Treasures of Burgundy: From Cluniac Reform to Courtly Splendour
Burgundy is synonymous with great wines and rich cuisine. Yet, the most brilliant jewels in Burgundy’s crown are monuments of mediaeval and Early Renaissance art and architecture, covering more than four centuries. During the 11th century, crusaders and pilgrims alike traversed the region, prompting the foundation of numerous churches built in the Romanesque style. In the 14th and 15th centuries, the region rose again to splendour under the Valois Dukes who presided over what was then Europe’s most illustrious court. Their realm stretched from “watery” Burgundy – the prosperous cities of Flanders – to Dijon, “winey” Burgundy’s distinguished capital. At the heart of the latter lies the charming town of Beaune, surrounded by the famous vineyards of the Côte d’Or. From here, this Art Pursuits Study Tour will explore art and architecture of this charmingly rustic part of France, as well as sample some of the region’s culinary delights.
Your Tour Includes
- Return Eurostar from London to Dijon via Paris
- 4 nights bed and breakfast at the Hotel La Poste, Beaune
- 1 lunch, 1 picnic lunch and 2 evening meals
- Services of your expert lecturer and Tour Manager
- Transfers and excursions by private coach
- Detailed programme and study notes
- All entrance fees, taxes and gratuities for coach drivers and waiters
Dr Sally Dormer
As Director of the Early Medieval Year Course at the V&A, Sally is an expert in medieval art and history. She completed her PhD at the Courtauld Institute, and was, until recently, Dean of European Studies, a study-abroad semester for undergraduates at the University of the South and Rhodes College, TN, USA. Sally also lectures for the Art Fund, the Arts Society, and Ciceroni.
Dr Ulrike Ziegler
Specialising in mediaeval art and the cultural politics of post-war Germany at the universities of Regensburg and Aberdeen, Dr Ulrike Ziegler is a well-respected member of Art Pursuits Abroad and has lectured at universities and for multiple cultural institutions, along with organising and leading many study tours in both Germany and Austria. Ulrike is now working on Art Pursuits Abroad’s German programme.
Itinerary
Morning departure by Eurostar from London St Pancras to Paris, and then by TGV to Dijon. Continue by private coach to Beaune and your hotel in time for a stroll through the rampart-enclosed town centre, followed by dinner.
Includes Dinner
Included Highlights
Coach excursion to study the ruins of Cluny, once the most prestigious of Benedictine abbeys. After lunch, continue to Berzé-la-Ville where the Cluniac abbots withdrew from the hustle and bustle of monastic life, to admire magnificent Romanesque wall-paintings. At Tournus we will see the abbey church of St Philibert. Return to Beaune and dinner in a restaurant near the hotel.
Includes Breakfast
Includes Dinner
Included Highlights
Coach excursion to Fontenay, the beautifully restored Cistercian house founded by Bernard of Clairvaux in a secluded valley. After a picnic lunch, continue to Vézelay, where mediaeval pilgrims once flocked to see the shrine of St Mary Magdalene and where St Bernard preached the Second Crusade. Return to Beaune for an independent evening.
Includes Breakfast
Includes Lunch
Included Highlights
Morning walk through Beaune, sampling the delights of this beautiful town: the collegiate church of Nôtre-Dame with 15th-century tapestries and the Hôtel Dieu, a hospital founded by Chancellor Nicolas Rolin, home to the spectacular Last Judgement polyptych painted by Rogier van der Weyden, the Netherlandish artist. Afternoon coach excursion to Autun, Roman Augustodonum, with impressive remains of a Roman theatre and city gates and the fine hilltop cathedral of St Lazare with its dramatic portal and capitals carved in the 1130s by Gislebertus. Return to Beaune via the celebrated vineyards of the Côte d’Or.
Includes Breakfast
Included Highlights
By coach to Dijon, capital of the Burgundian Valois Dukes. Visit the remains of the Chartreuse de Champmol, the Carthusian monastery just outside the city with Claus Sluter’s Puits de Moïse and chapel portal. The Musée des Beaux-Arts has further masterpieces, most notably Sluter’s Tomb of Philip the Bold, surrounded by an unforgettable procession of alabaster pleurants. After lunch take the TGV to Paris for a late afternoon Eurostar train to London St Pancras.
Includes Breakfast
Includes Lunch
Included Highlights
Accommodation
You will stay for three nights bed and breakfast at the Hôtel de la Poste, Beaune.
Hôtel De La Poste
Near the historic centre of Beaune, the Hôtel de la Poste is a spacious and stylish 4-star hotel featuring period furniture and modern facilities. The hotel boasts an on-site restaurant, Le Relais, serving delicious, gourmet cuisine prepared with local produce, as well as a cosy bar, terrace, and gardens. All 36 beautifully decorated rooms boast premium bedding, air conditioning, and free WiFi.
Hotel Facilities
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General
- 4 Star
- Bar
- Restaurant
- Lift
Room
- TV
- Hairdryer
- Safe Box
- Air Conditioning
- Telephone
- Free Wifi
Service
- Laundry Service
Hotel
- Bar
- Restaurant
- Lift
- WiFi Available
