One of the pleasures of staying in Chablis is how much lies within easy reach. Burgundy unfolds in every direction, medieval towns, Gothic cathedrals, vineyard roads that wind through some of the most storied wine country in France, and none of it requires more than a couple of hours in the car. Here are the places we find ourselves recommending most often.
Nearby Towns and Cities
Auxerre: 20 km The closest city, and a beautiful one. The medieval old town climbs from the banks of the Yonne, crowned by the Cathedral of Saint-Étienne, whose stained glass alone is worth the drive. The waterfront, especially in the late afternoon light, has the quality of a painting that knows it is being admired.
Sens: 75 km Home to one of the first Gothic cathedrals ever built, Sens is a quieter, more contemplative stop. The cathedral is magnificent, and the surrounding streets have the unhurried feel of a town that has been important for a very long time and no longer needs to prove it.
Beaune: 140 km The wine capital of Burgundy. The Hospices de Beaune, with its famous polychrome tiled roof, is the landmark, but the real pleasure is in the cellars and restaurants that line the old town. A full day here barely scratches the surface.
Dijon: 160 km The former seat of the Dukes of Burgundy, now a city of mustard shops, covered markets, and a remarkably well-preserved historic centre. The Palais des Ducs is grand without being imposing, and the food market, Les Halles, is one of the best in France.
Troyes: 190 km A city of half-timbered houses and narrow lanes that feels like a medieval town that simply kept going. The old quarter is remarkably intact, and the stained glass in its churches rivals anything in the region.
Paris: 190 km Close enough for a day trip, though it hardly needs an introduction. The TGV from Auxerre or Dijon makes it practical, if you find yourself missing the noise.
The Côte d'Or Vineyards
The Route des Grands Crus runs south through some of the most prestigious vineyard land on earth. Gevrey-Chambertin, Vougeot, Vosne-Romanée, Nuits-Saint-Georges. Even if you are not a wine scholar, driving this road in autumn, when the vines turn copper and gold, is one of those experiences that stays with you.
Hospices de Beaune
The fifteenth-century hospital in Beaune, with its glazed tile roof and Gothic courtyard, is one of Burgundy's most recognisable buildings. It now houses a museum, and each November hosts a charity wine auction that draws collectors from around the world.
The Mustard Capital
Dijon's relationship with mustard is older than most countries. The Moutarderie Fallot offers tours of its production, and the city's shops stock varieties you will not find anywhere else. It is the kind of place where you walk in for one jar and leave with four.
Abbey of Fontenay
A UNESCO World Heritage site and one of the oldest surviving Cistercian monasteries in Europe. The abbey sits in a wooded valley, surrounded by gardens that have been tended for nearly nine hundred years. The silence inside is not empty, it is full of something.
Château de Cormatin
A seventeenth-century château near Cluny with interiors so lavishly gilded they border on the theatrical. The gardens are formal and lovely, and the whole place has the air of a house that was built by someone who wanted to be noticed and, centuries later, still is.
