Beaune is a beautiful little town surrounded by old ramparts. The town is famous for its Candle Wine Auction which takes place in November every year in “les Halles”, the market place, just opposite the beautiful “Hotel Dieu” with its colourful tiled roof.
The town has been the heart of the wine trading industry since the 14th century and you can visit some of the most impressive cellars in Burgundy.
Come and stroll around its pleasant cobbled streets, wander along the marketplace on Saturday mornings, visit the “Hospices”, the “Basilique Notre Dame”, the “Musée du vin”, the Fallot mustard shop and the Atheneum.
A little bit of history:
“The Hospices de Beaune”:
The “hospices” was a hospital built in 1443 by Nicolas Rollin, chancellor of the Duke of Burgundy. Moved by the poverty caused by the Hundred Years’ War, he founded “the Hotel Dieu “which remained opened until 1983. Over time, the benefactors bequeathed so many vineyards to the “Hospices” that the first auction was organized in 1859.