Cycling vacations in Burgundy

Bruno Toutain from our leading supplier of cycling vacations in France, Cyclomundo:
“Some of the world's greatest vintages originate from Burgundy; it’s a wine lovers’ paradise, and easily accessible from Paris. The region also offers a mix of pastoral villages along sleepy canals and mind-staggering architecture such as the Cathedrale St Etienne in Auxerre, and the Basilique Ste-Madeleine in Vezelay as well as two prominent and extremely pretty cities, Dijon and Beaune.“

Burgundy bows to bikes like a burgeoning bunch of velvet skinned grapes cascading over a knotted vine, with practically 1,000km of cycle-friendly routes providing pure and simple pedalling delectation. Voies vertes (greenway routes), especially, are perfect for exploring on two wheels and you’ll find numerous signposted trails following the course of the Saône and Loire rivers as well as along disused railway tracks and tow paths adjacent to the Canal de Bourgogne and Canal du Nivernais. Leafy woodland paths leading to hedgerow-lined rural roads, also offer an abundance of countryside trails as well as access to the historic towns of Dijon and Beaune where gothic spires, food markets and seasonal fêtes tempt cyclists from the saddle. It’s impossible to cycle in Burgundy without winding through a vineyard or two with the Voie des Vignes (path of vines) stretching for just over 20km from Beaune to Santenay. If you’re hoping for a steeper gradient, Morvan Natural Park provides a wilder, wooded approach. Here, cliffs and peaks rise to the fore as a 60km-route from Vezelay to Auxerre via the Canal du Nivernais provides a flatter, but nonetheless beautiful, alternative. The food in Burgundy is just la crème sur le tarte tatin with hearty, meaty fare, such as bœuf bourguignon, coq au vin and andouillette (regional pork sausages), helping to turn an autumnal cycling tour of Burgundy into an absolute treat for all the senses.

Start in the medieval town of Auxerre where the gothic spires of Cathédrale Saint-Étienne and the Abbey of St-Germain add to the picturesque port side ambience. Next follow the River Yonne towards Moneteau and Gurgy before continuing along the banks of the river Serein to Chablis.

Wine tasting and sightseeing in Chablis always makes for an enjoyable free day before embarking on 35km cycle to Nitry via the beautiful Burgundy villages of Chemilly-sur-Serein, Poilly-sur-Serein and Sainte Vertu. Rest and relax in Nitry or pedal out to the medieval cobbled streets and castle ramparts of Noyers-sur-Serein – an approx 18kms round-trip.

Undulating farm lands and wooded hillsides form the backdrop to the 44km ride from Nitry to Vezelay. We recommend rest stops at Joux-la-Ville and Lucy-le-Bois followed by a downhill ride into the Cure River Valley to help you prepare for the ascent to the hilltop town of Vezelay, famed for its UNESCO listed 11th century Basilica of St Magdalene.

Roman baths or a rural ramble to the nearby village of St-Pere-sous-Vezelay make a free day in Vezelay all the more rewarding prior to pedalling 60km back to Auxerre via the Canal du Nivernais within the wooded northern region of Morvan Natural Park.