The most beautiful villages of Burgundy, in France

In each country of Europe there are medieval cities and towns that have survived to this day and are picturesque destinations.

France, for example, concentrates really beautiful places in the territory known as Burgundy or Bourgogne, in French. Summer is an ideal time to move around this part of the country so I leave you a brief selection of the most beautiful towns in Burgundy.

Burgundy

It is a historical territory that is located in the central eastern France and today it is made up of four departments: the Gold Coast, Saône-et-Loire, Nièvre and Yonne.

Formerly these French lands were occupied by Celtic tribes that in Roman times were incorporated into the Empire. In the fourth century, after the time of Roman glory, the Burgundians appeared on the scene, a Germanic tribe that arrived from the Baltic Sea.

The Burgundians settle in the western Alps and are later conquered by the Franks. They were the times of the Kingdom of Burgoña and in the end these lands became ducats.

In medieval times Burgundy was filled with elegant and important monasteries and it was the scene of important political battles and conflicts in the history of the kingdom of France. That is why a walk through these lands of pleasant oceanic climate is a journey through history.

Oh, and for the gastronomy too. After all it is the birthplace of the famous French Burgundy.

Chateauneuf-en-Auxois

This medieval village is a beauty built in high mountains. Look at the Burgundy Canal and it looks like something out of a Brothers Grimm fairy tale. It has a castle built at the time by the Duke Philippe-le-Bon, currently partially in ruins but with a Gothic chapel from the XNUMXth century.

Last year, just for the summer and after many works, a new visitor center was opened in the castle that is open throughout the year except for certain national or religious dates and a couple of hours on Mondays at noon.

Around and below, in the streets of the village, there are cafes, shops and an unforgettable medieval spirit.

brancion

Many believe that it is the best medieval village in Burgundy. It also has a castle, right at the entrance, and a stone path that leads to the church.

The village market dates from the XNUMXth century and is covered and if you go in summer you will be able to enjoy the spectacle provided by the flowers in each window of each house in the village.

The best panoramic view is from the top of the hill where you can find the chapel, the Chapelle-sous-Brancion, a small but charming XNUMXth-century Romanesque-style church surrounded by vineyards.

Flavigny-sur-Ozerain

It is a nice medieval village which is hidden in the rocky mountains and which used to be a good fortified town in medieval times. Everything is made of rock and it is a perfectly preserved site because its inhabitants take it very seriously.

Did you see Juliet Binoche's movie, Chocolate (she arrives with her daughter in a town and opens a chocolate shop, scandalizing the mayor)? Well, it was filmed here.

Today there are many art galleries and if you like anise there is one anise balls factory in the Abbaye de Flavigny, an XNUMXth century Benedictine abbey that has kept this old recipe ever since.

Montreal

This medieval Burgundian village is also in the mountains, overlooking the Serein Valley. It is a clear example of the fortified villages of this region as it is embedded in an arch known as Porte d'en Bas.

A bouquet of streets, medieval houses, walls, turrets, underground dungeons, stone stairs here and there, small hidden courtyards and almost twenty springs that supply water. A marvel.

As you climb you go deeper into Montrèal and pass a second door, the Porte d'en Haut, behind which there is a church and a cemetery and a viewpoint that allows you a view of the valley and the beautiful Serein river. It is here where the castle of 1599 is built by a knight of

the Second Crusade.

This castle is older than Notre Dame de Paris and inside there are three-dimensional sculptures, with biblical and wooden motifs, gifted to the Duke of Burgundy by King Francis I of France.

Montrèal is a quiet place that many Parisians visit although in summer, every Wednesday, there is a colorful market, artisan festivals and music concerts. If you decide to go nearby you can visit Vézelay, Avallon, the Grottos d'Arcy or the Castle Ancy-le-Franc.

Noyers-sur-Serein

Another fortified town with old houses with tiled roofs and wooden shutters. Its squares, streets and arcades date from the XNUMXth to the XNUMXth centuries and are adorned with churches and chapels.

It is a town that comes to life from April when the first visitors arrive and the restaurants and cafes open in the sun. There is also a large community of artists who are dedicated to painting and running their pottery, handbag and jewelry workshops.

Semur-en-Brionais

If you have a car, you can go up from Marcigny to appreciate, as you get closer, the beauty of this old medieval town on the heights.

The village is dominated by the castle t. Hugues, from the 1th century and therefore the oldest in the region. Here was born an important Abbot of the Monastery of Cluny, Hugues de Semur. The castle opens between March 15 and November XNUMX and there are many places to visit within the town and around.

These are some examples of the most beautiful burgundy but of course they are not the only towns or cities to visit: Dijon, former capital of the duchy, is a fantastic city and Beaune is still picturesque with its historic buildings and cobblestone streets.
There is also Cluny with its rich and powerful abbey crushed by the French Revolution.
-photo guedelon castle-

We can add the Château de Guedelon, a 1997 castle built by history buffs where you can even dress up in period costume and play a bit, and two real castles, Ancy-le-Franc and Tanlay.

Y I would not leave out Autun as it was founded by the Roman Emperor Augustus and it still has treasures from that time. As you can see, it is impossible to review everything so my advice is to rent a car, essential if you want to travel, and dedicate yourself to making a list of what you do not want to miss, always leaving a door open to discover new destinations.
You will not regret.