candle!
After our visit we visit the Hotel Dieu with its centuries-old pharmacy, but the museum was closed for private visits. We walk through the city for a while and after some refreshment on a terrace we drive to Cluny.
Along the road we find a nice, shady rest area with tables and benches. Time to have a baguette.
Once we arrive in Cluny, we settle at Camping municipal Saint-Vital - Rue des Griottons, 71250, Cluny. We stay here for three nights.
We quickly reach 34° again, so lazing in the shade is the message.
Day 12
Cluny is one of the most beautiful, but also one of the most visited villages in Burgundy.
Beating the heat, we walk in the morning to the historic centre, which, just like yesterday, is located around the abbey. In the past, during the time of the Order of Cluny, it was one of the most powerful places in Europe.
A visit to the abbey is a must, but keep in mind that there can be long lines at the ticket office in high season. This was not the case now (we had already bought our tickets at the tourism office).
Immediately upon entering, the height and imposing of the buildings were striking, but the most impressive at the time, the Abbey Church, has been completely demolished. But the remaining monastery buildings are certainly still worth seeing. We stroll through the cloister, the chapter house, the chapel of John of Bourbon (abbot of the abbey), the monks' washroom.
... And through the monastery garden we enter the flour shed (le farinier), with the provision cellar underneath. All foodstuffs were stored here.
When leaving the abbey, the heat immediately overwhelms us. It is 11.30 am and already 36°. We cool off in the palace of John of Bourbon, now the museum of art and archeology (this entrance fee was included in the ticket for the abbey). This was the gigantic home of the abbot of the order of Cluny.
After a nice lunch in a small restaurant, we return to the campsite, puffing, where we spend the rest of the afternoon and evening doing nothing.
Day 13
It is 9am and 28°C, today no excursion but a rest day. After Monique has cleaned the inside of the camper, we settle down in the shade of the trees.
In the afternoon we reach more than 38° and it becomes sultry. At 4 p.m. the time has come, a heat storm breaks out. Not accompanied by gusts of wind, but with lots of rain and hailstones that fortunately were not the size of Lake Garda, but rather large peas. After an hour it was over, without damage and with a temperature that had dropped more than 10 degrees.
The rest of the evening, also our last evening in Burgundy, was pleasant sitting outside. Now let's hope that the night doesn't bring too heavy thunder.
Summary overnight stays
L'Escale de Gurgy - Official camper stopover - Quai des Fontaines, 89250 Gurgy – 11€/36pl – all amenities included – friendly manager – very quiet place directly on the Yonne River – there are a few stands at the front of the camper stopover. You can get drinks and something to eat - a wonderful place to stay for little money
Camping-car Park – Camping de mon village du Serein - Quai Louis Courier, Chablis – €17.10/night – all amenities – open from 9am to 8pm – centre 500m
Camping Municipal de Montbard (Les treilles) - Rue Michel Servet, Montbard – €20.40/night (TB included) – all amenities – large pitches – open from 10am to 12pm and 4pm to 7.30pm – town itself is nothing special 1, 5 km – despite high season it was very quiet
Camping du Lac Kir - Boulevard Chanoine Kir 3, Dijon – €21.5/night – all amenities – centre 2 km
Camping Municipal Les Cents Vignes - Rue Auguste Dubois 10, Beaune – €21/night – all amenities – reception open from 9 a.m. to 12 p.m. and 2 to 6 p.m. – bakery 300 m – supermarket 1 km – centre 800 m
Camping Les Chaumes du Mont – Route de Couche, Nolay – 20€/night – all amenities – you can simply choose a pitch on arrival – you pay when someone is present in the restaurant – open spaces between the trees – just at the edge of a lake
Camping municipal Les Trois Rivières - Chemin de la Chapellerie 10, 71500 Louhans – 20€/night – all amenities – snack bar – on the river – centre 1 km
Camping municipal Saint-Vital - Rue des Griottons, 71250, Cluny – arrival from 3 pm – spacious pitches – €26.5/night – small shop at reception – to abbey 1 km

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Day 4
We leave Chablis and again it rains a little. The vineyards look gloomy and a few winegrower inspects his vines, ready to start picking at the end of September.
