The Climats of the Burgundy vineyards | Beaune and the Beaune region Tourism

The inscription of the Climats du vignoble de Bourgogne to UNESCO constitutes a recognition of the unique character of the Côte Viticole

The Climats du vignoble de Bourgogne were inscribed as a UNESCO heritage site on July 4, 2015. The inscription constitutes a recognition of the unique character of the Côte Viticole between Dijon and Beaune and as far as Santenay. Remarkable landscapes, exceptional built heritage, unique know-how: these are the elements that made this classification possible.

In Burgundy, what is a "climat"?

In Burgundy, what is a “climat”?

Climat is the specifically Burgundian term for winegrowing terroir. Carefully delimited for centuries (and remaining virtually unchanged since), each climat is a parcel of vines with its own name, history, taste and place in the hierarchy of crus. There are more than 1,000 climats on a thin ribbon running from Dijon to Santenay, south of Beaune; some with illustrious names like Chambertin, Romanée-Conti, Clos de Vougeot, Montrachet, Corton, Musigny…

What's so special about the Climats de Bourgogne site?

Nowhere else has the desire to link wine to the place that produces it been taken so far, and in such a refined way, as in Burgundy. The result is an extremely parcelized vineyard, know-how focused on excellence, remarkable landscapes, towns with exceptional built heritage, Dijon and Beaune, an economy, a specific culture and a word to characterize it: Climat.

Climats du Vignoble de Bourgogne

Climats du Vignoble de Bourgogne – Parcelles et cabiote© Jean-Louis Bernuy

What elements have been inscribed on UNESCO’s World Heritage List?

The climats represent an exception and a model of terroir-based viticulture that inspires other vineyards around the world. They constitute a unique cultural site shaped by 2000 years of history, characterized by an exceptional built heritage, both vernacular and monumental (Hospices de Beaune, Palais des ducs de Bourgogne, Château du Clos de Vougeot…). Their inclusion on the World Heritage List enables them to be passed on intact to future generations, and provides international recognition of their unique character.

Climats du vignoble de Bourgogne: an inscription in 2015

The Climats du vignoble de Bourgogne were inscribed on UNESCO’s World Heritage List on July 4, 2015, during the 39th Session of the World Heritage Committee held in Germany.

Walks in Burgundy, on the Unesco trail

Hospices de Beaune - Hôtel-Dieu

Understanding the Climats du Vignoble de Bourgogne on video

The Maison des Climats du Vignoble de Bourgogne in Beaune

Balades en Bourgogne, on the Unesco trail

Balades en Bourgogne is a brand-new app that takes you on guided walks along the hiking trails that criss-cross the Climats du Vignoble de Bourgogne area.

No need to find the route on a map or look for points of interest everywhere, the app takes care of that by triggering audio commentaries. Find out what the famous Climats de Bourgogne are, why winegrowers build cabottes and what meurgers are used for…George Clooney’s French Way will tell you all about it along the way.

Four walks are on offer: around the famous Château du Clos de Vougeot (7 km), in the Heart of Burgundy’s Grands Crus from Morey-Saint-Denis (6 km), the Butte de Corton from Pernand-Vergelesses (6 km) or the sentier des Crêtes in Santenay (11 km).

A vineyard to explore

Balades en Bourgogne is available free of charge on the App Store and Google Play.

Map climats de Bourgogne

En route vers les Climats du vignoble de Bourgogne Patrimoine mondial de l’UNESCO

Carte des Climats du vignoble de BourgogneMap des Climats du vignoble de Bourgogne

Montrachet, Romanée-Conti, Clos de Vougeot, Corton, Musigny, Chevalier-Montrachet, Chambertin… The Climats have given their names to exceptional crus, known the world over.

A vineyard to explore

Set between combes and hills, the Climats du vignoble de Bourgogne form a unique landscape.

On foot, by bike, in a horse-drawn carriage, in a 4×4, by helicopter or in the footsteps of a winemaker, there are a thousand and one ways to discover it.

By bike, find all our tips and good addresses for discovering the Climats du vignoble de Bourgogne around Beaune.

On foot, don’t hesitate to consult all our ideas for walks and hikes, with downloadable maps, topos and GPS routes.

For added comfort, let yourself be guided by a passionate driver-accompanist who will bring SA burgundy to life, thanks to our selection of winetours.

For vineyard adventurers, you’ll know it all by reading our blog article “Visiter le vignoble autrement”.

Organize

your visit

Route des Grands Crus

A heritage to discover

Over the centuries, men have inscribed the Climats in the landscape and in the limestone, creating low walls and cabottes, wineries and winegrowers’ houses, cellars and celliers, churches and hospices, palaces and châteaux. Discover them all with guided tours of Beaune and the Côte de Beaune wine villages.

Winegrowing villages

As the heart of wine production, each village has its own remarkable heritage: winegrower housing, vineyard complexes, as well as numerous cellars, wineries and wine presses, some of which date back to the Middle Ages. The best way to discover them is to stroll the old streets and push open the doors of the cellars…Discover the villages of the Beaune region.

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Aloxe-Corton

Pommard

Meursault

Château de Santenay

Museums and emblematic sites

Must-see: the Hospices de Beaune (Hôtel-Dieu)

Our selection: the Musée du Vin, the Musée des Beaux-Arts de Beaune, the Maison des Climats and the famous Château du Clos de Vougeot.

From €12Full price

Hôtel Dieu – Hospices de Beaune

HEALTH

Beaune

Musée du Vin de Bourgogne

MÉTIERS

Beaune

Musée des Beaux-Arts de Beaune

HISTOORY

Beaune

Château du Clos de Vougeot

CHÂTEAU

Vougeot

Wines to taste

The wine houses, cellars, cuveries and wine cellars

Many of which date back to the Middle Ages, and can be discovered in unusual places such as the bastions of the ramparts, former convents or the cellars of the canons of Notre-Dame… at the heart of a veritable network of underground cellars. Here are our favorites.

Tasting and oenology

Want to learn about wine tasting? Better understand the terroirs, appellations and subtleties of Burgundy wines? Or simply spend a convivial moment around carefully selected wines?

Follow the guide.

Cellar toursCellar tours

Major events

3rd weekend in January: the Saint-Vincent Tournante

3rd Sunday in November: the Hospices de Beaune Wine Auction is the high point of a weekend of festivities

The Monday following the Wine Auction: the Paulée de Meursault

PRATIQUE: Download the brochure “En route vers les Climats du vignoble de Bourgogne”