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Loire Valley Châteaux & Burgundy

Personally Yours®

LOIRE VALLEY CHÂTEAUX & BURGUNDY

AZAY-LE-RIDEAU

AMBOISE

ORLÉANS

AUXERRE

CHARLES DE GAULLEAIRPORT

BOURGES

MAGNIFICENT CHÂTEAUX, THE GLORIOUS RIVER LOIREAND THE LEGENDARY JOAN OF ARC are only a few of theattractions of this itinerary. The Loire Valley is celebrated for its beauty, for the important role it has played in Frenchhistory as well as its splendid wine. This drive takes youthrough some of the finest examples of Romanesque, Gothic and Renaissance architecture, in towns like Tours and Orléans and Blois. From the Loire, you head east intoBurgundy. It was from here that the Dukes of Burgundy led an empire that extended into parts of Holland. The land they chose for themselves was lush, and the wine that is produced here is the best in the country. From the charming city of Beaune to the historical riches of Dijon, the history of Burgundy is everywhere to see. This is a drive for aesthetes, gourmands and wine lovers who appreciate the fertile history of France.

CÔTE D’OR

BEAUNEVÉZELAY

PULIGNY-MONTRACHET

ABBAYE DE FONTENAY

MÂCON

©MICHELIN from Map No. 989 France. Permission No. 02-US-002

AVIS PERSONALLY YOURS®

Personally Yours introduces a collection offree, unique pre-printed itineraries createdfor popular driving tours in Europe. Eachitinerary covers a region by featuring its distinctive historic, cultural and scenic high-lights and is based on recent drives usingup-to-date information. Every EuropeanPersonally Yours will also have the routetraced on a large-scale Michelin map forgeographical guidance. Avis suggests rentersbuy Michelin maps before departure.Personally Yours ItinerariesBRITAIN Bath & the Cotswolds

The Scottish Highlands Great Gothic Cathedrals

& Southern CoastFRANCE Côte d’ Azur

Normandy & BrittanyRhône-Alpes RegionLoire Valley Châteaux

& BurgundyGERMANY Munich, Prague and Berlin

Romantic Route–Munichto Frankfurt

ITALY TuscanyMEXICO Yucatán PeninsulaSPAIN Madrid to Barcelona

Madrid South to Andalucía

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AZAY-LE-RIDEAU

AMBOISE

ORLÉANS

AUXERRE

CÔTE D’OR

BEAUNE

BOURGES

VÉZELAY

PULIGNY-MONTRACHET

ABBAYE DE FONTENAY

MÂCON

38 milesBLOIS– This town rose to prominence asa royal domain in the 15th century. Blois’historic façades and architectural splendorare what entrances visitors. Start in VieuxBlois, the old part of the city, which is ahilly area that encompasses the château,the cathedral and the Loire River. Takethe “Route Royale,” which is a signpostedwalk past some of the most impressivemansions in Blois. The highlight is theChâteau de Blois. This was France’s princi-pal royal residence until Henri IV movedthe court to Paris in 1598. There are fourcontrasting yet harmonious wings to thechâteau, filled with paintings and elabo-rate spiral staircases. Later, you can visitthe splendid Place St. Louis, with its 17th-century houses. Among them are theMaison des Acrobates, which was devotedto medieval jugglers and acrobats.

23 milesAMBOISE– Royal history was madebehind the walls of Château d’Amboise. It was the home of Louis XI; Charles VIIIwas born and died here; and François I and Catherine de’ Medici were often inresidence. It’s the perfect setting for courtlyintrigue, and indeed, the château was thesetting for the Amboise Conspiracy from1560. This was a plot by the Huguenotsagainst François II that was famously foiled.On the ramparts is the Chapelle St.

Hubert, a Gothic chapelbelieved to be the burial placeof Leonardo da Vinci. Theartist lived in Amboise duringthe end of his life, residing ina nearby house calledClos-Lucé. Today, thehouse has models ofsome of Leonardo’smechanical inventions.

16 milesTOURS– The center of the Loire Valley,Tours has been wonderfully kept andtastefully restored. Built on the site of aRoman town, it became an important cen-ter of Christianity in the 4th century, andLouis XI made Tours the capital of France.But time and wars took their toll, andTours crumbled. Starting in the late 1950s,an aggressive restoration led to the rebirthof this marvelous town. Start your explo-ration in the Place Plumereau, located inthe medieval center of the city, a place ofboutique and cafés. And if you walk someof the side streets, such as Rue Briçonnet,you’ll find a magical world of half-timbered façades and courtyards. Takemore time and see the extravagant 13th-century Cathédrale St. Gatien, the Musée des Beaux Arts and the winemuseum located in the Eglise St. Julien.

16 milesAZAY-LE-RIDEAU– Château Azay-le-Rideau was the creation of PhilippaLesbahy, the wife of François I’s financeminister. It may look like a fortified place,with its Gothic turrets and its moat, but it was in fact devoted purely to pleasure.Inside you’ll find period furniture and familyportraits, as well as some exceptional tapestries. The four-story grand staircaseis an architectural treat.

