Beaune, France

This morning, we picked up a rental car at Charles de Gaulle Airport (CDG) and drove to the southeast of Paris, to the Burgundy region, where Kevin and I would be spending the next three nights. We took the A6, a speedy toll highway, knowing that we would take a scenic and winding route on our return trip. The drive was about 3.5 hours and we arrived to Beaune, one of the main towns of this region, around noon. Wasting no time, we toured the wine cellars (caves) of two well established chateaux in and around Beaune. We began at Chateau de Chassagne-Montrachet, located about 10 minutes outside of Beaune, followed by a visit to Bouchard Pere and Fils, located in Beaune, very near to our hotel. Eventually, we checked into our room at Hotel La Villa Fleurie. This small hotel was a good choice, only a short (10 minute) walk from the historic center of Beaune. I appreciated the hotel’s homey communal rooms, including a breakfast room and sitting room, as well as the courtyard outside. It also had ample parking and easy access to the ring road, the main route around the edge of Beaune. In the evening, we explored Beaune’s historic center, followed by a long and traditional three course meal. For my entree, I chose escargot, a dish that was started in this region.