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Medieval Burgundy: The Monk’s Trail

Highlights

Walking through pretty historic villages which have little changed in centuries with romanesque style churches

A picturesque landscape of rolling hills and secluded valleys covered in vines, pasture and forest.

Wine tasting of the local chardonnay and visiting historic monuments

The medieval cité of Brancion with its ancient chateau, church and quaint buildings

Visiting the historic towns of Tournus with its Romanesque abbey and the remowned site of Cluny with its historic monuments (former site of the largest abbey in Europe).

Lovely small guest houses serving great food.

Holiday Profile : 7 nights/8 days – 6 days independent walking between guest houses

Dates : Everyday of week subject to availability during 1 April to 31 October

At a Glance

A self-guided walking holiday exploring a landscape full of historic treasures

Price

From $ 1,684 per person

Every journey is tailor-made and can be personalised to your travel style, preferred accommodation and budget.

All highlights

Burgundy: The Monk’s Trail

Our independent walking holiday in the southern Burgundy region of France explores a rich landscape full of historic treasures. Medieval chateaux, historic Romanesque churches and old farms are set in beautiful rolling countryside carpeted with vines, pasture and forests.

The Burgundy region is well-known for its fine wine and gastronomic food, a reputation that is richly deserved. You will have plenty of opportunity to sample both during your self-guided walking holiday. In addition you will have plenty of time to see the varied and rich architectural delights of the region, such as those found at Cluny, a very important spiritual, political and artistic centre of the Middle Ages with its Benedictine abbey. Your walking tour will start in the historic town of Tournus famous for its Romanesque abbey and will pass through the medieval centres of Brancion and St Gengoux le National. In addition, many of the pretty villages that your walks pass through have impressive churches and their quaint historic streets seem to date from another time.

Your independent walking holiday will take you through a variety of experiences, including the famous Maconnais vineyards bordering the Saône, the forests of the high ridges, the historic towns of Cluny and Tournus, and secluded valleys covered in a patchwork of grazing fields.

Accommodation & Meals

On this independent walking holiday in the South Burgundy region you will be staying in a number of charming, spacious and very comfortable guest houses (mainly bed & breakfasts and small hotels or auberges) full of local character (3 corns quality). All rooms have private bathrooms.

Navigation, Walking Notes & Maps

Most of this walking holiday follows local trails waymarked in yellow. There are also a number of other waymarkings including red and white markings of the GR76 long-distance trail which you’ll follow in part on several days. There is a fairly dense network of signposts with place names and directions in the Burgundy. The walking follows clear paths, tracks and minor roads for its entire duration. Our walking notes are very detailed (more information here) and include intermediate distances for sections of the trail. They also include information about the sites which can be explored along the route. We supply one walking guide per person on this holiday. As well as the detailed walking notes we supply official walking maps produced by IGN at a scale of 1:25,000. Your trail is highlighted on the maps.

Luggage Transfers

On this walking holiday your main luggage is transferred between guest houses so that you only have to carry a day rucksack with picnic lunch (supplied by the guest houses and included in the holiday price), water and spare clothes, waterproofs, camera etc. On this holiday your luggage transfers are carried out by a mixture of the guest houses, a representative of High Point Holidays or a trusted local taxi company. Please limit the weight of your bags where possible to 20kg. We only use hotels and small guest houses in historic buildings and some of the rooms are accessible by stairs.

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At a Glance

Moderate

This independent walking holiday is suitable for regular walkers of an average fitness (with a minimum of preparation). The distances are relatively long for the grade, averaging 19km, although the ascents are relatively small and average a total of 430m in a day. The maximum distance on any one day is 23km. Individual ascents and descents are generally no more than 150m at a time. The walks allow for time to rest and take advantage of some of the interesting sites on route. The paths are generally good, although they can be rough and stony in places. This walking holiday is graded moderate. You should have some experience of day walking and be in reasonable health. See more information about walking grades.

Itinerary

Day 1: Arrival

Pick up from Lyon or from Tournus and transfer to wonderful guest house in St Gengoux de Scisse.

Day 2: St Gengoux de Scisse - Cluny

You'll pass through a number of interesting and picturesque villages and hamlets. Charcuble has a chapel that was built in 24 hours during World War II, whilst Blanot is a beautiful village where time has stopped still. Traditional stone houses line narrow alleys in a lovely valley setting with a Clunisien priory and church at its heart. Your route follows a number of delightful small valleys with pasture bordering the streams and above chardonnay vines. Then visit the quaint and secluded village of Donzy le Pertuis with its 11th century church. Great views from the ridgetop before you descend to finish your day at the small town of Cluny.

Overnight: Cluny, Walk: 19km, +600m

Day 3: Cluny - Cortambert

Explore Cluny, one of the most important historic towns of the region. Enjoy looking around the ruins of the Abbey and the historic properties that line the pretty streets. You only have a short walk in the afternoon so that you have plenty of time to explore Cluny. Your walk to Cortambert has beautiful views.

