Introduction
Land of rolling hills, yellow mustard fields, handsome limestone abbeys and castles, and picturesque vineyards, Burgundy is also one of France's top culinary regions, and is a popular places for foreigners to take cooking courses.
Burgundy's golden age ran from the 11th to the 15th century. During that period, great monasteries were built, among which the abbeys of Vézelay and Fontenay, now protected by the UNESCO as World Heritage Sites. Cluny Abbey, the grandest and richest of them all, was once the largest Christian edifice in the world, and a leading voice for monastic life throughout Europe.
Covering a land area of 31,582 km², Burgundy is slightly bigger than Belgium and just a bit smaller than the U.S. state of Maryland, though with only 1.6 million inhabitants Burgundy is much more sparsely populated than either. Its population density (51 inhab./km²) is in fact the lowest in continental France after the Limousin (and equal to that of Auvergne and Champagne-Ardenne).
Famous companies from Burgundy include the Laboratoires Vendôme, famous for its soap products Le Petit Marseillais, and the Groupe SEB (Société d'Emboutissage de Bourgogne), owner of such brands as Krups, Moulinex, Rowenta, and Tefal.
Famous people from Burgundy include (chronologically): the naturalist and mathematician Georges Louis Leclerc, Count of Buffon, the writer and politician Alphonse de Lamartine, the lexicographer and encyclopaedist Pierre Larousse, the engineer an architect Gustave Eiffel, the novelist and performer Colette.
History
The region owes its name to the Burgunds, a Germanic tribe descended from Denmark that overran the Roman Empire and created their own kingdom in the southeast of Gaul in the 5th century. The Burgundian Kingdom actually occupied the regions of Dauphiné and Savoy and was only related in name to the Dijon-based Duchy of Burgundy established by the Franks in the the 9th century.
In the 14th and 15th centuries, the Duchy of Burgundy, ruled by the House of Valois (cousins of the Kings of France), would markedly expand its territory through a series of political marriages. The County of Flanders, then Hainaut, Holland, Brabant, Luxembourg, and eventually the whole of the Low Countries came this way under Burgundian dominion. Burgundy was then one of the richest states in Europe, along with the Venetian Republic.
In the Hundred Years' War (1337-1453) between England and France, Burgundy sided with the English in the hope of dividing France between themselves. In 1430, Joan of Arc was captured by Burgundian troops and sold to their English allies to be executed in Rouen.
Between 1467 and 1477, Charles the Bold would attempt to reunify the old Carolingian Lotharingia by annexing Champagne, Lorraine, Alsace. If he succeeded, Burgundy could become a kingdom and perhaps even overtake the Kingdom of France, weakened by the Hundred Years' War. His death at the siege of Nancy in 1477 ended the Burgundian expansion. His only daughter, Mary, married Maximilian I of Habsburg, Holy Roman Emperor. Burgundy had now passed in Habsburgian hands, and their descendants would rule over half of Western and Central Europe.
Cuisine
Burgundy is celebrated for its robust, flavourful cuisine, which draws heavily on local produce and world-renowned wines. The region is the birthplace of several iconic dishes, including boeuf bourguignon, a slow-cooked beef stew made with red wine, and coq au vin, where chicken is gently simmered in wine and lardons. Burgundy is also famed for its snails, known as escargots de Bourgogne, which are baked with garlic butter and parsley, and serve as a hallmark of French gastronomy alongside specialties such as jambon persillé, a garlicky ham terrine.
Cheese is an essential part of Burgundian culinary tradition, with Époisses as perhaps the most notorious, celebrated for both its pungent aroma and creamy texture. The region is also home to Bresse chicken, an AOC-protected breed regarded as one of the finest types of poultry in France. Locally grown blackcurrants are used to make cassis, a liqueur that features in the popular Kir cocktail, while Dijon mustard adds a distinct, sharp note to many dishes. Markets in towns like Dijon and Beaune display seasonal vegetables and artisanal cheeses, and showcase the diversity of local ingredients.
Wines form the backbone of Burgundy's cuisine, with both Pinot Noir and Chardonnay being used for cooking and pairing. Many recipes are “à la meurette,” meaning dishes—such as oeufs en meurette (poached eggs in wine sauce)—are prepared with lardons and rich red wine sauce. River fish make the base of pôchouse, a local fish stew cooked in white wine, and mushrooms feature strongly in croûte aux morilles, a creamy morel dish served on toast. The careful pairing of these hearty recipes with Burgundy wines transforms every meal into a celebration of tradition and local taste.
Attractions
Départements are listed from North to South.