Today we visit the Abbey of Fontenay, one of the most famous sights in Burgundy. It is located in the middle of the forests of Marmagne, a hamlet belonging to Montbard. The abbey was founded in 1118 and in 1906 the abbey, previously used as a paper factory, was purchased by a wealthy banker (son-in-law of Montgolfier, descendant of the inventors of the hot air balloon) who began an extensive restoration of the abbey. It was restored to its former glory and is now on the UNESCO World Heritage List.
These abbey buildings represent everything the Cistercians stand for: simplicity, austerity, prayer and work. The abbey is built in such a way that a lot of light enters and everything is tightly measured.
Many buildings can be visited again, including: the abbey church, the chapter house. Above this room is the dormitory of the monks. According to the rules, they all had to sleep in one room. They slept on straw mattresses and their place was demarcated by low partitions.
The heating room was special: this small room with two fireplaces was the only room (besides the kitchen and the infirmary) where a fire was allowed in the entire abbey complex.
We also visited the former forge (where the monks used the power of the river, via a water wheel, to keep the machines running) and the bakery.
After our visit we drive a few kilometers further and settle for the night at the Camping Municipal de Montbard (Les treilles), located in Rue Michel Servet, Montbard. Although it is still high season, it is very quiet and there are only about 10 places taken.
Day 5
After cleaning up we leave Montbard and drive to the capital of Burgundy: Dijon, known as "the city with a hundred church towers" and of course also the mustard, "moutarde de Dijon".
Just before twelve we check in at camping du Lac Kir, located on Boulevard Chanoine Kir, about two km from the old city centre of Dijon.
After installing and having lunch we continue to enjoy the sun. Until 1.30 pm ... The heavens open and a hellish thunderstorm breaks out over Dijon. The rain falls for more than an hour. Taking shelter indoors was the only option. Afterwards we heard that vehicles in the area had to stand at the side of the road because the windshield wipers could not handle the large amount of water and that they could not see a meter away. Fortunately, there was no flooding or damage anywhere. The rest of the afternoon and evening passed quietly and with plenty of sunshine.
Day 6
We still have to take into account the unstable weather in the region for a few more days. In the morning the clouds quickly appear, but no rain falls. At 10am we walk from the campsite to the old city centre of Dijon. Around 11am the sun breaks through and soon the temperature reaches 30°C.
On the edge of the centre we stop in the Jardin Darcy, the first public park in France. Outside we walk under the triumphal arch (porte Guillaume) and immediately arrive at the city's main shopping street: the rue de la Liberté.
We deviate from the city for a moment and visit the first church, the Cathédrale Saint-Benigne. Back on our route we pass the Gallerie Lafayette, a little brother of the department store of the same name in Paris.
At the end of the street we arrive at the impressive Palais des Ducs, a palace of the Dukes of Burgundy. One of the wings currently houses the Musée des Beaux-Arts.
We cross the building and arrive at the beautiful Place de la Libération. The remarkable thing about the square is that it has a semicircular shape and almost all the sandstone houses that line the square have a restaurant. We enjoy a delicious menu du jour in one of those restaurants.
In the afternoon we continue our city walk and walk past a few churches, such as the Renaissance church of Saint-Michel and the Gothic church of Notre-Dame. Visiting all one hundred churches in Dijon would be a bit too much!
There is also no shortage of museums in the city. We only visit the small Rude museum, named after the famous sculptor. The museum is located in a room of the former Saint-Etienne church.
On the way back we walk through “Les Halles”, a beautiful cast iron construction from the Belle Epoque period. Four mornings a week, vegetables, fruit, meats, cheeses, etc. are sold.
After buying a number of regional products such as the famous mustard and a pain d'epices de Dijon (locally produced gingerbread), we end our walk on a shady terrace.
Day 7
We leave Dijon and drive south via the “Champs-Elysées of Burgundy” (road D974). We follow the northern part of the famous Route des Grands Crus wine route and are on our way to Beaune, the most important wine city in Burgundy. On this route we cross a number of wine villages that appeal to the imagination of wine lovers. Famous grands crus of Burgundy are made here. On both sides of the road one vineyard follows the other. The Pinot Noir grapes already look well ripened. The first village we encounter is Marsannay, the only village that produces wines of all 3 colors.
Then Gevrey-Chambertin and Vougeot. In this village we stop to visit the renowned Château du Clos de Vougeot. The castle was built in 1551 on the site of a small chapel.
