--- title: "Cité des Climats, Chablis: Visit, Tastings and How Long" description: "Opened in May 2023 in the Petit Pontigny, the monks' medieval cellar, it explains northern Burgundy's vineyards. Allow 1 to 1.5 hours, driver from Beaune." url: https://www.cote-privee.com/things-to-do/cite-des-climats-chablis lang: en updated: 2026-09-29 generated: 2026-10-08 image: https://www.cote-privee.com/og/things-to-do/cite-des-climats-chablis.png --- # Cité des Climats et vins de Bourgogne, Chablis > Cité des Climats et vins de Bourgogne, Chablis: Burgundy's northern vineyards explained in the medieval cellar of the Pontigny monks. Cité des Climats et vins de Bourgogne, Chablis is in Chablis (Yonne), 1 h 43 by road (153 km) from Beaune. Allow 1 to 1.5 hours · Private driver from Beaune: €385 one way for the whole car, up to 4 guests. The Chablis branch of the Cité des Climats et vins de Bourgogne opened in May 2023 in the Petit Pontigny, the historic cellar of the Cistercian monks of Pontigny. A contemporary extension and a garden complete it. The visit explains the vineyards of northern Burgundy, and a wine bar offers tastings. ## Key facts - Type: Wine experiences - Where: Chablis · Yonne - Location: 120 km north-west of Beaune · Chablis & Auxerrois - Coordinates: 47.8117, 3.8011 - 1 h 43 from Beaune - Allow 1 to 1.5 hours - Chablis - Official website: [citeclimatsvins-bourgogne.com](https://citeclimatsvins-bourgogne.com/en/cite-in-chablis/) - From Beaune: ≈ 1 h 43 · 153 km - €385 one way from Beaune with a [private driver](https://www.cote-privee.com/private-driver) - Or add it to our [long-day wine tour, €880](https://www.cote-privee.com/wine-tours/long-day). ## Getting there - [Private driver from Beaune](https://www.cote-privee.com/private-driver): 1 h 43 by road (153 km), €385 one way for the whole car. Coming by train or plane? [Transfers from stations and airports](https://www.cote-privee.com/transfers) Estimates per vehicle for up to 4 guests, tolls included. Your price is confirmed when you book. ## History The monks of Pontigny Abbey received vineyards in Chablis from the late 12th century, and they kept their wine in a cellar in the town, the Petit Pontigny. The Burgundy Wine Board imagined the Cité des Climats in 2010, as a network of three sites at Beaune, Chablis and Mâcon, and the project took shape after the Climats of Burgundy joined the UNESCO list in 2015. Work began in 2021. The Chablis site, with a contemporary wing by the architects Atelier Correia, opened on 17 May 2023, the second of the three to open after Mâcon. It pairs the restored medieval cellar with a new building, and it focuses on the vineyards of the Chablisien, the Grand Auxerrois and the Châtillonnais. All three sites are run by an association created in 2019. ## What you will see Inside the stone cellar, a scenographic trail explains how soil, slope and climate shape the wines of northern Burgundy, from the fossil-rich Kimmeridgian slopes of Chablis to the Auxerrois and Châtillonnais. The Ponti'Bar, the site's wine bar, serves wines by the glass inside the old cellar or on its garden terrace. Workshops and special events run through the year, from tastings to evening events. ## Planning your visit Allow an hour to an hour and a half. The Cité is in the centre of Chablis, about 1 hour 30 minutes from Beaune, and makes a good first stop before visiting growers. It pairs well with the larger Cité in Beaune for a two-day view of Burgundy wine. The Chablis site is open from April to early November, from Tuesday to Sunday. Please check the official website for opening times and workshop bookings. ## Did you know? The Cité des Climats has three sites, in Beaune, Chablis and Mâcon. The Chablis site was the smallest investment of the three, at a planned 3 million euros. ## Around Cité des Climats et vins de Bourgogne, Chablis What to combine with Cité des Climats et vins de Bourgogne, Chablis on the same day, nearest first. ### Villages - [Chablis](https://www.cote-privee.com/villages/chablis) (1 km away): Burgundy's northern outpost, where Chardonnay grows on fossil-rich limestone above the river Serein. - [Saint-Bris](https://www.cote-privee.com/villages/saint-bris) (14 km away): Burgundy's Sauvignon village, built over a maze of medieval cellars. - [Irancy](https://www.cote-privee.com/villages/irancy) (15 km away): The red wine village of the Yonne, set in a bowl of vines and cherry trees. ### Châteaux - [Château Long-Depaquit](https://www.cote-privee.com/chateaux/chateau-long-depaquit) (1 km away): An 18th-century château in the heart of Chablis, home of the grand cru La Moutonne. - [Château de Béru](https://www.cote-privee.com/chateaux/chateau-de-beru) (7 km away): A family château above the Chablis vineyards, with a rare sundial and moon dial, and biodynamic wines. - [Château de Maligny](https://www.cote-privee.com/chateaux/chateau-de-maligny) (7 km away): A castle above the Serein north of Chablis, whose name lives on in the Durup family's wines. ### Things to do - [Domaine William Fèvre](https://www.cote-privee.com/things-to-do/domaine-william-fevre-chablis) (1 km away): A leading Chablis estate with a large holding of grands crus, and a tasting room in the centre of Chablis. - [Domaine Céline & Frédéric Gueguen](https://www.cote-privee.com/things-to-do/domaine-celine-et-frederic-gueguen) (1 km away): A young family domaine from two Chablis winemaking families, with a tasting cellar in the heart of Chablis. - [La Chablisienne](https://www.cote-privee.com/things-to-do/la-chablisienne) (1 km away): The Chablis cooperative founded in 1923, with a tasting cellar covering every level of the appellation. ### Events - **Saturday 24 – Sunday 25 October 2026 (Confirmed by the organiser)** · [Fête des Vins de Chablis](https://www.cote-privee.com/events/fete-des-vins-de-chablis): Chablis celebrates its new vintage every year on the fourth weekend of October. (Wine festival · Chablis) - **An autumn Sunday, usually in late October, sometimes followed by a second market in November.** · [Marché aux truffes de Noyers](https://www.cote-privee.com/events/marche-aux-truffes-de-noyers): Burgundy truffles, a giant omelette and a clanging bell in the medieval squares of Noyers. (Food & markets · Noyers) - **Saturday, 24 October 2026 (Confirmed by the organiser)** · [Marathon de Chablis](https://www.cote-privee.com/events/marathon-de-chablis): A festive marathon through the Chablis vineyards, run in costume on the Saturday of the wine festival. (Sport · Chablis) - **A weekend in early December.** · [Marché de Noël de La Chablisienne](https://www.cote-privee.com/events/marche-de-noel-de-la-chablisienne): A weekend of local crafts and festive wines at the cooperative cellar of Chablis before Christmas. (Christmas · Chablis) - **Sunday, 24 January 2027 (Confirmed by the organiser)** · [Saint-Vincent tournante du Tonnerrois](https://www.cote-privee.com/events/saint-vincent-tournante-du-tonnerrois): The winter wine festival of the Tonnerre growers, hosted by a different village each year. (Tradition · Vézinnes, 2027 host) - **Saturday 6 – Sunday 7 February 2027 (Confirmed by the organiser)** · [Saint-Vincent tournante du Chablisien](https://www.cote-privee.com/events/saint-vincent-tournante-du-chablisien): The winter wine festival of the Chablis vineyard, hosted by a different village each year. (Tradition · Maligny, 2027 host) - **A weekend in early April.** · [Les Vinées Tonnerroises](https://www.cote-privee.com/events/vinees-tonnerroises): The wine fair of the Tonnerrois, held inside a vast 13th-century hospital. (Wine festival · Tonnerre) - **The last Sunday of April.** · [Balade gourmande du Chablisien](https://www.cote-privee.com/events/balade-gourmande-du-chablisien): A spring walk of about ten kilometres through the Chablis vines, with food and wine stands along the way. (Food & markets · Chablis, route changes each year) - **A few evenings in July.** · [Festival du Chablisien](https://www.cote-privee.com/events/festival-du-chablisien): Summer evening concerts in the churches and barns of the Chablis vineyard. (Music · Chablis and nearby villages) - **Most of July.** · [Rencontres musicales de Noyers](https://www.cote-privee.com/events/rencontres-musicales-de-noyers): Chamber music and masterclasses in a walled medieval village, with local wines poured after the concerts. (Music · Noyers) - **A three-day weekend at the end of July.** · [Gargouillosium](https://www.cote-privee.com/events/gargouillosium-noyers): Twenty stone carvers, three days and a crop of new gargoyles at the old castle of Noyers. (Culture · Noyers) - **Thursday 26 – Saturday 28 August 2027 (Confirmed by the organiser)** · [Musiques en Tonnerrois](https://www.cote-privee.com/events/musiques-en-tonnerrois): A roving festival of chamber music and new works in Tonnerre, a Renaissance château and village churches. (Music · Tonnerre and nearby villages) ### Guides about Cité des Climats et vins de Bourgogne, Chablis - [The grand crus of Burgundy](https://www.cote-privee.com/guides/burgundy-grand-crus) - [A Chablis day trip from Beaune](https://www.cote-privee.com/guides/chablis-day-trip-from-beaune) - [The Climats of Burgundy](https://www.cote-privee.com/guides/climats-of-burgundy-unesco) ## Questions about Cité des Climats et vins de Bourgogne, Chablis ### How far is Cité des Climats et vins de Bourgogne, Chablis from Beaune? Cité des Climats et vins de Bourgogne, Chablis is about 1 h 43 from Beaune by road (153 km). With a private driver, the trip from Beaune starts at €385 for the whole car, up to 4 guests. ### How long does a visit to Cité des Climats et vins de Bourgogne, Chablis take? For the visit, allow 1 to 1.5 hours. ### When is Cité des Climats et vins de Bourgogne, Chablis open? Opening days and times change during the year, so check the official website (citeclimatsvins-bourgogne.com) before you go. Your driver can plan the day around them. ### Can a private driver take us to Cité des Climats et vins de Bourgogne, Chablis? Yes. Your driver collects you in Beaune or at your hotel in an electric Polestar 2 (up to 4 guests), waits while you visit and plans the rest of the day with you. The driver speaks English, French, Mandarin Chinese and Arabic. → [Long-day wine tour, €880](https://www.cote-privee.com/wine-tours/long-day) ## Book - [Book a driver here](https://www.cote-privee.com/book?service=driver&place=sight:citechablis): €385 one way from Beaune · up to 4 guests ## Sources - - - --- Canonical page: