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Treasures of Southern Burgundy

Vineyards, châteaux & top gastronomy
 
This cycle-friendly region is renowned worldwide for its wines and gastronomy. Promising plenty of cultural interest each day and high-quality hotels of character, including a Michelin-starred restaurant, this self-guided holiday, with luggage transported, delights all the senses.
Treasures of Southern Burgundy. 6 nights
+44 (0)1653 617001 Call now
Treasures of Southern Burgundy. 6 nights
+44 (0)1653 617001 Call now
 

Holiday information

 

A cycling holiday in Burgundy

For a holiday that is indulgent on every level, choose this route in Burgundy. The famous wines – reds such as Nuits St Georges and whites like Puligny-Montrachet – are complemented by an equally superb regional gastronomy which is considered to be one of the best in France.
By day, as you follow the region’s excellent network of cycle trails, you can feast your eyes on all manner of architectural gems, from Romanesque churches and majestic abbeys to Renaissance châteaux and fortified mansions.
Equally pleasing to the eye are the timeless views which stretch towards the mountains of the Jura and which inspired one of France’s greatest 19th-century poets, Alphonse de Lamartine. To top it all off, we have found three high-quality hotels (one of which boasts a Michelin star) of character.
 

Book with confidence

At present, we are only accepting bookings for France for travel from 1 June onwards. Our flexible booking arrangements, commitment to safety and financial protection mean that you can book with confidence, despite the current travel restrictions in place.

What we’re doing so you can book and travel with confidence >
Check the destination entry requirements >

We will contact customers who have a holiday booking with us in spring nearer the date of departure.
 
Gallery
 

Itinerary

The key to Inntravel holidays is flexibility. You can start on the day that suits you best, choose how you travel – and how long to stay.
  • The average maximum daytime temperatures and monthly rainfall relate to the nearest weather station and are intended as a guide only.
    Average temperatures and rainfall
      Jan Feb Mar Apr May Jun Jul Aug Sep Oct Nov Dec
    °C 4 7 11 15 19 23 25 25 21 16 9 5
    mm 67 59 56 56 79 78 56 73 75 66 71 71
  • Arrival in Cluny
    Night 1: at Hotel de Bourgogne (the first of two nights here).
    As your first night's accommodation is on the day of travel, Day 1 is your first day of cycling.
  • Circular route from Cluny: 25.5km
    We suggest a good introductory cycle ride southwards from Cluny along France’s first voie verte, a cycle track following a disused railway line. This takes you to a tunnel*, on the other side of which you enter the Lamartine Valley (named after the 19th-century French poet). You eventually leave the cycle path to visit Berzé-la-Ville, an attractive old village perched atop a hill with an 11th-century chapel with some delightful medieval frescoes. Return on a quiet route via Berzé-le-Châtel, an impressive fortified castle.

    *Please note: the tunnel is closed during the winter months to allow bats to nest and re-opens in mid-April. During this time, a well-signed, but hilly, detour is in place.
    Circular route from Cluny: 25.5km
    Berzé-la-Ville on the circular route from Cluny
  • Cluny to Dracy-le-Fort: 48km
    Leaving Cluny, you head northwards on the voie verte once more. You pass by Cormatin, which boasts a bicycle museum, a church with some remarkable works of religious art, and a beautifully restored 17th-century château complete with a splendid Louis XIII-style interior, a grand staircase and an English garden. You then join the River Grosne before skirting the edge of the famed Côte Chalonnaise vineyards. It is worth pausing in both Saint-Gengoux-le-National – characterised by fortified houses, towers and winding staircases – and Buxy, a wine-growing town with a museum devoted to viticulture. Your destination is Dracy-le-Fort, and Hotel Le Dracy.
    Cluny to Dracy-le-Fort: 48km
    Vineyards en route from Cluny to Dracy-le-Fort
  • Choice of routes from Dracy-le-Fort: 8km or 18km

    Circular route from Dracy-le-Fort: 18km
    Head to Givry to admire the town's elegant town hall, corn exchange and curious church before following a route that is themed on the many fascinating examples of ancient lavoirs  and fontaines  (wash-houses and fountains) that dot the renowned, vineyard-clad Côte Chalonnaise. The ride takes you to a pretty hill-top village with an old church and a picnic stop with a spectacular view.

    Out-and-back route to Château de Germolles: 8km
    Alternatively, if you fancy a day largely out of the saddle, we highly recommend a visit to the nearby Château de Germolles, which is just 4km away. Once home to the Duke of Burgundy, Philippe le Hardi (Philip The Bold) and his wife Marguerite de Flandre (Margaret of Flanders), Germolles is the best-preserved chateau from the time of the Dukes of Burgundy. Visits are guided only and include a tour of the cellar, lower chapel and great reception room, plus the ducal apartments which contain the only known surviving examples of heraldic frescoes from this period. An entry fee applies and we advise telephoning in advance to check tour times. Please note the chateau is closed on Mondays from mid-October to May.
     
    Circular route from Dracy-le-Fort: 18km
    The circular route from Dracy-le-Fort
    Out-and-back route to Château de Germolles: 8km
    Château de Germolles
  • Dracy-le-Fort to Puligny-Montrachet: 38km
    It is just a short ride to Chalon-sur-Saône, birthplace of the inventor of photography, Nicéphore Niepce, where the charming old town clusters around the Gothic cathedral. You can visit the fascinating old pharmacy and the museum of photography before following the Canal du Centre past eight locks and the pleasant town of Chagny with its watch tower and Romanesque church. The last leg branches away from the canal to reach Puligny-Montrachet and your final hotel, the very elegant Le Montrachet.
    Dracy-le-Fort to Puligny-Montrachet: 38km
    Chalon-sur-Saône © Alain Doire. Bourgogne Tourisme
  • Out-and-back route from Puligny-Montrachet: 29km
    No holiday here would be complete without a visit to Beaune, seat of the Dukes of Burgundy until the 14th century. The ride there takes you through premier cru vineyards and the town of Meursault, whose town hall is adorned with the coloured and varnished roof tiles so typical of the region. From here, you rise to the village of Volnay, where you can enjoy the views across the plain of the Saône towards the Jura Mountains, before descending through more vineyards to Beaune. Here, stroll along the ramparts, marvel at the intricately patterned roof and arcaded walkways of the 15th-century hospice, and indulge in a wine tasting or two. A fitting end to a wonderful week’s cycling.
    Out-and-back route from Puligny-Montrachet: 29km
    Vineyards on the route to Beaune
 

Accommodation

You stay in three high-quality hotels of great character.
 
Prices & travel options
All prices are in £ sterling (GBP). If you'd like to see what they equate to in your currency, use the converter. For general information on pricing, see the 'your holiday price explained' page.
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  • 6 nights: 25 April 2021 - 30 September 2021

    Start Saturday to Wednesday | End by latest date(s) shown above

    Starting Price Single room
    25 Apr - 22 May 2021 £1145 £485
    23 May - 24 Sep 2021 £1195 £495
    3rd & 4th person discount -£115
    Single traveller supplement £115

    Includes accommodation, meals, bike hire, luggage transfers and any other services integral to the holiday as described, plus cycling notes and maps, but no travel from the UK, nor any connecting travel from the airport unless stated below.

    Electric bikes available: add £135 per person

    Book your flights through us and we'll find the best route and times to suit you. Please contact us to find out more about our flight booking service. We can also book connecting travel - see below.

    6 nights: 25 April 2021 - 30 September 2021

    Start Saturday to Wednesday | End by latest date(s) shown above

    Starting Price Single room
    25 Apr - 22 May 2021 £1370 £485
    23 May - 24 Sep 2021 £1415 £495
    3rd & 4th person discount -£145
    Single traveller supplement £145

    Includes all elements in the 'cycle price', plus standard-class travel by Eurostar from London St Pancras or Ebbsfleet International to Lille or Paris, with onward travel as described below.

    Electric bikes available: add £135 per person

    Included travel: UK–Paris (Eurostar), Paris– Mâcon Loché (TGV/Intercité) out & Beaune-Paris (TGV/regioinal rail), Paris-UK (Eurostar) home, approx duration out 5h30/home 7h15 & taxi transfer (0h30).
    > More about 'by rail' prices
    > The 'rail experience': what to expect

    If you book your holiday less than 6 months in advance of your travel date, seats may no longer be available at the tariffs on which our prices are based, but we may be able to offer you seats on the same services at a supplement.

    6 nights: 25 April 2021 - 30 September 2021

    Start Saturday to Wednesday | End by latest date(s) shown above

    Starting Price Single room
    25 Apr - 22 May 2021 £1325 £485
    23 May - 24 Sep 2021 £1375 £495
    3rd & 4th person discount -£250
    Single traveller supplement £250

    Includes all elements in the 'cycle price', plus a return ferry crossing between Dover and Calais with P&O Ferries for your party and one car.

    > More information about travelling self-drive

    Electric bikes available: add £135 per person

    A supplement of £35 per car per single journey applies for outward travel on 26-28 March & 2-4 April 2021, and for homeward travel on 4-5 & 10-11 April 2021. A supplement of £56 per car per single journey applies outward on Fridays & Saturdays 28-29 May & 9 July-14 August 2021 and homeward on Saturdays & Sundays 5-6 June & 17 July-29 August 2021.

  • Room upgrades (£ per person per night)

    Hotel Le Dracy, Dracy-Le-Fort
    Superior: 25 Apr - 30 Sep 2021 £16
    Terrace: 25 Apr - 30 Sep 2021 £12
    Hotel Le Montrachet, Puligny Montrachet
    Junior suite: 25 Apr - 30 Sep 2021 £50
  • RECOMMENDED AIRPORT(S):
    Lyon
    As an alternative to flying, we can arrange rail travel from London

    Travelling from the UK

    Travelling from outside the UK

    If you are flying from outside Europe,  you may need to fly to an airport not listed below To discuss onward connecting travel to the start of your holiday, please contact us.

    Travelling from outside the UK
    We have many years' experience catering for customers who live outside the UK, and will be happy to make tailored arrangements to fit with your plans.

    You have two options:

    1) Book your own flights to London, from where we can book flights and onward connecting travel to your hotel.

    2) Book your own flights direct to an airport appropriate to your chosen holiday. You can either make your own way from the airport to the hotel, or we'll be happy to book onward connecting travel for you. Please consult with us before booking your flights, so that we can advise you on the suitability of your proposed route and timings.
    Outward route Airline
    Edinburgh - Lyon easyJet 
    Edinburgh - Lyon (via Paris) Air France 
    Outward route Airline
    Gatwick - Lyon easyJet 
    Outward route Airline
    Heathrow - Lyon British Airways 
    Heathrow - Lyon (via Paris) Air France 
    Outward route Airline
    Luton - Lyon easyJet 
    Outward route Airline
    Stansted - Lyon easyJet 
    Outward route Airline
    Manchester - Lyon (via Paris) Air France 
    Outward route Airline
    Newcastle - Lyon (via Paris) Air France 
    Outward route Airline
    Southampton - Lyon (via Paris) Air France 
    Travelling from outside the UK

    If you are flying from outside Europe,  you may need to fly to an airport not listed below To discuss onward connecting travel to the start of your holiday, please contact us.

    This list of flight options should be used as a guide only, and you should check each airline’s website for current routes, frequency and schedules. Not all flights operate daily, and may not run for the entire season. You should also heed the latest flight arrival time and earliest flight departure time stated in the connecting travel section, as it may not be possible to arrange connecting travel outside these times. Please do not book your flights until we have confirmed your accommodation to you. Alternatively, our expert reservations team will be happy to offer advice and to make flight bookings for you. We charge £35 per person for our flight booking service (£60 for India and Nepal). Your flights are then covered by our package-booking conditions, which give you greater protection in the event of delay or cancellation, as well as providing ATOL cover.