We walk past the barrel house, a collection of unique old wine presses and the wine cellar. In the Renaissance kitchen, a whole ox could be roasted in the colossal fireplace. And upstairs in the beautiful Renaissance rooms, banquets are still organized for special guests.
After our visit we drive past Vosne-Romanée, the village where some of the most prestigious (and very expensive) red wines in Burgundy are made. We stop for something to eat in Nuits-Saint-Georges and via Alox-Corton we reach Beaune, where we will spend the next two nights at Camping Municipal Les Cents Vignes - Rue Auguste Dubois 10.
Day 8
Today we visit Beaune, the capital of Burgundian wines. The city is considered the trading centre for Burgundy wines (the largest wine auction in the world takes place every third Sunday in November at the Hospices de Beaune).
We enter the historic city with its remarkable monuments through the city gate.
Of course, a visit to the famous Hospices de Beaune should not be missed. It is one of France's most historic, prestigious monuments and also the city's biggest attraction. You can walk a complete route along the city walls, but you can also choose to go in a different direction in the meantime, for example in the direction of the centre.
This “Hôtel-Dieu” is a pearl from the Burgundian Middle Ages, built in the 15th century to help the sick most in need. Behind the sober slate roofs at the front is the beautiful courtyard (le cour d'honneur), around which buildings are located with beautiful roofs with glazed tiles and high dormer windows. During our visit we also admire: the impressive salle des Pôvres (infirmary for the poor), the Gothic chapel, the kitchen and the pharmacy. We also see a painting by a Flemish master: the polyptych of the Last Judgment by Rogier van der Weyden.
A little further on in the city we visit the former city palace of the Dukes of Burgundy. Now it houses the Burgundian Wine Museum.
We don't end our visit to the city with a Burgundy wine, but with... an ice cream sundae. Nice in this exceptionally warm weather.
Day 9
The day before yesterday we did the northern part of the route du Grands Crus, today we continue the route and drive along the southern part via the D973. Once again vineyards as far as the eye can see and old wine villages. We literally drive through the heart of wine growing, through villages such as Pommard, whose region has been considered for decades  one of the best for Burgundy wines.
We then drive through Meursault, known for its white wines. The village's charming old buildings also provided the backdrop for scenes from the film La Grande Vadrouille. And via Santenay, the village with the castle of Philip the Bold - Duke of Burgundy (castle was closed), we reach the last destination for today: Nolay.
This town is nestled between cliffs and vineyards. It is a town with a rich history. We walk through the narrow car-free streets and notice that it has retained much of its medieval architecture, but most are in a dilapidated state. The old grain hall on the centre square reveals that Nolay was once an important trading hub in the region.
We escape the scorching sun for a moment on the only terrace in the town and I drink a local red Burgundy wine as an aperitif.
After lunch and the necessary siesta, we drive a little further to the campsite Les Chaumes du Mont – Route de Couches campsite in Nolay, just next to a lake. Since no one is present to check in, we find a quiet spot and settle in while waiting for check-in.
Day 10
After an evening with an incredible amount of insects (moths galore, mosquitoes, flies and European hornets!) we had a quiet night.
At 9 o'clock in the morning the temperature already rises to 27°. We have already cleaned up and are leaving. We leave the route des Grands Crus behind us and enter the Bresse. We have arrived in Louhans. The city known for its poultry, the "poules de Bresse", a white chicken with blue legs - expensive, but tasty.
It's Monday morning and it's market day. The historic city centre is full of stalls. We walk through the 400m long main street. It still has 157 arcades resting on 200 pillars. But we don't see much of it. On either side of the street there is one stall next to the other and there is a lot of traffic. We stroll through the crowd past the church. Here are all the stalls with regional products.
At the post we reach the Champ de Foire square. Here is the famous poultry market. It is now 11 o'clock when we walk past the cages with chickens. To be honest, I think the market has literally already lost a lot of its feathers. There were still beautiful chickens, but few Bresse chickens. There were many other stalls among the poultry stalls. I thought it was a bit of nostalgia, because our poultry and rabbit markets have disappeared.
In the afternoon we settle one km further at the municipal campsite les Trois rivières at the Chemin de la Chapellerie.
We let the rest of our visit to the city pass us by. It is now 36°C and we decide to lie lazily in our seat, in the shade of a number of trees.
