An exclusive easy walking tour combining two of the most famous wine regions in France! Treat yourself to a rail & hike combo linking Burgundy & Provence. From Dijon, only a 1h30 train ride from Paris, you follow gentle trails on the "Grand Crus" wine trails along the sunny slopes of the golden coast “Côte d’Or”, blanketed by the prestigious hillside villages and vineyards of “Côte de Nuits” and “Côte de Beaune”.
Then you travel comfortably by train to Avignon and discover the south of France’s most prestigious wine village : Chateauneuf du Pape. Here, grapes have been grown for 850 years. The best way to discover these vineyards is by foot, strolling between the gnarled vines from one estate to the next, run by the same families for generations. You walk in the heart of the Côtes-du-Rhône wine region, in the hills above Gigondas also renowned for its red wine – where the vines sit high above the Rhône Valley with breathtaking views !
And for the cherry on the cake: you finish your trip in Vaison la Romaine, France’s largest Roman archaeological site, also famous for its Tuesday morning market.
Arrival on your own in Dijon. Walk through the cobbled streets of the historic centre, visit the Palace of the Dukes, the Museum of Fine Art and the Notre-Dame church featuring a Black Madonna statue.
Meals included : none
Night : Dijon
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After breakfast, a short 15 min transfer takes you to Fussey to start your hike to Beaune. You are soon in the countryside walking through oak forests on peaceful paths leading to an authentic winegrowing village: Savigny-les-Beaune, a rarity in the "Côte de Beaune", as this village produces "Crémant de Bourgogne" a festive wine. From the church of Saint-Cassien and its splendid listed Romanesque bell tower, to the formal garden of the Chandon de Briailles Manor House, the village has some wonderful gems in store for you. You then continue to Beaune, the capital of Burgundy’s wine industry.
Today you can visit Beaune and then travel in the afternoon to Avignon. (Train ticket not included). If you are in Beaune on a Saturday, then you should not miss the morning market, the best place to taste local produce, bite into a piece of fruity Cîteaux cheese produced by the monks, a tasty Delice de Pommard or a creamy Brillat Savarin, try the marbled ham, smell the truffle and taste gingerbread flavoured with honey. Don’t miss a visit to the imposing mansion of the Dukes of Burgundy, the basilica of Notre Dame and the most famous of all the sights in Beaune: the steep pitched patterned roofs of the Hotel Dieu an ancient hospital now featuring a fine arts museum. Catch a train to Provence and arrive in Avignon. Stroll through the cobbled streets of this beautiful medieval Pope's city, a UNESCO World Heritage site.
Morning transfer to Châteauneuf du Pape (30 mn). Literally “New castle of the Pope”, this village was chosen as the summer residence of the Popes of Avignon, complete with a castle built atop the hill, today only a set of ruins remain from which the views extend far out to the horizon. It was the popes who brought the vines here in the 14th century, making wines that have been famous for centuries.
End of the trip after breakfast. Depending on your departure plans, take the time wandering through the expansive Roman ruins before crossing the 2000 year-old bridge and up to the Medieval village. Perched dizzyingly on the rock above the Ouvèze River, the cobbled streets between Vaison’s medieval homes lead up to the ruins of the 12th century feudal castle, from where the view extends to the entire town and to far-reaching countryside. Don't miss the fabulous Tuesday morning market !