Overnight: Cortambert, Walk: 9km, +160m

Day 4: Cortambert - Bresse sur Grosne

A gentle descent brings you down to the Grosne Valley and Cormatin with its beautiful 16th century chateau. Afterwards climb away from the valley again towards Uxelles with great views across the valley. Pass through the pretty village of Ougy where time seems to have stood still. There are various choices today according to your interests.

Overnight: Bresse sur Grosne, Walk: 19km +300m

Day 5: Bresse sur Grosne - Brancion

Easy walking takes you to the village of Chapaize with its beautiful early 11th century church. You'll then climb out of the valley onto the ridgeline and the medieval fortress of Brancion. This is a remarkable site with the remains of its chateau overlooking the rest of a well preserved hamlet protected by a series of walls. The hamlet contains delightful stone houses, an historic covered market and a Romanesque church on the hill top edge.

Overnight: Brancion, Walk: 14km, +320m

Day 6: Brancion - Tournus

Your first village en route is the rustic village of Royer before heading to Ozenay with its chateaux and 12th century church and historic chateau. Your walking route goes back to the ridge and takes in impressive panoramic views. Several pretty valleys and ridges will take you back to Tournus via vines and historic wine-makers shelters. Explore Tournus and its impressive abbey.

Overnight: Tournus, Walk: 18km, +410m

Day 7: Tournus - St Gengoux de Scisse

Walk south out of Tournus into rolling countryside. Follow a ridgeline to reach the village of Plottes and then the village of Chardonnay, home of the famous white wines. Your trail then passes through more vines and forest to reach the pretty village of Lugny and then St Gengoux de Scisse and return to your beautiful guest house.

Overnight: St Gengoux de Scisse, Walk: 23km, +530m

Day 8: Departure

After breakfast transfer from your guest house to Lyon after breakfast

Please note that your walking holiday may differ from that shown above, due to the availability of guest houses. This will not however, affect the overall walking circuit.

Travel back to the Middle Ages on this self-guided walking trail through medieval Burgundy. Visit abbeys, impressive churches, historic castles and villages, including Bracion, Cluny, Chapaize, Cormatin

When to Travel

Our self-guided walking holiday in the Burgundy is available from the beginning of April to the end of October. From April to October the Burgundy is generally warm, although it can be hot during the months of July and August. However, relative humidity is often low (except during unstable thundery weather.) Ideal walking temperatures (ie late teens to the low twenties centigrade) are generally experienced from late April to early June and from mid September to mid October. Rainfall becomes more and more sporadic and linked to thunderstorms as you move from spring to summer, and this continues into the Autumn. On average there is rain on one in every three days, but this is often for relatively short periods. Autumn is often characterised by warm sunny days. Sunshine totals are characteristic of its position in France and the sun’s strength means that you must protect yourself against the sun even on overcast days.

Other things to consider are the fact that the leaves are often not the trees or the vines until at least mid April. The grape picking season is often during the first couple of weeks of September and this provides added activity to the countryside. In October the Burgundy takes on a different character with autumn colours.

Extra Nights

It is possible to add an additional night at most of the guest houses on the circuit. If you would like a rest day during the walk we would recommend an additional night at either Le Foineau B&B after walk 3 where you can enjoy the warm welcome of a small guest house, or the hotel Montagne de Brancion near a ridge top where you can enjoy fantastic views. Extra nights are possible at the start and end of the walking holiday at Relais de Scisse in St Gengoux de Scisse, where you’ll enjoy a beautiful guest house and great hospitality.

City Breaks

The nearby city of Lyon is a great destination for a city break and can be easily combined with this walking holiday, as you’ll be picked up and dropped off in the city. Lyon, France’s second city and gastronomic capital, is a lively historic city ideal for those in search of lots to see and do. Classed as a world heritage site, Lyon has it all; roman amphitheatres, medieval streets, renaissance architecture and modern art. We can book a city break for you and provide you with all the information you need for a great stay.

Please consult us for a price on any of the above options.

Combining walking holidays

This wine trail walking holiday can be combined easily with any of our walking holidays elsewhere in the Beaujolais and Burgundy which all have transfers to and from Lyon.

Tailor-Made Trips

In addition to the above options we have several tailor-made trips in France which could be combined with one or more days of this French walking holiday, for example:

French Valley of the Gastronomy Tour

French Rendez-vous Between Culture and Nature

Services

Airport and station transfers from Lyon or Tournus.
7 nights accommodation.
All breakfasts, 5 lunches on walking days and 4 evening meals.
Full walking notes and maps
Transfers to and from some walks and between guest houses along with your luggage

Receive a free quote from your local travel agency within 48 hours by e-mail. No obligation to purchase.

Stephen Molloy

Business Developer

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