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Burgundy (Bourgogne) is a historical region of central France, in the Middle Ages the Duchy of Burgundy was an important state reality, which lost its independence in 1477 with the battle of Nancy. The current administrative region of Burgundy is larger than the area occupied by the old duchy. The region, whose capital is the city of Dijon is formed from an administrative point of view by 4 departments: Yonne (89), Côte-d’Or (21), Nièvre (58), Saône-et-Loire (71).
Burgundy is landlocked and borders to the north-east with Île-de-France, to the north with Champagne-Ardenne, to the east with Franche-Comté, to the south-east with the Rhône-Alps, to the southwest with the Auvergne, and to the west with the Centre. Burgundy is made up of a hilly area rich in vineyards and other crops, crossed by some important rivers such as the Seine, the Loire, the Saône, and the Yvonne.
To the south are the pastures and fields of the Mâconnais, where the first foothills of the Massif Central begin. The center of the region is formed by undulating plateaus, such as those of the Côte-d’Or, intensively planted with vineyards, the Plateau de Langres and the Morvan, in the latter being the highest peak of Burgundy, the Haut Folin (901 meters). The wooded heart of the region is protected by the Morvan Natural Park (Parc naturel régional du Morvan).
TOURIST ATTRACTIONS: WHAT TO VISIT IN BURGUNDY
Heart of France, with one of the most beautiful agricultural landscapes in the country, Burgundy is a land of vineyards and wonderful natural landscapes, made up of rolling hills and plateaus, but also wooded areas, such as those of the Morvan Natural Park (Parc naturel régional du Morvan), which covers an area of almost 3000 km².
Burgundy has an important wine tradition (mostly white wines, but also red and rosé wines) and gastronomy (snails (escargots de bourgogne), beef (bœuf bourguignon), rooster in wine (coq au vin), fondue (fondue bourguignonne), gougere.
Its towns are rich in art and history, there are important Roman remains such as in Autun, the ancient Augustodunum; medieval monasteries such as those of Cluny, Pontigny, Vézelay and Fontenay; medieval and Renaissance towns such as Beaune, with the magnificent Hôtel-Dieu, Dijon, Autun, Semur-en-Auxois, Avallon, Vézelay. The museums of the region are interesting, the most beautiful are found in Dijon, Châtillon-sur-Seine and Beaune.
There are two sites in Burgundy that UNESCO has included among its world heritage sites: the Cistercian Abbey of Fontanay and the church of Madeleine of Vézelay, a masterpiece of Burgundian Romanesque art and architecture.
- BURGUNDY (BOURGOGNE)
- Area: 31,582 km²
- Population: 1,638,588 (2008)
- Capital: Dijon (Dijon)