  • Prices below are based on 2 people travelling together. If you are travelling solo or as a party of 3 or more and our arrangements include a taxi, please contact us for prices; additional passengers often pay less.

    Unless otherwise stated, connecting travel by rail or bus tends to be from the city centre station, rather than from its airport, and connections between the two should be paid for locally.

    Connecting travel options - flying via Lyon

    Outward route Price per person Latest flight
    arrival time
    rail Lyon Part-Dieu to Mâcon Ville (0h50), taxi Mâcon Ville to hotel (0h35) £45 1700
    Homeward route Price per person Earliest flight
    departure time
    taxi hotel to Beaune (0h30), rail Beaune to Lyon Part-Dieu (1h45) £35 1300
What is included
  • 6 nights
  • 3 dinners
    6 breakfasts
  • luggage transported
  • route notes and maps
  • high quality bicycle
 
Reviews

If you've experienced this holiday first hand, why not write a review?

We are keen for as many customers as possible to review their holiday. To make it easier to do so, we include a specific review section on our post-holiday questionnaire, and this is what we publish here, unedited. Read our full review policy >

All 15 reviews
  • Mrs E Graham
    Moreton-in-marsh
    22 September 2019

    A perfect combination of cycling and sightseeing. We would love to go back.

  • Mr R Ash Wheeler
    Newton Abbot
    06 September 2019

    We loved the combination of exercise and culinary delights. The trip was more informative, historical and educational than we expected - all totally stimulating. The variety of hotels chosen was excellent: from family-run to saunas and swimming pools to high-end haute cuisine.

  • David and Sue Smith
    06 September 2019

    Highlights included the location and service at the Hotel de Bourgogne. We found that the Cafe du Nord in Cluny was better quality than the Nation.  We would highly recommend L'Estaminet at Puligny Montrachet which suited us much better than the fine dining at the hotel. The electric bikes were marvellous!

    In Lyon we discovered an excellent bouchon: L'Acteur near the hotel. Lyon generally was well worth the extra nights.

  • Fiona, Cornwall
    02 September 2019

    Inntravel have done it again - another brilliant holiday, beautifully planned with clear instructions, lots of useful information about the area, naming places that are of interest and choosing really lovely hotels. The first day was the hardest because we chose the detour which meant climbing the hilly parts, but well worth doing for spectacular views and stunning picnic spot. Having a hotel with Spa and outdoor pool mid week was very relaxing, especially when we had sunshine all week. Ending the week with a 2* Michelin dinner gave us cause to celebrate a super week. Early September is a beautiful time to cycle through the vineyards full of plump grapes, which we watched being harvested on some rides. However, the restaurant suggested just around the corner of the first hotel, was closed because the owners had gone on holiday. The hotel made a recommendation and that was lovely. Anyone wanting an easy cycling holiday, then this ticks a lot of boxes. Will certainly cycle again with Inntravel.

     

     

  • Mr R Roberts
    Bradford
    17 August 2019

    Overall a relaxing and excellent holiday, the accommodation and transport arrangements worked like clockwork.

    Wine tips in Burgundy were excellent, although sadly anything beyond the 'entry level' Bourgogne Chardonnay (excellent of course) was pretty much unaffordable at Le Montrachet!

    Train Bleu at Gare de Lyon closed between 1430 and 1800 so we missed that and Brasserie du Nord closed for the month of August.

  • Mrs R Harries
    Nr Calne
    08 June 2019

    Lovely hotels and some fabulous cycling through beautiful vineyards.

  • Mrs J Bright
    Shrewsbury
    13 September 2018

    It was a wonderful holiday with hot weather every day. Cycling through vineyards was a lovely experience and we enjoyed sampling the wines and sightseeing in beautiful villages and towns.

