Cost:
738 UK $1540 Cdn based on double.
Single supplement: 244 UK
$ 509 Cdn
Bike rental 85 Euros paid locally.
Start Dates: Any day (except Mondays or Tuesdays) March to October.
Duration:
Seven nights
Tour Profile: Moderate.
Accommodation: All of the hotels on this route pride
themselves on good food, and are of a high standard. The
first and last two nights are spent in Beaune in a
3* hotel full of character just five minutes walk from the
centre of town. The hotel is booked on a B&B basis so
you can choose from the wide selection of excellent
restaurants nearby, (evening meals not included in Beaune).
In Rully you should try the Cotes Chalonaises wines
whilst staying on a half board basis, in our 2* hotel; it
will complement the traditional menus provided by the
hotelier. The two nights in Buxy are spent in a 2*
hotel with a pool, evening meals are taken at the hotel.
One night is spent in the 2* hotel on the old market
square in Nolay. Dinner is included here and is
taken at a rustic restaurant owned by the hotelier 200m
across the street.
Included: Seven nights accommodation, breakfast daily,
four dinners, luggage transfer, route maps and notes, local
representative for assistance.
Itinerary: Start Point: Beaune
End of Tour: Beaune
Day
1. Arrive Beaune.
There is lots to see and do in Beaune if you arrive
reasonably early. If you arrive later then there is time
on the morning of day 2 and later in the week to visit all
the sights.
Day
2. The bikes
are delivered to you at the hotel after breakfast. Details
of exact times will be given in the route notes and can be
confirmed at the hotel. You can spend time in Beaune
before starting your ride or just take it easy, as the
first day’s ride is fairly short and easy (30kms)
through Chardonnay land. The villages of Pommard,
Meursault and Santenay will be a great introduction to the
Province and good options for morning coffee and/or lunch
and/or afternoon tea.
If you fancy a little longer in the saddle then a slightly
longer route will take you up to the village of Saint-Romain
before rejoining the normal route.
Day
3. We carry
on south through the Côtes Chalonnaises. The village of
Mercurey produces one of the best examples of the pinot
noir appellation. The route is a bit more testing passing
over rolling hills with a succession of hamlets, creeks,
woods and of course vineyards.
We will stay in the pretty village of Buxy for 2 nights
were we meet the very friendly hoteliers and make the most
of the hotel swimming pool (open in season).
There is a choice of longer or shorter routes, 35kms or
50kms.
Day
4. The
optional ride from Buxy is a loop south to the great Abbey
of Cluny. As on previous days the day is punctuated with
numerous villages and lovely and varied countryside but
this time there are even gallo-roman ruins on the way.
After a good break in the village of Cluny visit one of
the most prestigious abbey complexes in France. You can
cycle back to Buxy by the traffic free cycle path. 70kms
Day
5. From Buxy,
ride northwest to the country town of Couches after
crossing the Canal du Centre. The day’s cycle is
definitely a good contrast to the wine making lands you
have seen so far; this is a land of isolated cattle farms
and oak woods. This ride ends in the old market town of
Nolay. 55kms
Day
6. The ride
from Nolay goes to the old market town of Bligny sur Ouche
and to the Canal de Bourgogne at Pont d’Ouche. After
riding along the peaceful canal using the old towpath, we
cycle back to Beaune. The last 15kms is a smooth downhill
through lovely forest then the great vineyard of Aloxe
Corton. There are two route options for this ride back to
Beaune, one of 45kms and the other of 60kms.
Day
7. The last
ride is a loop from Beaune to the Abbey of Citeaux. The
route takes you through the famous vineyards of the Cote
de Beaune with numerous ancient churches, chateaux and
charming villages along the way. There are a few
interesting sights to see in Nuits St George including the
13th century church and the museum. From the Abbey, the
return route passes through the best Pinot noir vineyards
of Burgundy with Chambolle-Musigny and Nuits-Saint-Georges
among them. There are again two route options, this time
of 55 or 70kms. Whichever option you choose there is much
to see and of course opportunities to taste some of the
local produce!
Day
8. The tour
ends in Beaune after breakfast.
The Bikes
18
- 21 gear hybrid bikes that come with handlebar bag (to
contain maps, fruit, cheese, wine etc), rear carrier with
panniers, spare inner tube, repair kit, tools and pump.
Cycle hire fee is 85 Euros for 6 days, payable in France
when your bikes are delivered to the hotel. They will
arrive at 9am on day 2 and the technician who delivers the
bike will make sure it is adjusted to fit and will answer
any of your questions about the bikes.
Helmets and water bottles are not provided so please take
your own. We highly recommend the wearing of a good
fitting helmet whenever you are cycling.
Terrain &
Difficulty
We
grade the tour as moderate; standard day stages between
hotels vary from 30km to 55km. Two days are loops
returning to the same hotel, the first from Buxy is a 70km
loop with great sightseeing at the furthest point; you may
need an early start. The second loop is from Beaune and
covers 55 or 70kms depending on the option you choose.
The terrain is mostly flat through the vineyards but there
are moderate up hill sections and undulating countryside
on the route.
For further details ask for a Sherpa Cycling brochure. |
