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Riding through the lush, idyllic land of la belle France. Fairy-tale villages and world famous vineyards in French wine country. Burgundy beckons with warm - hearted locals, Gothic abbeys and magnificent fortresses. Farmlands , stone cottages and pastoral villages highlight our ride. Cycling the routes du vin, the vineyards of Burgundy stretch as far as the eye can see. From the Côte Chalonnaise to the Côte de Nuits, we pedal through row after row of vineyard sand small wine towns. Boasting vintners from Cistercian monks to the 14th c. Popes, Burgundian wines have a history and pedigree that is unique. After a day on the road, our beautiful hotels and authentic restaurants enhance our taste of this fertile, friendly land.
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• Cycling through the vineyards of the Côte de Nuits
• Dinner at Lameloise, a 3 star Michelin restaurant
• The medieval Abbey of St. Philibert in Tournus
• French pâtisserie at Mme Bouché's in Beaune
• A fine glass of Chardonnay in Chassagne-Montrachet
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Day 1 Chagny
Our warm-up and get-acquainted ride will take us on a bike path along the Canal du Centre and into the wooded, gentle countryside of the Saône River Valley. The day ends with apéritifs in our hotel's lounge followed by dinner a la carte at Lameloise, a 3 star Michelin restaurant, where our indulgence is heavenly and quite elegant at that.
• 1 night at Hôtel Lameloise, a 3 star Michelin restaurant and Relais & Châteaux property.
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Day 2 & 3 Côte de Beaune and Beaune
Into the Côte d'Or through the immaculately trimmed vineyards of the Côte de Beaune and past the Château de la Rochepot, a magnificant 13th c. medieval fortress topped with colorful Flemish tiles. Before dinner, a walking tour of Beaune highlights beautifully preserved stone facades, turreted roofs and the Flemish-Burgundian masterpiece Hôtel Dieu. Be sure to seek out Madame Bouché's, the best pâstisserie in Burgundy.
• 2 nights at Hôtel le Cep, a Renaissance-style inn located in the center of Beaune.
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Day 4 The Val d'Ouche
Leaving the vineyards of Beaune we enter a world of dark oak forests and cream-colored Charolais cows grazing in green pastures, an altogether a more rustic side of Burgundy. For the ambitious, a side trip to the medieval fortified caste of Châteauneuf en Auxois is offered.
• 1 night at a restored Cistercian abbey and Relais & Châtaux property.
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Day 5 & 6 Côte de Nuits
Fresh croissants and pain au chocolat before our ride into the Côte de Nuits. Pinot Noir vineyards blanket the countryside, punctuated by church spires and the brightly tiled steeples of tiny villages. As we bike through the Route des Grands Crus we pass the Domaine Romanée Conti and villages such as Nuits-St. Georges and Gevrey-Chambertin. Tour Château du Clos-de-Vougeot's impressive 12th c.wine cellar, and view their 800 year old presses originally built by Cistercian monks. We celebrate our week with champagne and a farewell feast in the spectacular vaulted dining room of our hotel.
• 1 night at Château de Gilly, a member of Small Luxury Hotels of the World.
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"I very much appreciated our guides' in-depth knowledge of Burgundy, French history and culture...they are both grand cru!"
Barbara Allen
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Dates: May 18-23, Jun 8-13, Jul 6-11, Aug 3-8, Sep 7-12, Sep 21-26, May 17-22, 2009, Jun 28-Jul 3, 2009, Aug 2-7, 2009
See Burgundy Guest Chef Biking for additional departures.
Length: 6 days/5 nights
Level: 1 A/B
Daily Mileage: 15-35 miles on gently rolling terrain with a few hills.
Cost: $3880
Single Supplement: $800
Meals: All breakfasts, all dinners but 1; picnic lunch
Hotels: Relais & Châteaux and manor hotels.
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