Beaune showcases Burgundy's legacy of wine, art and culture

With historic cellars, medieval architecture and fantastic dining options, Beaune offers more than just fine wines

- Ruma Singh

What do you do in Beaune, Burgundy's "wine capital", besides savouring its wine? Plenty. The small town is filled with delicious dining options, from Michelin-starred restaurants to hip wine bars. And, of course, there is the ever-popular "velo", or cycling around the Burgundy vineyards on e-bikes.

Wine remains an integral part of Beaune, surrounded as it is by some of the most famous vineyards in the world. Strategically located in the heart of Burgundy, it offers wine lovers a perfect base from which to visit the vineyards. It also draws tourists curious to explore its storied history who wander its cobbled streets and centuries-old medieval ramparts.

Inevitably, the first attraction for visitors is the emblematic Hôtel-Dieu or the Hôtel-Dieu des Hospices Civils de Beaune, to give it its full name. A charitable medical institution that survived for nearly six centuries thanks to the generosity of its benefactors, it remained in operation until 1971. Founded in 1443 by Nicholas Rolin, the chancellor of the powerful duchy of Burgundy, the Hospices remains the most-visited tourist site in all of Burgundy. The buildings with their famous glazed mosaic tiled and slate roofs surround a cobblestoned courtyard and are considered architectural masterpieces. Inside, a spectacular 15th-century polyptych altarpiece of The Last Judgement by Flemish artist Rogier van der Weyden is worth a visit by itself. Aude Ralison, the communications manager of the Hospices, says in 2023 alone it drew over 460,000 visitors.