3 days in Beaune

Court and I decided to take another trip out of Paris. Instead of leaving the country, we chose to go to the town of Beaune (literally pronounced "Bone") in the Burgandy region. We took a 90 minute train ride to Dijon (yes, after the mustard) and then changed trains and took a 20 minute ride to Beaune. We stayed at a small, very cozy and nice Bed and Breakfast / winery called "Le Jardin Du Lois."

Beaune is a sleepy, beautiful town. When we got there everything was closed (closed because it's Monday...  strange) so we booked a van tour of the burgandy vineyards. This was a really fun, 3 hour drive all through the areas wine region.. Their "Napa." We saw the vineyard of the most expensive wine in the world, ROMANEE CONTI, whose annual production of "Grand Cur" is 5000 bottles, which sell out immediately at 10,000 EURO per bottle!

After that, we came back and got ready for our dinner. We made reservations at a 12th century castle / chateau (It was a strange hybrid of the two) which was about 25 minutes out of town. It was a classic multi course French dining experience. 

1) Lobster Bisque

2) Frois Gras

3) Sword Fish over artichokes

4) Lime Sorbet floated in Lychee liquor

5) Fillet with rabbit sauce (me), Chicken (C)

6) Cheese sampling

7) Apricot Custard

8) Caramel Soufflé with ice cream and Grand Marnier

It was a huge, huge meal.

The next day we got up and went to HOTEL DIEU, which is a museum of the hospice hospital in town. It was built in the 1400's and was in use up until only about 20 years ago! It is the "must see" of Beaune history. Also, every year, the hospice holds the worlds largest charity sale. the nuns that now own / run the hospice have been given acres and acres of prime wine growing land, and every year they auction / sell the hundreds of barrels of prime wine that they harvest.

We spent 2 nights in Beaune. Tuesday was a 'normal' day there.. Stores were open (except for the 2.5 hours a day they were closed for lunch.. even including food places)   Wednesday we had our train ride back to Paris. Before we got on the train, we went to the Mustard Museum. It was actually a lot more interesting than it sounds. (I know.. it SOUNDS thrilling....) It was especially nice since we were the only ones there, and we got a private tour in English.

These pictures arent in any real order..  Blogger is a little tricky that way..

These flower arrangements are all over Beaune, almost on every street light  (Beaune isnt too big.. everywhere you go, when you ask where something is, its always "a 3 minute walk away.")

This is Courtney sitting on the wall in front of the ROMANEE vineyard.
Another shot of the ROMANEE vineyard. The cross is there in memory of the family that first founded the vineyard hundreds of years ago.
This was "Lulu" our guide to the vineyards. He was very friendly and very into wine. 
Have you ever seen a happier person making mustard? Making mustard is AWESOME. I'm going to do it back in America.
Just a town view from walking around Beaune. 
Courtney made a new friend at the mustard museum. We named him DIJON.
The castle / chateau we had our 8 course meal in.
Court in the park in Beaune.
The lights and flowers of Beaune. All this is done just in preparation for the large wine sale.

(It is in 2 weeks)
Sunset view from out hotel!