Burgundy

Burgundy (French: Bourgogne) is a historic region of France, inhabited in turn by Celts (Gauls), Romans (Gallo-Romans), and various Germanic peoples, most importantly the Burgundians and the Franks. Burgundians gave their name to the region. Later in time, the region was divided between the duchy of Burgundy (west of Burgundy) and the county of Burgundy (east of Burgundy). The duchy of Burgundy is the most famous of the two, and the one which reached historical fame. Later, the duchy of Burgundy became the French province of Burgundy, while the county of Burgundy became the French province of Franche-Comté (literally meaning "free county").

Burgundy (duchy) makes up most of the modern-day administrative région of Bourgogne.

It is one of the French areas, which was a long time forgetting, and from its passage under the shadow has knew preserved the traditions and its inheritance. The cities of Auxerre, Dijon, Vezelay Beaune, Nevers, Sens have each one their character and an interest of visit, their monuments, their history are narrowly melees with the development of the spirituality and of the culture, besides they are monks whose have developed the jewels of the wines, which are the wines of the areas which does not know Chablis, Aloxe-Corton, Nuits Saint Georges with their specificity and guaranteed vintage on confine zones. Then the abbeys of Cluny, Vezelay, Paray le Monial always radiate with their important halo. The channels there too had an importance at last century, now they carry river tourism under development full. Great spaces support the country holidays of rest, excursion and nature, and the countryside and always alive, Charollais which you will meet, we will recall that the countryside is rich, and a long time, forests of Morvan and the wines of Burgundy have forwards by the channels to warmed-up the capital.

Burgundy is one of the most fascinating regions of France. Historically and culturally rich, the region has everything to offer you. From rolling hills covered in oak and maple forest to the vines yards on the Cote de Nuits, the fertile plains of Auxois, the granite stone mountains in the Morvan, the river Yonne and Saone.

Although Burgundy is know throughout the world for its high quality wine, you will find many other interesting, less well known charms and fascinations.

Throughout history and due to the geographical situation: Burgundy has been a concentration of human progression with the deep Cistercian influence; feudal conflicts and continual strife between the French kings and Burgundian Dukes; a center of inspiration for people such as Eiffel and the Montgolfiere brothers.

The Canal

One of the most important changes for Burgundy was the construction of the Burgundy Canal (Le Canal de Bourgogne). It completely changed the social evolution of hundres of small villages and hamlets. The canal is a masterpiece of pre-industrial revolution technology, spanning more than 250 kilometres in length and two centuries of construction. This opened Burgndy to the world with access to the Atlantic and Mediterranean sea.