July and August 2016
Beaune
Rick Steves Beaune
Scheduled Events
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Vineyard Tour
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Beaune Walking Tour
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Hôtel Dieu de Beaune
We had our first ride on the luxury bus traveling to Beaune. Luxury Buses are another feature that sets Rick Steves Tours apart....Stress-free transportation between destinations. Just show up on time and relax... As we approached Beaune, we stopped for a vineyard tour at Clos de Langres. There we learned about the art of wine making. We also witnessed first hand how 2016 was going to be a difficult year for wine in Burgundy. The grapes were delayed and it was predicted to be a small harvest. Read more here.
Clos de Langres
The wine cellar at Clos de Langres
The Burgundian Countryside
A statue inside Notre Dame
A status inside Notre Dame
Mixed architecture at Notre Dame Beaune
Altar, Notre Dame Beaune
Vaulted ceiling, Notre Dame Beaune
Hôtel Dieu de Beaune
After we checked into our hotel, we walked the quaint town of Beaune, visiting their Notre Dame. This church was visually interesting. It took centuries to build. Architectural styles and advancements are clearly observable, even to an untrained eye. Note the rounded arches on the earliest part, and the pointed arches on the last part to be built. We ended up at Hôtel Dieu de Beaune, a medieval hospice, and had a self-paced tour there. What a lovely contrast to bustling Paris!
Michelle's Beaune
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Doug's Beaune
I had time to get in a morning walk on our only day in Beaune. This time I took Michelle's camera and got some pretty good shots. I was able to capture the beauty of this little town, and I got to see that even small towns have municipal workers.
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As soon as I walked out the door, I saw a garbage collector (he drove a pickup sized vehicle and ran - literally - to the various garbage cans) and plant waterers.
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I also walked along the city's medieval wall. I got some good shots - one of a lane curving out of sight along the wall, another of a house
Where does it lead?
As seen from Notre Dame
Courtyard at Notre Dame Beaune
behind the wall and a third of some trees on top of the wall.
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There was an incident I did not capture on film (for moral and legal reasons). I found some paths outside the city wall that lead down to a stream. I was hoping to get a better angle for some shots. As I approached the stream, I saw a pair of lovers who likely thought they were alone.....I walked away, so not to be the reason they weren't. I had always heard the French were an amorous lot. :)
In Beaune, they light up Notre Dame with lasers. It is SPECTACULAR but none of our pictures did it justice. Here is a good video of it.