Day 11
When you wake up there is again not a cloud in the sky. Very warm weather is forecast again. We leave a little earlier than usual and after doing some shopping we drive further to the southern border of Burgundy. In the morning we stop in Tournus. We park at the free camper stopover on the Sâone and walk to the Saint-Philibert Abbey, the heart of the town. The part around the abbey is the oldest and most beautiful part of Tournus. The Abbey of Tournus is excellently preserved, better than its much more famous competitor, the Abbey of Cluny, but more about that tomorrow.
We take the time to visit the Abbey Church, partly because it is cool there. In the crypt, everyone had to make do with the light of their smartphone as the general lighting was broken. The monks must have had the same statue at the time, albeit each with his candle!
After our visit we visit the Hotel Dieu with its centuries-old pharmacy, but the museum was closed for private visits. We walk through the city for a while and after some refreshment on a terrace we drive to Cluny.
Along the road we find a nice, shady rest area with tables and benches. Time to have a baguette.
Once we arrive in Cluny, we settle at Camping municipal Saint-Vital - Rue des Griottons, 71250, Cluny. We stay here for three nights.
We quickly reach 34° again, so lazing in the shade is the message.
Day 12
Cluny is one of the most beautiful, but also one of the most visited villages in Burgundy.
Beating the heat, we walk in the morning to the historic centre, which, just like yesterday, is located around the abbey. In the past, during the time of the Order of Cluny, it was one of the most powerful places in Europe.
A visit to the abbey is a must, but keep in mind that there can be long lines at the ticket office in high season. This was not the case now (we had already bought our tickets at the tourism office).
Immediately upon entering, the height and imposing of the buildings were striking, but the most impressive at the time, the Abbey Church, has been completely demolished. But the remaining monastery buildings are certainly still worth seeing. We stroll through the cloister, the chapter house, the chapel of John of Bourbon (abbot of the abbey), the monks' washroom.
... And through the monastery garden we enter the flour shed (le farinier), with the provision cellar underneath. All foodstuffs were stored here.
When leaving the abbey, the heat immediately overwhelms us. It is 11.30 am and already 36°. We cool off in the palace of John of Bourbon, now the museum of art and archeology (this entrance fee was included in the ticket for the abbey). This was the gigantic home of the abbot of the order of Cluny.
After a nice lunch in a small restaurant, we return to the campsite, puffing, where we spend the rest of the afternoon and evening doing nothing.
Day 13
It is 9am and 28°C, today no excursion but a rest day. After Monique has cleaned the inside of the camper, we settle down in the shade of the trees.
In the afternoon we reach more than 38° and it becomes sultry. At 4 p.m. the time has come, a heat storm breaks out. Not accompanied by gusts of wind, but with lots of rain and hailstones that fortunately were not the size of Lake Garda, but rather large peas. After an hour it was over, without damage and with a temperature that had dropped more than 10 degrees.
The rest of the evening, also our last evening in Burgundy, was pleasant sitting outside. Now let's hope that the night doesn't bring too heavy thunder.
Summary overnight stays
L'Escale de Gurgy - Official camper stopover - Quai des Fontaines, 89250 Gurgy – 11€/36pl – all amenities included – friendly manager – very quiet place directly on the Yonne River – there are a few stands at the front of the camper stopover. You can get drinks and something to eat - a wonderful place to stay for little money
Camping-car Park – Camping de mon village du Serein - Quai Louis Courier, Chablis – €17.10/night – all amenities – open from 9am to 8pm – centre 500m
Camping Municipal de Montbard (Les treilles) - Rue Michel Servet, Montbard – €20.40/night (TB included) – all amenities – large pitches – open from 10am to 12pm and 4pm to 7.30pm – town itself is nothing special 1, 5 km – despite high season it was very quiet
Camping du Lac Kir - Boulevard Chanoine Kir 3, Dijon – €21.5/night – all amenities – centre 2 km
Camping Municipal Les Cents Vignes - Rue Auguste Dubois 10, Beaune – €21/night – all amenities – reception open from 9 a.m. to 12 p.m. and 2 to 6 p.m. – bakery 300 m – supermarket 1 km – centre 800 m
Camping Les Chaumes du Mont – Route de Couche, Nolay – 20€/night – all amenities – you can simply choose a pitch on arrival – you pay when someone is present in the restaurant – open spaces between the trees – just at the edge of a lake
Camping municipal Les Trois Rivières - Chemin de la Chapellerie 10, 71500 Louhans – 20€/night – all amenities – snack bar – on the river – centre 1 km
Camping municipal Saint-Vital - Rue des Griottons, 71250, Cluny – arrival from 3 pm – spacious pitches – €26.5/night – small shop at reception – to abbey 1 km

E-mail: info@dmcamperreizen.be

Copyright © DMCamperreizen 2018.
