Top things to do & see in Beaune

Every summer, the Beaune Festival brings the greatest voices of Baroque music to life in the city’s most iconic venues. Before or after a concert, take the time to explore Beaune—a city of heritage, wine, fine dining, and the good life—where every place seems to extend the emotion of the stage.

A walk around the city

Start with a visit to the Hôtel-Dieu – Hospices de Beaune, the city’s iconic landmark, whose courtyards, hospital wards, and glazed roofs form one of Burgundy’s most beautiful historic settings. A symbol of Beaune’s history, the Hôtel-Dieu continues to engage with the present day and regularly updates its cultural program, offering a 2026 season enriched with events and experiences that extend the exploration of the site beyond its heritage dimension.

Another experience that perfectly complements our festival—“Beaune, a Musical Tour”—offers an artistic stroll through the heart of our beautiful city, led by two harmonious voices: an opera singer and a storyteller. It’s time to discover 1,000 years of history through music in an intimate and heritage-focused experience.

Then you venture into the city and naturally find yourself at the ramparts. A legacy of more than two thousand years of history, these fortifications still define Beaune’s skyline today. From the first Gallo-Roman castrum to the bastions of the modern era, they chronicle the evolution of a city that has been, in turn, a center of commerce, wine production, and defense, and is now deeply rooted in the art of living. And little by little, as you walk along these stone paths, the history visible on the surface extends underground…

The Wine Cellars: A City Beneath the City

Patriarche Père & Fils ©DR

To delve more deeply into Beaune’s art of living, the historic cellars extend the experience of the ramparts. The city grows deeper and denser. Its heritage becomes subterranean, almost secret, and the culture of wine is omnipresent. At Patriarche Père & Fils, several kilometers of tunnels immerse visitors in a veritable labyrinth of vaulted cellars, at the heart of Beaune’s ancient foundations—like a parallel city carved into the stone.

On a different note, Chanson Père et Fils, located within the Bastion de l’Oratoire—a former defensive tower integrated into the ramparts—directly extends this connection between protection, memory, and wine. Here, the walls that once defended the town now house the great wines of Burgundy, in an almost natural continuity between military history and wine culture.

A few streets away, Maison Champy embodies another layer of this history. A medalist at the Paris World’s Fair and a pioneer in exporting to New York, it stands as a testament to a city that was already open to the world.

Exploring the Route des Grands Crus

Cité des Climats et vins de Bourgogne ©DR

Just a few minutes from the historic center, the Cité des Climats et vins de Bourgogne presents a contemporary ode to this winemaking heritage. In a building with bold architectural lines, Burgundy’s wine heritage is told in a new way: no longer through ancient stone or underground galleries, but through modern scenography. Inside, the immersive tour reveals the full richness of Burgundy’s Climats, a UNESCO World Heritage Site: the soils, the plots, the expertise, as well as the history of the wine brotherhoods, merchants, and wine houses that have shaped Beaune and its region. Visitors discover a thoughtful and educational exploration of the region, where each space opens onto the vineyards, inviting exploration via the Route des Grands Crus. Winding through the villages of the Côte de Beaune, it reveals very distinct identities: Pommard and its structure, Volnay and its finesse, Meursault and the brilliance of its whites…

Enjoy a visit to a wine château

Château de Pommard ©DR

In Pommard, the Château of the same name invites you to discover the secrets of a vineyard certified as organic and biodynamic; there, you can book a customized tasting experience to explore the myriad nuances of the Pommard terroir.

In Meursault, the Château is one of those places where the village and the vineyard are one and the same. Worthy of a postcard landscape, this village, known for its cinematic charm, is home to numerous estates and cellars, such as the Manoir des Parcellaires de Saulx, which features a wine bar overlooking the vineyard and a selection of appellations from Burgundy’s finest terroirs, or the Domaine Marguerite Carillon, offering wonderful, tailor-made experiences that combine tastings of prestigious wines with local specialties.

Foodie Delights

The Burgundy Cheese Experience ©DR

This sensory journey continues with another Burgundian specialty: cheese. At the Hanna Shaps estate, The Burgundy Cheese Experience offers a tasting that pairs the estate’s wines with the region’s iconic cheeses: these workshops are designed for both enthusiasts and connoisseurs alike, with the ultimate goal of delighting your taste buds.

Just a stone’s throw from the Hospices, Fabrice Gillotte is a leading figure in the world of Burgundian chocolate. Named a “Meilleur Ouvrier de France,” he crafts creations of great finesse, where each blend highlights the richness of the cacao with precision and balance. His chocolates almost evoke the character of a grand cru: depth, elegance, and a long finish.

Maison Dufoux, meanwhile, celebrates generous and accessible indulgence. Fine chocolates, artisanal specialties, and original creations can be discovered there in a warm atmosphere, true to the spirit of passionate artisans.

The sweet experience also takes on a more playful dimension at L’Atelier des Bonbons. Here, visitors can discover confections made on-site: marshmallows, lollipops, flavored candies, and sugar crystals come together to create a vibrant and colorful world directly inspired by the Burgundy region. It’s a joyful and sensory way to explore local culinary delights.

Among the must-visit spots in the historic center is the Fabien Berteau tea room and pastry shop. Located right next to the Athenaeum, the shop offers delicate desserts, seasonal tarts, and contemporary pastries crafted with finesse.