  • Mr G Morton-Smith
    St. Albans
    12 September 2018

    Inntravel's customary immaculate organisation and planning of the whole trip were evident in every aspect.  What came to be known as the Inntravel 'bible' is unbelievably comprehensive, clear, readable, accurate and detailed.  We would not choose any other cycle tour operator.  

  • anon
    08 September 2018

    The cycling on paths and along the canal was delightful. It was good to keep the best till last and the vineyard paths on the last 2 days were the highlight. The bikes were pretty good although heavy and the bottom gears were not very responsive on hills that I would have thought I could manage. It was fine to get off and walk up though. In general we never wanted to have a restaurant meal at lunchtime and the simple picnics were a treat - lovely fresh bread and cheese did it every time!

  • Mr R Dunlop
    Larne
    30 August 2018

    The choice of routes was excellent with very little contact with traffic, but the absolute highlight was being there to witness the grape harvest which was such a lucky coincidence.  

  • Mr S Newsome
    London
    04 August 2018

    Wonderful, varied route with fabulous hotels.

  • anon
    01 August 2018

    We had an outstanding time as a whole. The experience is really unique and you are literally seeing some incredible historical villages and biking through the vineyards. We never did communicate with anybody from Inntravel during our holiday and that was okay with us as we wanted a self-guided experience. The people were all truly wonderful, the food and wine were great, the hotels were great and we are already talking about where we might want to go next.

  • Anon
    21 July 2018

    The lovely little hotel in Cluny as well as the Abbey.  We enjoyed riding through the vineyards and the lovely little wine villages. The provided dinners were very enjoyable and of course the wine was a highlight.

  • Anon
    08 July 2018

    A perfect holiday in every way. Easy cycling through gorgeous scenery with plenty of historic sites along the route. Amazing food and wine. Our first cycling holiday with Inntravel after many walking holiday - a great success.

  • T
    09 May 2018

    We found Le Caboulot, 45 Place d' Armes, a lovely place for lunch on the side of the square in Chagny.
 

FAQs

If you have any questions relating to this or any other Inntravel holiday, our friendly travel experts will be happy to help.
  • We sincerely hope that your holiday experience will be as enjoyable as it would have been before the pandemic – cycling holidays are ideal in these times of social distancing, and we’re not operating holidays if the key highlights can no longer be delivered – but, naturally, there will be some changes to ensure your and other people’s safety.
    Your holiday experience: what to expect >
    Safety measures being taken by hoteliers & others >
  • Our chosen bike rental shop will provide you with a hybrid bike with 27 gears; a waterproof map case on handlebars; pannier/saddlebag; pump; puncture repair kit; and a lock. Electric bikes are available as an upgrade (see price panel), subject to availability, and must be requested at the time of booking.
  • While we would always recommend that you take your own well-fitting helmet, they can be hired locally for a small fee. Please let us know at the time of booking if you would like to hire a helmet.
  • Yes, we will provide GPX tracks for this holiday prior to departure so that you can follow your route on your smartphone or dedicated GPS device if you wish. (We also provide maps and our tried-and-tested route notes.)
  • We’ll send you route notes and maps 2-3 weeks before your holiday. The route notes not only contain directions to get from hotel to hotel, but also include practical information about places of interest and eateries along each route, plus cultural information about the area. On mornings when you are moving between hotels, you leave your luggage in reception as you leave, and it will be transferred ahead to your next accommodation so that all you need to take with you are a camera, sun cream, drinks, food and waterproofs.
  • Bike insurance is not included in the price of our cycling holidays, and unfortunately we can't supply such insurance. Some general travel insurance policies can or do provide cover for rented bikes, so it's worth seeing if your policy is one of these. The most important thing is to ensure that you take good care of your bike (you are responsible for damage to or loss of it while it is hired to you), always being careful to lock it up, ideally to an immovable object, and removing all easy-to-steal accessories whenever you leave it unattended.
  • We can book a wide range of airlines and routes from the UK. As well as being more convenient for you to book all elements of your holiday together, it also means that we’ll accept liability for your travel arrangements, so if things go wrong, such as the airline going bust, we’ll make suitable alternative arrangements for you. For Europe, there’s a £35 booking fee per person (£15 for children aged 2-11). For India and Nepal, the booking fee is £60 per person. More information on flights >
  • We can’t book flights that originate outside the UK, but if you wanted to book your own flights to London (or elsewhere in the UK), we can make all onward travel arrangements (including flights) from there. Alternatively, if you are booking your own flights to an airport in continental Europe that’s appropriate for your holiday, we can book onward rail travel and/or taxis. More information about how we can tailor holidays for customers outside the UK >
  • Since our holidays are self-guided, we recommend calling us for a chat about your plans before making a booking, especially if it’s the first time you’ve booked with us.
    The price panel shows the supplement for a single room and also the single traveller charge (this covers (luggage) transfers and other costs which are usually shared between two people).
  • Once you’ve decided on your exact itinerary (our travel experts will be happy to offer advice), you need to provide us with your party’s details, either by phone or via our booking form. At this point we also ask you to pay a deposit so that we can secure a room for you immediately on confirming availability with the hotel(s). If it turns out that we can’t secure the accommodation for the holiday you’ve requested, or offer an acceptable alternative, we’ll refund your deposit promptly and in full. After booking your accommodation and other key elements, we'll then book your travel (or you can do so if you’re making your own arrangements) and send you a Booking Confirmation and Invoice.