All right reserved.
We also visited the former forge (where the monks used the power of the river, via a water wheel, to keep the machines running) and the bakery.
After our visit we drive a few kilometers further and settle for the night at the Camping Municipal de Montbard (Les treilles), located in Rue Michel Servet, Montbard. Although it is still high season, it is very quiet and there are only about 10 places taken.
Day 5
After cleaning up we leave Montbard and drive to the capital of Burgundy: Dijon, known as "the city with a hundred church towers" and of course also the mustard, "moutarde de Dijon".
Just before twelve we check in at camping du Lac Kir, located on Boulevard Chanoine Kir, about two km from the old city centre of Dijon.
After installing and having lunch we continue to enjoy the sun. Until 1.30 pm ... The heavens open and a hellish thunderstorm breaks out over Dijon. The rain falls for more than an hour. Taking shelter indoors was the only option. Afterwards we heard that vehicles in the area had to stand at the side of the road because the windshield wipers could not handle the large amount of water and that they could not see a meter away. Fortunately, there was no flooding or damage anywhere. The rest of the afternoon and evening passed quietly and with plenty of sunshine.
Day 6
We still have to take into account the unstable weather in the region for a few more days. In the morning the clouds quickly appear, but no rain falls. At 10am we walk from the campsite to the old city centre of Dijon. Around 11am the sun breaks through and soon the temperature reaches 30°C.
On the edge of the centre we stop in the Jardin Darcy, the first public park in France. Outside we walk under the triumphal arch (porte Guillaume) and immediately arrive at the city's main shopping street: the rue de la Liberté.
We deviate from the city for a moment and visit the first church, the Cathédrale Saint-Benigne. Back on our route we pass the Gallerie Lafayette, a little brother of the department store of the same name in Paris.
At the end of the street we arrive at the impressive Palais des Ducs, a palace of the Dukes of Burgundy. One of the wings currently houses the Musée des Beaux-Arts.
We cross the building and arrive at the beautiful Place de la Libération. The remarkable thing about the square is that it has a semicircular shape and almost all the sandstone houses that line the square have a restaurant. We enjoy a delicious menu du jour in one of those restaurants.
In the afternoon we continue our city walk and walk past a few churches, such as the Renaissance church of Saint-Michel and the Gothic church of Notre-Dame. Visiting all one hundred churches in Dijon would be a bit too much!
There is also no shortage of museums in the city. We only visit the small Rude museum, named after the famous sculptor. The museum is located in a room of the former Saint-Etienne church.
On the way back we walk through “Les Halles”, a beautiful cast iron construction from the Belle Epoque period. Four mornings a week, vegetables, fruit, meats, cheeses, etc. are sold.
After buying a number of regional products such as the famous mustard and a pain d'epices de Dijon (locally produced gingerbread), we end our walk on a shady terrace.
Day 7
We leave Dijon and drive south via the “Champs-Elysées of Burgundy” (road D974). We follow the northern part of the famous Route des Grands Crus wine route and are on our way to Beaune, the most important wine city in Burgundy. On this route we cross a number of wine villages that appeal to the imagination of wine lovers. Famous grands crus of Burgundy are made here. On both sides of the road one vineyard follows the other. The Pinot Noir grapes already look well ripened. The first village we encounter is Marsannay, the only village that produces wines of all 3 colors.
Then Gevrey-Chambertin and Vougeot. In this village we stop to visit the renowned Château du Clos de Vougeot. The castle was built in 1551 on the site of a small chapel.
We walk past the barrel house, a collection of unique old wine presses and the wine cellar. In the Renaissance kitchen, a whole ox could be roasted in the colossal fireplace. And upstairs in the beautiful Renaissance rooms, banquets are still organized for special guests.
After our visit we drive past Vosne-Romanée, the village where some of the most prestigious (and very expensive) red wines in Burgundy are made. We stop for something to eat in Nuits-Saint-Georges and via Alox-Corton we reach Beaune, where we will spend the next two nights at Camping Municipal Les Cents Vignes - Rue Auguste Dubois 10.
