The medieval town of Beaune

Thanks to Stefan’s recommendation we opted for the Free Choice option of visiting the Beaune today - known as the wine capital of Burgundy. Despite the 2 hour coach drive there (and hour and a half back to the boat, which is now moving upriver), it was well worth it. Beaune is such a quaint town. Surrounded by the Côte d'Or vineyards, the cobbled town is renowned for an annual wine auction held at the Hôtel-Dieu (Hospices de Beaune).


The whole of the town centre has been well preserved with the Hotel-Dieu (the old hospice, now a museum) being the star attraction for the tourists who visit each year.

The architecture was amazing - from the hospice itself to the churches, small mansions and stunning shopfronts.

We began with a guided walking tour of the town. We especially loved the old buildings and the beautiful town square, which also hosted a carousel. This seems to be the thing in France!

 

After the walking tour we were then guided through the old hospice, which was completed in 1452  by a Dutch architect, for the poor and sick under the direction of the chancellor of Sir Phillip the Good. The exterior is very distinctive with half wooded walls and the most amazing coloured roof tiles.

Inside we could see what life would have been like for those under the care of the sisters. The beds were around the walls and each one housed two people - their way of keeping warm!

It also houses a beautiful chapel and a pharmacy dispensary.

Julie loved the copper work in the old kitchen.

I adored the artworks in the final few rooms, especially the depiction of The Last Judgement, which was mostly hidden by the panels which folded in on each other

 

 Leaving the hospice for about 15 mins of our own we enjoyed just a few more of the wonders of the town including local artisans at work.

As was market day in the town and the fresh produce was oh so tempting...

 

Aand shop fronts that were a work of art in themselves...

It was all too quickly time for us to depart Beaunne and head south to our ship which had docked in Trevoux, so we could hop back on board for lunch and a further sail up the river to Macon, almost where we should be by now, but as far north as we can be due to the still very high river levels.


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