13 Things to Do in Burgundy: From Châteaus to Cheesy Delights

Hands down, one of our FAVORITE things to do in Burgundy, France was biking one of the most scenic bike routes we have ever done, the 22 km Veloroute La Vie Des Vignes!

We picked up our bikes in Beaune and took the train to Chagny. Then we casually biked from one charming French village to the next as we made our way back up to Beaune.

The day was sunny, and the temperature was perfect. The surrounding countryside was breathtaking. We rode alongside a meandering canal and passed by rolling vineyards, grand chateaus, and quaint shops.

We stopped periodically to munch on some delicious French cheese and did a few wine tastings.

Ah, life is good.

I was quite surprised to find out that the legal alcohol limit in France is 0.05% (it’s 0.08% in the United States). With some of the strictest drinking and driving laws, we were not messing around.

We decided to book the local wine experts to show us this beautiful wine region and enjoy several tastings.

Authentica Tours picked us up at our hotel, and we enjoyed a lovely day of Pinot Noir tastings at two renowned wine houses.

We’re talking rich, melt-in-your-mouth beef bourguignon, silky mashed potatoes, and Comté cheese bread that I’m still thinking about.

Naturally, it was all paired with beautiful Burgundian wines. The French really know how to do things right.

We booked through Authentica Tours, and I can’t recommend them enough.

They offer both small group and private options—we chose a private tour (full wine tour review linked here!) since we wanted to dive deeper into the Côte de Nuits wine region.

Our guide was incredibly knowledgeable and professional, and they took us to a handful of top-notch estates we never would’ve found on our own.

Don’t miss a visit to this unique museum with a fascinating history!

Hospices de Beaune was built as a hospital for the poor in 1443 and operated until 1971! One of the striking features of this building is its glazed multi-colored tile roof.

When you walk inside, you can see how it would have felt to be a patient during this time.

Patient beds line the periphery of a large open room. The audio guide provided with your 12€ ticket walks you through the history as you go from room to room.

The hospital has been given many donations over the years including vineyards!

Hospices de Beaune now owns around 150 acres of mostly Grand and Premier Cru vineyards. Every 3rd Sunday in November it hosts a charity auction selling the wine it produces from these vineyards. 

I love cheese. I love cheese so much that we even did a cheese tasting class while in Paris.

Before we went to Burgundy, I had heard of the famous Delice de Pommard Moutarde cheese. This delectable cow’s milk cheese is crafted by Monsieur Alain Hess, who operates his own cheese store in the charming town of Beaune.

Its luscious interior is enveloped by mustard seeds, imparting a subtle touch of spiciness.

For an ideal picnic to accompany your Burgundy bike expedition, be sure to pick up some delectables from this adorable shop.

I have been wine tasting, taco tasting, and cheese tasting but never mustard tasting. This was a first and a lot of fun!

Check out the mustard mill, Edmond Fallot La Moutarderie, which has been a family business since 1840! This artisanal shop still grinds its mustard seeds the old-fashioned way using silex grindstones.

As you enter the gift shop, go all the way to the back to the Mustard Bar. The super friendly staff will give you samples of the mustards you want to try (for free!). They have interesting flavors like cassis, red chili pepper, basil, and Pinot Noir (of course, you are in Burgundy!).

We went traditional and purchased a jar of Moutarde de Dijon.

It definitely has a kick, which I didn’t appreciate until I generously smothered our sandwiches with it for our hike in Chamonix later on in our trip.

Pro Tip: Little bit goes a long way!

Embrace the French art de vivre lifestyle and stay in a charming boutique hotel in Burgundy.

We love boutique hotels.

La Maison de Pommard embodies the French art de vivre experience we had been longing for.

The friendly and welcoming owner, Isabelle, is a winemaker’s daughter. Her father used to store his vintage wines in the home she renovated into a hotel. The property is a strikingly beautiful space that combines both historic features and contemporary touches.

We loved sitting outside in the garden sipping on a glass of their exceptional wine and enjoying a casual gourmet meal of local charcuterie, cheese, fresh bread, and a garden salad.

A huge perk of this boutique property is the location.

It’s situated in the heart of the quaint town of Pommard right off the bike trail, Veloroute La Vie Des Vignes (which was our #1 thing to do in Burgundy).

It is also within walking distance of a fantastic restaurant, Auprès du Clocher, and a wonderful winery, Domaine LEJEUNE.