Day 8
Today we visit Beaune, the capital of Burgundian wines. The city is considered the trading centre for Burgundy wines (the largest wine auction in the world takes place every third Sunday in November at the Hospices de Beaune).
We enter the historic city with its remarkable monuments through the city gate.
Of course, a visit to the famous Hospices de Beaune should not be missed. It is one of France's most historic, prestigious monuments and also the city's biggest attraction. You can walk a complete route along the city walls, but you can also choose to go in a different direction in the meantime, for example in the direction of the centre.
This “Hôtel-Dieu” is a pearl from the Burgundian Middle Ages, built in the 15th century to help the sick most in need. Behind the sober slate roofs at the front is the beautiful courtyard (le cour d'honneur), around which buildings are located with beautiful roofs with glazed tiles and high dormer windows. During our visit we also admire: the impressive salle des Pôvres (infirmary for the poor), the Gothic chapel, the kitchen and the pharmacy. We also see a painting by a Flemish master: the polyptych of the Last Judgment by Rogier van der Weyden.
A little further on in the city we visit the former city palace of the Dukes of Burgundy. Now it houses the Burgundian Wine Museum.
We don't end our visit to the city with a Burgundy wine, but with... an ice cream sundae. Nice in this exceptionally warm weather.
Day 9
The day before yesterday we did the northern part of the route du Grands Crus, today we continue the route and drive along the southern part via the D973. Once again vineyards as far as the eye can see and old wine villages. We literally drive through the heart of wine growing, through villages such as Pommard, whose region has been considered for decades  one of the best for Burgundy wines.
We then drive through Meursault, known for its white wines. The village's charming old buildings also provided the backdrop for scenes from the film La Grande Vadrouille. And via Santenay, the village with the castle of Philip the Bold - Duke of Burgundy (castle was closed), we reach the last destination for today: Nolay.
This town is nestled between cliffs and vineyards. It is a town with a rich history. We walk through the narrow car-free streets and notice that it has retained much of its medieval architecture, but most are in a dilapidated state. The old grain hall on the centre square reveals that Nolay was once an important trading hub in the region.
We escape the scorching sun for a moment on the only terrace in the town and I drink a local red Burgundy wine as an aperitif.
After lunch and the necessary siesta, we drive a little further to the campsite Les Chaumes du Mont – Route de Couches campsite in Nolay, just next to a lake. Since no one is present to check in, we find a quiet spot and settle in while waiting for check-in.
Day 10
After an evening with an incredible amount of insects (moths galore, mosquitoes, flies and European hornets!) we had a quiet night.
At 9 o'clock in the morning the temperature already rises to 27°. We have already cleaned up and are leaving. We leave the route des Grands Crus behind us and enter the Bresse. We have arrived in Louhans. The city known for its poultry, the "poules de Bresse", a white chicken with blue legs - expensive, but tasty.
It's Monday morning and it's market day. The historic city centre is full of stalls. We walk through the 400m long main street. It still has 157 arcades resting on 200 pillars. But we don't see much of it. On either side of the street there is one stall next to the other and there is a lot of traffic. We stroll through the crowd past the church. Here are all the stalls with regional products.
At the post we reach the Champ de Foire square. Here is the famous poultry market. It is now 11 o'clock when we walk past the cages with chickens. To be honest, I think the market has literally already lost a lot of its feathers. There were still beautiful chickens, but few Bresse chickens. There were many other stalls among the poultry stalls. I thought it was a bit of nostalgia, because our poultry and rabbit markets have disappeared.
In the afternoon we settle one km further at the municipal campsite les Trois rivières at the Chemin de la Chapellerie.
We let the rest of our visit to the city pass us by. It is now 36°C and we decide to lie lazily in our seat, in the shade of a number of trees.
Day 11
When you wake up there is again not a cloud in the sky. Very warm weather is forecast again. We leave a little earlier than usual and after doing some shopping we drive further to the southern border of Burgundy. In the morning we stop in Tournus. We park at the free camper stopover on the Sâone and walk to the Saint-Philibert Abbey, the heart of the town. The part around the abbey is the oldest and most beautiful part of Tournus. The Abbey of Tournus is excellently preserved, better than its much more famous competitor, the Abbey of Cluny, but more about that tomorrow.