    More information about the booking process >
    Information about accommodation, general practicalities and more >
    Booking conditions >
  • Yes, it’s something we insist on, even for holidays in the UK. The vast majority of holidays go smoothly, but when things go wrong, it can be expensive to put them right. Buying a new pair of walking boots after your suitcase is stolen mightn’t seem so bad, but the bill for being airlifted down from a mountain with a broken leg or flown home while still recovering from an illness or accident can cost tens of thousands of pounds.

    You don’t have to take out our recommended travel insurance policy (if you live outside the UK you’ll definitely need to make your own arrangements, as the policy is only for UK residents), but you do need to make sure that you’re covered for medical emergencies – including falling ill with Covid-19 while on holiday – and repatriation. We also recommend that you are covered for other eventualities, such as cancellation and loss of luggage and passports.

    We'll ask you for the details of your policy (insurer, policy number and medical emergency phone number) so that we can help out if the worst happens while you are on holiday. It's up to you, though, to check that your policy covers the activities you'll be doing on holiday and that it is adequate for your own individual needs; we don't check alternative policies.
  • It is your responsibility to ensure you are in possession of the correct travel documents, with the correct validity. If you’re a UK citizen, you need a full British passport to travel to France, but not a visa. If you are a citizen of another country, you’ll need to check requirements with the national embassy or your own consulate.

    Current information regarding vaccinations and travel health advice for UK citizens can be found through the Travel Health Pro website. You must make sure you have adequate insurance cover for illness, accidents and repatriation (see the insurance question). You should also apply for a Global Health Insurance Card (GHIC) if your EHIC has expired (if you have a still-valid EHIC, you can use this until it expires).
  • The official language is French. The currency is the Euro. French time is GMT/UTC + 1. It uses Daylight Saving Time, so in summer is on BST + 1.
  • For information on the practicalities of travel now that the UK is no longer part of the European Union, visit www.gov.uk/visit-europe-1-january-2021.

    At Inntravel we work in close partnership with our hoteliers, taxi drivers and other local suppliers to provide our self-guided holidays directly to you. We are entirely confident that you will continue to receive the usual warm welcome from them, regardless of what is happening in the European political sphere.
  • The UK Foreign, Commonwealth & Development Office (FCDO) provides up-to-date, country-by-country travel advice, as well as information on security, local laws, passports and visas for UK citizens.
    If you live outside the UK, see our essential travel information page for a list of relevant websites.
Last fetch time is : 3/8/2021 4:01:04 PM