La Voie des Vignes
A 22-kilometre cycle route from Beaune to Santenay through Pommard, Volnay, Meursault and the Montrachet villages.
- Activity
- In Beaune itself
- Allow half a day to a full day
- UNESCO World Heritage
€290for a half-day wine tour starting here, up to 4 guests
At a glance
- Official website
- beaune-tourisme.fr
Getting there
Coming by train or plane? Transfers from stations and airports →
About the place
La Voie des Vignes is a cycle route that runs south from Beaune for about 22 kilometres to Santenay. It follows small roads and vineyard tracks between dry-stone walls, through some of the most famous wine villages in the world. Walkers and cyclists share the route.
What you will see
Cycling south from Beaune, you ride among vines and stone walls, with the châteaux of Pommard and Meursault within easy reach. Each village invites a pause, whether for a tasting or a drink on a café terrace. Look out for the small stone huts, called cabotes, scattered through the vineyards. You can ride back the same way or finish in Santenay, which has a railway station.
History
The route links Beaune with Pommard, Volnay, Meursault, Puligny-Montrachet, Chassagne-Montrachet and Santenay, crossing the Climats of Burgundy, listed by UNESCO in 2015. It follows the slopes of the vineyard, so there are a few gentle climbs, but nothing difficult. From Santenay, a further section of about 14 kilometres continues to Nolay along a former railway line, with viaducts, bridges and tunnels.
The Voie des Vignes belongs to a wider network of more than 80 kilometres of cycle routes around Beaune. A northern section of about 45 kilometres links Beaune with Dijon through the villages of the Côte de Beaune and the Côte de Nuits. Along the way you find bike racks, picnic tables and illustrated panels about the landscape and its heritage.
Planning your visit
Tips for your visit
Allow half a day for Beaune to Santenay and back, or a full day with tastings. Electric bikes make the gentle climbs easy, and bikes can be hired in the area. Spring and early autumn are the most pleasant seasons, and tastings are best kept modest when cycling. The tourist office website has maps and practical details.
Around here
What to combine with La Voie des Vignes on the same day, nearest first.
Beaune
1 km awayPommard
3 km awayChorey-lès-Beaune
4 km away
- Nature and viewpoint
Beaune Premiers Crus Walk (Circuit No. 12) Circuit n°12, à travers quelques premiers crus de Beaune
1 km away
- Culture
Mois des Climats
Each year over several weeks in late spring and early summer, usually ending in early JulyBeaune - Wine festival
Beaune Saveurs de Vignes
Usually Ascension Thursday, in May, with staggered departures from late morningBeaune - Music
Festival international d’opéra baroque de Beaune
Usually four consecutive weekends in JulyBeaune
Guides about La Voie des Vignes
Questions
For the visit, allow half a day to a full day.
Did you know? Beyond Santenay, the Voie des Vignes continues to Nolay on an old railway line, crossing the Cormot viaduct, which is 158 metres long and 18 metres high.
Sources
From La Voie des Vignes into the vineyards
Half-day wine tour from Beaune: €290 for the car, up to 4 guests