111 milesBOURGES– This walled city was origi-nally a Gallo-Roman settlement. Its hey-day came when it was the lair of JacquesCoeur, the financier and foreign ministerto Charles VII. A famed merchant, Coeurwas also a patron of the arts who commis-sioned such works as the illuminated man-uscript “Les Très Riches Heures du Duc deBerry.” Tour the Palais Jacques Coeur, andlater visit St. Etienne, an exemplaryGothic cathedral. The 13th-centurystained glass windows were donated by the local guilds and are masterpieces ofthe art form. The medieval quarter ofBourges has been well preserved and isworth walking through. If you have moretime, hire a boat for a brief paddle throughthe “water meadows” outside the town.

89 milesAUXERRE–Now you’ve left the Loireand you’ve entered Burgundy. The town of Auxerre has a marvelous situation over-looking the Yonne River. Begin your per-ambulations at Place Charles-Surugue, themain square, and then carry on to theCathédrale St. Etienne. Finished in 1560after nearly 300 years of labor, it has stun-ning 13th-century stained glass windowsand a Romanesque crypt.

32 milesVÉZELAY– This is one town where youcan literally follow in the footsteps ofmedieval pilgrims, by making the ascentup time-worn steps to the Basilique Ste.Madeleine on Vézelay’s highest hilltop.The reason for those pilgrims was thebelief, during the 12th century, that thisformer abbey held the remains of MaryMagdalene. It later became one of thestarting points for the famed pilgrimageto Santiago de Compostela. Today, thisRomanesque church is best appreciated forits Gothic choir and 12th-century sculpture.

40 milesABBAYE DE FONTENAY– The oldestsurviving Cistercian abbey in France,Fontenay is tranquility personified. ItsRomanesque and early Gothic architectureexude a real sense of calm. You can tourthe Cloisters, where 12th-century monksmeditated. Look at the oven in the 13th-century bakehouse. Or stroll the herbgarden that has been under cultivationfor centuries.

50 milesDIJON– The name “Dijon” may wellevoke the famous mustard that is stillmade here, but the city of Dijon is also anarchitectural feast, a legacy of the Dukesof Burgundy. The dukes built one of themost powerful states in Europe, and theirdomain included Flanders and even portions of what is now Holland. Greatpatrons, they supported such Europeanpainters as the van Eyck brothers and thesculptor Claus Sluter. You can start yourimmersion in Dijon by visiting the Palaisdes Ducs, where the city’s greatest artistictreasures are stored in what is now known

as the Musée des Beaux Arts. But Dijonhas many more treasures, like RueVerrerie, a cobbled street in the old merchants’ quarters that’s lined with half-timbered houses, and the Place Darcy,with its lively cafés and restaurants.

CÔTE D’OR– This is one of the greateststretches of wine country in the world.Comprising the Côte de Beaune and theCôte de Nuits, these vineyards stretch forabout 30 miles, all the way from Dijon toSantenay. The soil, which has a golden-reddish tone, is where the famed deep redsand the lively white grapes of Burgundy’sbest vintages are grown. The towns, withnames like Nuits-St. Georges, Vosne-Romanée and Chassagne Montrachet, can make you feel as if you’redriving through a wine list.

27 milesBEAUNE– Abouthalfway through the Côte D’Or, you’ll come toBeaune. The seat of theBurgundian wine trade,Beaune is simply one of themost charming little cities inFrance, with walls hung withwisteria, lilacs everywhere,and stone ramparts thatenclose a magical garden.The Hôtel-Dieu is thecenterpiece–a hospicedating from 1443 withthe multicolored rooftiles that are a hallmarkof Burgundian architec-ture. Today it’s knownin the wine trade as thehome of the charitywine auction, “Les Trois Glorieuses,” held for three days every November. If you’re not here inNovember, then contentyourself with a visit to the Musée du Vinde Bourgogne.

7 milesPULIGNY-MONTRACHET– This littletown is one of the classic stops on theCôte d’Or trail, a place worth stoppingfor lunch, a brief wine tasting, or a walkthrough the sleepy streets of a typicalFrench wine village.

38 milesCLUNY– This pleasant town centersaround its famous abbey, the AncienneAbbaye St. Pierre et St. Paul. This wasonce one of the most important monasticcenters in all of Europe. Founded byWilliam of Pious, the Duke of Aquitaine,in 910, Cluny sent out 100 monks whoset up literally hundreds of monasteriesthroughout the continent. The systemcollapsed around the 14th century, andthe impressive abbey is all that remains.

16 milesMÂCON– A center of the wine trade onthe Saone River, Mâcon is a pleasant placeto spend a morning. The market on thePlace aux Herbes can be quite colorful.And do have a look at the adjacent 15th-century Maison de Bois, famed for itscarved façade.