If you are still trying to figure out where to stay, do not miss my post on the best boutique properties in Burgundy!

One of the best ways to explore them? Hopping on a bike and following the Veloroute La Voie des Vignes, a scenic route that winds through vineyards and villages (which we chatted about earlier).

One of our favorite stops was Meursault.

Between the cozy cafés, adorable little shops, and flower-filled corners of the main square, it had us completely smitten.

We enjoyed a few goodies from a local shop and had a picnic by the town fountain—simple, perfect, and very French.

Santenay was another standout. Tucked right in the middle of the vineyards, it has a medieval castle, a windmill, and even a thermal spa if you’re in the mood to soak and unwind.

There are so many small towns worth checking out, each offering its own little slice of Burgundian life.

If you’ve got a favorite village, I’d love to hear about it in the comments!

I was so sad we missed visiting this market, but I’ve heard this is a must-visit attraction.

If you happen to be in Beaune on a Saturday, don’t miss the 150 vendors that stretch from the Halles covered market to Hôtel Dieu.

You can purchase everything from a Bresse chicken, locally made saucisson, truffles, flowers, antique goods, clothes, you name it! This is where the locals shop.

Burgundy has quite a few impressive châteaus to explore, but the one that is considered the icon of the Burgundian vineyard is Château du Clos Vougeot.

Built by the Cistercian monks in the 12th century, you cannot miss its impressive presence rising up among the vineyards.

Our Authentica Tours wine guide stopped by this prestigious château during our tour of the Route des Grands Crus (Route of the Great Wines).

Although the Château du Clos de Vougeot no longer produces wine, it remains a historic symbol of Burgundy and its exceptional wine.

For more cool châteaus to explore, check out La Bourgogne’s Top 10 Châteaus.

France has the most Michelin-star restaurants in the WORLD!

We experienced 1 of the 630 Michelin-star restaurants during our stay in Burgundy.

On our first night, we had a delicious meal at the 1-Star Michelin restaurant, La Table de Levernois. We enjoyed a pre-dinner cocktail on their beautiful terrace before being led indoors for our lobster tasting menu experience.

The meal was expertly prepared and delicious. Although the lobster dishes were delicious, I really enjoyed their signature dessert, a warm grand mariner soufflé with blood orange sorbet.

And if you don’t feel like driving home, you can stay on the property in one of their 26 beautifully appointed rooms!

When we were cycling along the canal from Chagny to Santenay, I noticed these houseboats parked along the side. I didn’t realize France had so many canals and waterways. One of the best ways to explore all the picturesque towns is by boat.

You can book a barge cruise to slowly navigate from village to village along the 150-mile Burgundy Canal. Once you reach a village, you can hop out and explore by foot or bike to see the highlights.

These small group cruises can be pretty swanky, with beautiful modern rooms and fine French cuisine and wine.

European Waterways seems to be the recommended outfitter for food and wine lovers. Yet another reason to come back to explore Burgundy!

If you read Wine and War, you know a visit to Joseph Drouhin is a must. We booked a tasting and tour of these historic cellars, which were owned at one point by the Dukes of Burgundy and the Kings of France.

Three generations of Drouhins have led this prestigious wine estate starting in 1880! This winemaking family also has an estate in Willamette Valley in Oregon, which is known for exceptional Pinot Noir too.

The tour was well organized, and our wine guide was very knowledgeable. After the cellar tour, we had an excellent tasting of three whites and three reds, which included a few Premier Crus. 

Hunting for truffles is #66 on my couples bucket list. There are a few places in the world where you can hunt for truffles, and Burgundy is one of them!

This regional delicacy is highly prized. It instantly elevates a meal to another level.

I love truffles, but my husband really really loves truffles. We’ve tried truffles on everything from pizza to burgers to pasta to popcorn to fries.

Maison Aux Mille Truffes offers a truffle hunting experience with Taiga, their expert truffle hunter dog. After your adventure, you can taste some delicious truffle treats.

If you are a foodie and wine lover who also loves to be outdoors, you are going to love Burgundy! Paris was great (we had an incredible 36 hours!), but we loved Burgundy and its “slow down and enjoy life” lifestyle. I hope these top things to do help you plan your own ideal French wine country getaway.

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Questions about our top things to do in Burgundy?

Let me know in the comments below!