We take the time to visit the Abbey Church, partly because it is cool there. In the crypt, everyone had to make do with the light of their smartphone as the general lighting was broken. The monks must have had the same statue at the time, albeit each with his candle!
After our visit we visit the Hotel Dieu with its centuries-old pharmacy, but the museum was closed for private visits. We walk through the city for a while and after some refreshment on a terrace we drive to Cluny.
Along the road we find a nice, shady rest area with tables and benches. Time to have a baguette.
Once we arrive in Cluny, we settle at Camping municipal Saint-Vital - Rue des Griottons, 71250, Cluny. We stay here for three nights.
We quickly reach 34° again, so lazing in the shade is the message.
Day 12
Cluny is one of the most beautiful, but also one of the most visited villages in Burgundy.
Beating the heat, we walk in the morning to the historic centre, which, just like yesterday, is located around the abbey. In the past, during the time of the Order of Cluny, it was one of the most powerful places in Europe.
A visit to the abbey is a must, but keep in mind that there can be long lines at the ticket office in high season. This was not the case now (we had already bought our tickets at the tourism office).
Immediately upon entering, the height and imposing of the buildings were striking, but the most impressive at the time, the Abbey Church, has been completely demolished. But the remaining monastery buildings are certainly still worth seeing. We stroll through the cloister, the chapter house, the chapel of John of Bourbon (abbot of the abbey), the monks' washroom.
... And through the monastery garden we enter the flour shed (le farinier), with the provision cellar underneath. All foodstuffs were stored here.
When leaving the abbey, the heat immediately overwhelms us. It is 11.30 am and already 36°. We cool off in the palace of John of Bourbon, now the museum of art and archeology (this entrance fee was included in the ticket for the abbey). This was the gigantic home of the abbot of the order of Cluny.
After a nice lunch in a small restaurant, we return to the campsite, puffing, where we spend the rest of the afternoon and evening doing nothing.
Day 13
It is 9am and 28°C, today no excursion but a rest day. After Monique has cleaned the inside of the camper, we settle down in the shade of the trees.
In the afternoon we reach more than 38° and it becomes sultry. At 4 p.m. the time has come, a heat storm breaks out. Not accompanied by gusts of wind, but with lots of rain and hailstones that fortunately were not the size of Lake Garda, but rather large peas. After an hour it was over, without damage and with a temperature that had dropped more than 10 degrees.
The rest of the evening, also our last evening in Burgundy, was pleasant sitting outside. Now let's hope that the night doesn't bring too heavy thunder.
Summary overnight stays
L'Escale de Gurgy - Official camper stopover - Quai des Fontaines, 89250 Gurgy – 11€/36pl – all amenities included – friendly manager – very quiet place directly on the Yonne River – there are a few stands at the front of the camper stopover. You can get drinks and something to eat - a wonderful place to stay for little money
Camping-car Park – Camping de mon village du Serein - Quai Louis Courier, Chablis – €17.10/night – all amenities – open from 9am to 8pm – centre 500m
Camping Municipal de Montbard (Les treilles) - Rue Michel Servet, Montbard – €20.40/night (TB included) – all amenities – large pitches – open from 10am to 12pm and 4pm to 7.30pm – town itself is nothing special 1, 5 km – despite high season it was very quiet
Camping du Lac Kir - Boulevard Chanoine Kir 3, Dijon – €21.5/night – all amenities – centre 2 km
Camping Municipal Les Cents Vignes - Rue Auguste Dubois 10, Beaune – €21/night – all amenities – reception open from 9 a.m. to 12 p.m. and 2 to 6 p.m. – bakery 300 m – supermarket 1 km – centre 800 m
Camping Les Chaumes du Mont – Route de Couche, Nolay – 20€/night – all amenities – you can simply choose a pitch on arrival – you pay when someone is present in the restaurant – open spaces between the trees – just at the edge of a lake
Camping municipal Les Trois Rivières - Chemin de la Chapellerie 10, 71500 Louhans – 20€/night – all amenities – snack bar – on the river – centre 1 km
Camping municipal Saint-Vital - Rue des Griottons, 71250, Cluny – arrival from 3 pm – spacious pitches – €26.5/night – small shop at reception – to abbey 1 km
E-mail: info@dmcamperreizen.be

Copyright © DMCamperreizen 2018.
All right reserved.