Why spend a weekend in Burgundy?

Extend your vacation by a few days.

Who said that summer was over? What if we played hooky and extended the vacation just for a weekend? I can't promise you sheer excitement, but I do promise a few moments of grace in Burgundy-Franche-Comté. Welcome to the land that has birthed treasures of our heritage ranging from the sublime Alex Corton to the Cistercian monastery at Cluny or the modern chapel designed by Le Corbusier. If you are naturally curious, you will be captivated by these 9 wonders.

What if we played the bad students and extended the vacation just for a weekend?

Fans of La Grande Vadrouille will walk, incredulous, through the streets of Vézelay where the iconic scenes of the feature film were shot. For 42 consecutive years, the film held the record for views in France! As the crew stayed on location, it was not uncommon for the residents of Vézelay to come face to face with Bourvil or de Funès.

Moreover, the link that unites the city and the pilgrims is centuries-old. For 1000 years, they have been converging towards the Basilica of Saint Mary Magdalene, which even received a visit from Saint Louis. To accommodate this influx of visitors, the basements of Burgundian dwellings have been arranged for a long time. How to restore the impression that emanates from this masterpiece of Romanesque art revisited by Viollet-Le-Duc ? By entering the abbey, thanks to the extensively used white marble and the semi-circular arches, you are captivated by the sobriety of the place. Moreover, you are inevitably drawn towards the heart which concentrates the light. To reach this sacred place, you had to climb many steps, so be it! Besides the basilica, you will also enjoy breathtaking panoramas over the wooded Morvan Regional Park !

 Did you mention the largest citadel in Europe? Besançon, of course !

The architect of the Sun King, Vauban, who is credited with saint-Martin-en-Ré, excelled in the art of fortification. You won’t resist the traditional tour of the ramparts, Besançon is also listed as a UNESCO World Heritage site! Take the opportunity to attend the multimedia show given in the evening at the stronghold overlooking the city from 100 m high.

You will learn that the foundation stone of the construction was laid while the city belonged to the crown of Spain; it was only later that it was annexed to the Kingdom of France. Or perhaps you will learn more about the intentions of Louis XIV, who sought to defend his territory with a line of fortifications to the East. If you are keen on new technologies, it will be Vauban himself who will guide you on this vast site and introduce you to military architecture. For example, he will show you the postern, this small door leading to the ditch that he used to incorporate within the ramparts.

The Abbey of Fontenay in the north of Burgundy. One might think they are dreaming upon learning that this little Cistercian jewel housed an industrial workshop right after the Revolution, especially given how well-preserved it is with its cloister and chapter house. Perhaps it is due to the fact that the world’s oldest Cistercian abbey has remained in the hands of the same family since 1820. Or maybe its status as a historical monument, which it gained in 1862, has also protected it.

Finally, the valley that surrounds it certainly has something to do with it. What caused the decline of Fontenay, which followed the order of Saint Benedict? On one hand, the interference of the state and, on the other hand, the wars of religion. To conclude, the abbey is complemented by a landscaped garden of 12000 hectares in which it is pleasant to relax. Moreover, the monks who were great clearers are at the origin of the vineyards of Burgundy. Since 1981, Fontenay has been listed as a UNESCO World Heritage site and Jean-Paul Rappeneau filmed the sets of Cyrano de Bergerac there!

You would be mistaken to think that Dijon is only about mustard or snails! The Burgundian capital has many attractions, like its 3 lively market halls or its Michelin-starred restaurants such as L'Aspérule under the guidance of Chef Kimura. Above all, it prides itself on its Palace of the Dukes and the Estates designed by Hardouin-Mansart. If you're not afraid of heights, come and enjoy a view of the surroundings from the top of its Philippe le Bon tower, 46 meters above the ground.

The Museum of Fine Arts is located in the eastern wing of the ducal palace, and the establishment has been refreshed to present the Second School of Paris in an interactive manner. It features modern artists including de Staël, the artist from Saint Petersburg who was passionate about music and composed abstract landscapes. Alternatively, you might prefer Da Silva and his canvases with fleeing perspectives. Finally, you will see the works of Yan Pei-Ming, a Franco-Chinese visual artist who has created propaganda portraits.  

Cluny, the Benedictine abbey, might well be the highlight of your weekend as Romanesque art reached its peak here. It was both a religious center and a hub of reform. Initially, there was a Carolingian estate, and then, a duke of Aquitaine founded the monastery in 909. Faced with drifting practices, the monks here revived the teachings of Saint Benedict.

What was its nature? Liturgy took precedence over manual or intellectual work, the abbot's election was free, and independence from princes was complete. Soon, Cluny spread its ideas throughout Europe. However, Cluny's history is rich as it became a focal point of resistance during the Second World War; maquis in which the resistance hid surrounded the abbey. Today it houses a prestigious institution: the Ecole des Arts et Métiers, ParisTech.

The terrace of the Lion, this colossus in pink marble leaning against the cliff of the citadel is signed Bartholdi, the very same who created the Statue of Liberty! The sculpture might seem familiar, and for good reason. You have a replica at Place Denfert-Rochereau in Paris! The Lion of Belfort, in contrast, is not made of copper but carved into the rock and it symbolizes the resistance of the stronghold of Belfort during the Franco-Prussian War (1870). Thanks to your smartphone, relive this incredible adventure as if you were there! As for the Belfort underground, visible during the JDP, it was arranged by Vauban at the location of a medieval ditch. It was covered with a roof and a floor was even built; in the mezzanine, ammunition was stored. A place for camouflage, it could contain 1200 men and, the icing on the cake, it was heated by 10 chimneys!

NB : If you appreciate the work of Le Corbusier, visit Notre-Dame-du-Haut-de-Ronchamp, a white vessel with a domed roof. Once inside, you might well feel the same spirituality as inside the Sagrada Familia...

Of course, you will tell me about the auctions that take place on the third Sunday in November. The quality of the wine produced over the 60 km2 is exceptional, and the character of its origins even more so. The vines come from legacies, and the profits from the sale are donated to the hospital! If you are lost among the appellations, know that Côtes de Beaune are dry whites produced between Beaune and Santenay, and Côtes de Nuit are reds from the area between Beaune and Dijon.

When exactly do the Hospices de Beaune date back to? The Hôtel-Dieu was founded following the Hundred Years War. You will admire the glazed roofs, the Gothic facades, the shimmering colors; we are here in the presence of medieval civil architecture. Everything is in perfect state of conservation. Inside, do not miss van der Weyden's Last Judgment painting.

The vineyards come from bequests and the profits from sales are donated to the hospital!

NB: Interested in seeing an unusual industrial construction? The Royal Saltworks of Arc-et-Senans, listed as a UNESCO World Heritage site since 1982, corresponds to a salt factory. The symmetry of its 11 buildings arranged in a circular arc is the work of the neoclassical architect Ledoux, who designed the enclosure wall of Paris, of which the gates still exist today.