46 milesLYON– The second city of France,

Lyon is perhaps best known as thecountry’s gastronomic capital, the

home of chef Paul Bocuse anddozens of other lauded culinaryartists. But it’s an appealing cityon so many levels. Start withits extraordinary architecturalheritage, from Gallo-Romanremains to the Renaissancesplendor of the old city. InOld Lyon, along the westbank of the Saone River,you’ll find cobblestonestreets, covered passage-ways known as “traboules,”and great bistros. You’llalso find two Romanamphi-theaters, includingthe Théatres Romains,the oldest theater inFrance, which dates

from 15 BC. Then cross

over toPresqu’ile,the narrowpeninsula of thecity that lies between theRhone and the Saone Rivers.Walk slowly along the pedestrian-onlyRue de la République, explore the shopsand bistros, and visit the Musée des BeauxArts, which has a collection that reachesfrom Etruscan statues to works by Rodin.The city’s fabled silk industry is documentedat the Musée Historique des Tissus as wellas the Musée des Arts Decoratifs.

HOTELS

La Tour Rose. Philippe Chavent’s silk-swathed hotel occupies several housesaround a courtyard. The glass-roofedrestaurant was once a chapel. Each of the 12rooms is named for an old silk factory and isplushly decorated. 22 rue du Boeuf, Lyon. Tel: 33 04 78 37 25 90Fax: 33 04 78 42 26 02For reservations in the USA: 800 735 2478

Les Hautes Roches. This former monasteryhas 11 rooms and is situated on the LoireRiver. It is a classic example of 18th-centurysplendor. The restaurant is famed for its fish menu as well as Loire Valley wines.86 quai de la Loire, Rochecorbon.Tel: 33 02 47 52 88 88Fax: 33 02 47 52 81 30For reservations in the USA: 800 735 2478

Domaine des Hauts de Loire. This magnificent hunting lodge, built in 1860 bythe famous publisher Panckoucke, issecluded in tranquil parkland. The 34 gue-strooms boast painted beams. Route deHerbault, Onzain. Tel: 33 02 54 20 72 57Fax: 33 02 54 20 77 32 For reservations in the USA: 800 735 2478

Château de Gilly.Located in the heart of Burgundy’s most revered wine-growing country, between Dijon andBeaune, it combines a 14th-centuryCistercian monastery with a 17th-centurychâteau. Surrounded by formal gardens,the restaurant is housed in a stone vaultedcellar. Gilly-les Citeaux, Vouget. Tel: 33 03 80 62 89 98 Fax: 33 03 80 62 82 34

Hôtel Le Cep. A former private residencehere in the major wine town of Burgundy,it has a tower, courtyards and a garden.There’s an abundance of antiques in the57-room property, and the restaurant, Le Morillon, serves creative cuisine. 27 Rue Maufoux, Beaune. Tel: 33 03 80 22 35 48Fax: 33 03 80 22 76 80

Bourgogne. You’ll find this wonderful old auberge next to the Cluny abbey.There are just 12 rooms, and the hotel’srestaurant is a gastronomic delight. Place de L’Abbaye, Cluny. Tel: 33 03 85 59 00 58Fax: 33 03 85 59 03 73

RESTAURANT

Hostellerie de Levernois. In a tranquilriverside setting complete with cedars,weeping willows and an ancient waterwheel, this hotel features a fine Burgundiankitchen and more than 800 vintages.Route de Verdun-sur-le-Doubs, Beaune. Tel: 33 03 80 24 73 58Fax: 33 03 80 22 78

(Mileage is estimated from each precedingcity or site. Before you begin your trip,please note: For space reasons, we could not provide the most detailed map with this brochure. We recommend the use of Michelin Map #989 France in conjunction with this guide.) To orderMichelin maps, call 1-800-223-0987.

L O I R E VA L L E Y C H Â T E A U X & B U R G U N D Y

CHARLES DE GAULLE AIRPORT–The major gateway to Paris and the rest ofFrance, the airport lies just outside of Parisand is a fine starting point for an explo-ration of the Loire Valley and Burgundy.

101 milesORLÉANS– With its Renaissance façades,Orléans is best known as the city of Jeanned’Arc, or Joan of Arc. It was here that themaid of Orléans saved France from theEnglish in 1429. Since her martyrdom inRouen in 1431, she has been revered, andnowhere more than in Orléans. Be sure toexplore Vieil Orléans, the old quarterbounded by the cathedral, the Loire Riverand the Place du Martroi. The latter is a live-ly square, with cafés and bars and a statue ofJoan. Nearby is the half-timbered MaisonJeanne d’Arc, a reconstruction of a buildingwhere Joan lived in 1429. From Place duMartroi, you can follow Rue d’Escures,which leads you past some fine Renaissancemansions. The finest is the Hotel Grôslot, a16th-century mansion that welcomed KingCharles IX, Henri III and Henri IV. Finally,pause at the Cathédrale Sainte-Croix. Begunin the 13th century, it was finished in theGothic style between the 17thand 19th centuries.