The venues
L’Hôtel-Dieu
A symbol of Burgundy, the Hôtel-Dieu de Beaune is first and foremost a hospital, founded in 1443 by Nicolas Rolin, Chancellor of the Dukes of Burgundy, and his wife Guigone de Salins, to care for the needy. It is also a jewel of architecture and art, notably enclosing Rogier van der Weyden’s masterpiece, the Last Judgement, commissioned by the founders.
La basilique-collégiale
Notre Dame
One of the major churches in Romanesque Burgundy, the basilique-collégiale Notre-Dame was built from the middle of the 12th century and dominated a large canonical quarter in the Middle Ages. The imposing porch gives it its unique character, and the adjoining Romanesque cloister is remarkable. The choir houses the tapestry of the Life of the Virgin, a masterpiece of 15th-century art.
La chapelle
des Jacobins
The Jacobins, another name for the Dominicans in France, established a convent in Beaune in 1475. The church was consecrated in 1483 and is a fine example of late Burgundian Gothic, even though its bell tower and choir have been missing since 1791. Until recent restoration work, a suspended ceiling concealed the spectacular panelled and sculpted vaulting, which is quite comparable to that in the Salle des Pôvres at the Hôtel-Dieu.
La chapelle
de la Charité
Founded in 1645, the Hospice de la Charité’s mission was to care for and educate orphans. More than three centuries of religious life have left their mark on the premises – the last sister of the congregation died in 2019. The chapel, overlooking rue de Lorraine, was built in the early years of the foundation in a fine Baroque style.
La chapelle
des Visitandines
In 1632, Beaune became home to a convent of the Visitandine order, occupying buildings donated by the bishopric of Langres. The chapel’s exterior was as sober as its interior was decorated with stucco, pilasters and an ornately carved gallery. The nuns’ choir, separated from the chapel by a fence, now houses the barrels of the Maison Patriarche, the current owner.
Want to see more?
Each Saturday during the Festival at 2.30pm, enjoy a two-voice guided tour! A tour guide and a singer will take you on a journey of discovery through a thousand years of history and music, visiting places that are rarely open to the public.
