Burgundy Property Guide

Burgundy Location

Burgundy is one of France's largest regions Burgundy is located to the North and East of central France. Flanked on the East by Franche-Comte, and with Auvergne and Rhone-Alpes to the south. The Centre region lies to the West, and Ile-de-France and Champagne-Ardennes regions on its northern borders. The departments in the region are Yonne, Côte-d'Or, Nièvre and Saône-et-Loire.

Burgundy Landscape

The Burgundy landscape is a wine lover's paradise with rolling landscapes of vineyards stretching for miles. The landscapes vary from wooded and open country-side, criss-crossed with the world famous vineyards of the Cote d'Or, plus lush agriculture fields and gentle green meadows.

The Canal of Burgundy joins the Rivers Yonne and Saône, allowing barges to navigate from the north to south of France through the Burgundy countryside.

Burgundy Attractions

There is the intoxicating "Routes des Grand Crus" traversing Chablis, Cote d'Or, Beajolais and Macon for wine lovers.

So beyond wine, coq au vin, dijon mustard and beef bourguignon - what else does Burgundy have to offer?

There are  magnificent cathedrals to view, including the spired Cathedrale St. Benigne in Dijon, as well as Cluny's Benedictine Abbey, once the largest Christian building in the Western world. Dijon is a splendid city - see below.

Beaune is a tourist trap but the architecture and ornate tiled roofs are well worth a visit and dare we mention it - more wine cellars!

In the south of Burgundy there are beautiful natural resources to enjoy like Touroparc with its 120 distinct animal species, the Eden Nature Discovery Centre, the Combes Tourist Park and the European Gallery of Forestry and Wood Industry.

Burgundy Weather

The summer months are warm and dry, with rainfall averaging miserly 6 cm per month in July and August. During Spring and Autumn, the climate is similar to that of the South-eastern tip of England with a mixture of sun and scattered showers with temperatures in the mid 20's.  Morning and nights can be cold in winter.

Getting there

By Air
Paris Charles de Gaulle / Orly - then train or car into the Burgundy region
Visitors from other parts of the world may wish to fly to Paris, Lyon or Geneva from where they can hire a car or take a train and then hire a car.

By Train
From Paris Gare de Lyon, the train journey to Cosne Cours sur Loire takes about 2 hours.

By Car
There is a good network of autoroutes from Calais - one route via Paris and the other that travels to the east of Paris.

Burgundy population

1.6 million inhabitants.

Major Towns/Cities

Dijon is the Capital of the region, where the former Palace of the Dukes of Burgundy, contains one of the finest medieval art museums in France. Delve into golden past at the Amora Maille Museum (Musée Amora), or sample the varieties on tap at the Maille boutique.

Chalon-sur-Saône is situated on the River Saône, and is a port and busy industrial centre. There are many their festivals such as the carnival in March with its parade of giant masks or later in July the national festival of street artists, and then in October there is the film festival.

Nevers is a small provincial city on the rivers Loire and Nièvre. It is krenowned for its nougat and fine porcelain. There are many old buildings in the "old town" dating back to the C12th.

Beaune - well worth a visit (see above)!

Burgundy Prices

Rural properties are still relatively cheap particularly around the National Parks but prices do rise steeply in the major towns of the region.

Price Guideline
Apartments: 100,000 - 250,000 euros
Farmhouses: 150,000 euros (renovated)
Townhouses: 200,000 + euros (in major towns)
Villas: 200,000 + euros
Land: from 10 euros per sq. m

Articles:
French Universities: ooh la la off to University I go!
Burgundy motor racing
Burgundy welcomes the International Folkloriades Festival
Sample Burgundy wine at its best
French property 'as popular as Spanish'
Climate change could affect Burgundy wine
Buying in Burgundy
Get a taste of Burgundy

[Next Region: Centre Region]