Starting our bike tour in Burgundy, France 23 June

 

Passing the canal on the way out of Dijon.

 

 

We are following the Route de Grands Crus through the vineyards of Burgundy. First town, Marsannay la Cote.

 

Grapevines, grapevines everywhere.

 

Oh no, some rain! We stopped under shelter in Gevrey Chambertin for a picnic lunch and by the time we'd eaten the rain had cleared.

 

All the towns have the most beautiful flower displays.

Roses often grow at the ends of the vines as a simple and effective trick for giving an early warning sign of impending disease, as roses succumb earlier to similar pests and diseases. Rather like a miner’s canary.

 

There are plenty of picturesque villages every few kilometres along the way.

 

Plenty of quaint little churches.

 

We were greeted by swans at Vougeot, the village we stayed in on the first night.

 

The back of our hotel.

The view from our room towards a typical winery.

 

Next morning at the hotel, there was a gathering of cyclist and bikers all busily preparing to hit the road.

 

First stop was Clos de Vougeot, where the original vineyard was started in the Abbey of the Cistercian monks. The chateau dates from the Renaissance and was built by Jean Loisier, the Abbot of Citeaux.

 

Inside the courtyard.

 

The other side.

 

Bill and Ian inspect the incredibly deep well.

 

Inside the chateau, we were lucky enough to hear a string orchestra rehearsing for a concert that evening.

 

Joy and Lyn.

 

 

Travelling on. Our destination that night was Beaune.