Across all départements in Burgundy
| Morvan Regional Nature Park |
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 Burgundy's 'green lung' since 1970, featuring pristine forests, six lakes, rare wildlife including otters and bats, the ancient Bibracte archaeological site atop Mont-Beuvray, plus excellent visitor facilities with trails and museums at Saint-Brisson. |
Département de l'Yonne
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Noyers-sur-Serein |
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 Enchanting medieval village in Burgundy's Yonne department, renowned as one of France's Most Beautiful Villages. Features wonderfully preserved 15th-century half-timbered houses, cobbled streets, and ancient fortified walls beside the peaceful River Serein. |
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Château de Tanlay |
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Magnificent Renaissance château in Burgundy (16th-17th centuries) surrounded by moats and parkland. Features exquisite limestone architecture, famous trompe-l'oeil gallery, and historical frescoes. One of France's finest Renaissance residences with beautiful gardens. |
| Joigny |
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 Joigny, a riverside gem in northern Burgundy, charms with steep lanes of half-timbered houses, gothic churches and vine-clad hills above the Yonne. Browse lively markets, sip Côte Saint‑Jacques wines, and linger by the quays on gentle canal‑boat days. |
| Tonnerre |
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Historic Burgundian town renowned for its mysterious Fosse Dionne spring, Europe's oldest medieval hospital (Hôtel-Dieu), and Chardonnay vineyards. This charming Petite Cité de Caractère features Renaissance architecture along the scenic Canal de Bourgogne. |
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Vézelay Abbey ※ |
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UNESCO World Heritage Benedictine abbey atop Vézelay hill, renowned for housing Mary Magdalene's relics. Masterpiece of Romanesque architecture with exquisite sculptural details. Historic pilgrimage starting point for Santiago de Compostela route |
| Saint-Fargeau Castle |
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A magnificent 17th-century Renaissance château in Burgundy with 1000 years of history. Features a distinctive pentagonal design with six pink brick towers topped with lanterns. Home to spectacular historical shows with over 600 actors recreating French history. |
| Guédelon Castle |
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An extraordinary experimental archaeology project where craftsmen build a 13th-century fortress from scratch using authentic medieval techniques. Started in 1997 near Treigny, this living history site attracts 300,000 annual visitors to witness stonemasons, carpenters and blacksmiths recreating the past. |
| Sens |
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Historic Sens in northern Burgundy, positioned on the River Yonne, boasts France's first Gothic cathedral, Saint-Étienne, built from the 12th century. This ancient town, just one hour from Paris, offers rich Gallo-Roman heritage, covered markets, museums, and parks. |
| Druyes Castle |
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 Striking 12th-century castle ruins in Druyes-les-Belles-Fontaines, built by the Counts of Nevers. Former residence of Peter II of Courtenay, Emperor of Constantinople, this medieval fortress exemplifies Philippian architecture with its circular towers and commanding hillside position. |
| Maulnes Castle |
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France's only pentagonal Renaissance château, built 1566-1573 in Burgundy's forests. This architectural masterpiece by Louise de Clermont and Antoine de Crussol features labyrinthine rooms around a central well with intricate symbolic details. |
Other attractions
Montréal
Toucy
Département de la Côte-d'Or
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Dijon |
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 Dijon is the historical capital of Burgundy and was one of the great European centres of art, learning and science in the late Middle Ages. The city is famous for its mustard, its gingerbread, as well as the Kir and Crème de cassis liqueurs. |
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Semur-en-Auxois |
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Medieval town perched on pink granite above the River Armançon, with four castle towers, Gothic Notre-Dame church, and cobbled streets lined with half-timbered houses. Its ramparts and bridges offer spectacular views of this well-preserved Burgundian gem. |
Département de la Nièvre
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Nevers |
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Historical capital of the Nivernais, famed for its UNESCO-listed cathedral with unique dual Romanesque-Gothic choirs, 15th-century Ducal Palace (one of the first Loire châteaux) and traditional faience pottery. Two Duchesses of Nevers became Queen of Poland. |
| Bazoches Castle |
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Medieval fortress acquired by Marshal Vauban in 1675. The 12th-century château served as his residence and military headquarters where plans for 300 fortifications were drawn. Still owned by his descendants, it offers tours showcasing Vauban's legacy and stunning views near Vézelay. |
Département de Saône-et-Loire
| La Clayette Castle |
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Stunning 14th-century castle surrounded by a 30-hectare lake and water-filled moat. This picturesque fortress, expanded during the 19th century, is one of the region's most scenic sites and a listed historical monument. |
| Berzé Castle |
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Medieval fortress perched dramatically atop a rocky outcrop in Burgundy, featuring thirteen fortified towers and terraced gardens. Built around a 10th-century chapel, this impressive château commands panoramic views over Mâconnais vineyards and offers guided tours through medieval chambers. |
| Mâcon |
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Mâcon, southern Burgundy's charming gateway town along the Saône River, blends historic architecture with renowned wine culture. This pleasant riverside destination offers medieval towers, ancient bridges, and easy access to prestigious vineyards, all wrapped in a relaxed, welcoming atmosphere. |
Other attractions
Bibracte
Paray-le-Monial
Rully Castle
Ancy-le-Franc was designed by Sebastiano Serlio, who also worked on Fontainebleau, and constructed in 1544-1550. It is one of the sites where the Italian Renaissance was introduced to France.
: Local interest
: Moderately interesting
: Outstanding place
: Must-see in the country
: Top cities in Europe