Monday, April 4, 2011

Bon Jour, Burgundy

After leaving Lyon we headed up the Saone (rhymes with Rhone, so it’s easy for me to remember the correct pronunciation!) into the Burgundy region. We had enjoyed the area of Provence so much that we thought nothing could live up to its beauty. We soon discovered that Burgundy had an appeal of its own.

Our morning excursion took us through French villages and the countryside dotted with impressive chateaus.

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rural village                                                                   small village with the church at its center

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beautiful chateau                                                           another picturesque chateau

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and of course, vineyards! (We’re in Burgundy, after all!)

Our destination was Cluny, where a huge abbey was built in the middle ages. It was the largest church in the world until Saint Peter’s was built in Rome. Little of the original structure is intact but restoration is in progress.

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We happened to be in Cluny on Market Day which was quite interesting. Not only did they have the usual fruits and vegetables, but many other items as well.

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whole roasted chickens                                                 sausages

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and socks!

For those shoppers who weren’t able to carry their purchases to their car, they had an alternative:

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The afternoon was spent in Beaune (rhymes with Rhone and Saone, how convenient!) --- the main attraction was a building that was a hospital for over 600 years, all the way up until 1982. The roof was so intricate!

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We ended our tour with a visit to a wine cellar for a tasting . . . a great ending for a wonderful day!

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