Bill's Aviation Log

French dessert; not too shabby! I think we're gonna like it here.

But the inner courtyard was impressive. This building housed an operating room, kitchen, pharmacy and laboratory.

Of course, everything in those days was closely involved with the church.

It only took a few hours to see Beaune so Lynnette and I hopped into the car and headed south into wine country. We drove the vineyard loop south of Beaune which went by several of Burgundy's best vineyards. We didn't stop to do any wine tasting though.

One of the things to see in the south vineyard loop was the Chateau de la Rochepot. It wasn't too hard to find.

You can see the family did a great job of rebuilding it, because this is what it looked like before.

Lynnette reading in the peaceful courtyard.

We continued on the vineyard loop and stopped at this picturesque overlook. That's the village of St-Romain below.

But it was around 2PM or so and both town restaurants were closed. A little food store was open, though, so we bought some food and drinks, sat down in the village square and had a nice lunch.

Not ready to call it a day, we headed east to Dijon. We toured the Dijon Cathedral (Cathedrals Saint-Benigne), then had some beers at an Irish pub across the street. There is also a Notre Dame Cathedral in Dijon but we didn't go see it.

France, June 2016 - Burgundy
We left Le Bourget Airport, headed south towards Paris, got on the beltway around the eastern side of Paris, then got on the A6 highway headed southeast. We were headed for the Burgundy area; specifically, the town of Beaune (pronouced "Bone"). Soon after leaving the Paris beltway we were driving through the France countryside, which seemed empty -- nothing but green fields and woods. The fields didn't even look like they were being farmed. It was very scenic though. Once in a while you would see a little village. Then once we saw this. We're not in Maryland anymore!

In Beaune, we checked into our Bed & Breakfast: Chez Marie. The outside doesn't give any clue as to what is on the inside.

The inside was centered on this courtyard garden. The family who ran the B& B lived upstairs. Our room was on the ground level off the courtyard and very nice.

After checking into our Bed & Breakfast, we walked a short distance into town and had our first French dinner. Yay, we're in France!

French dessert; not too shabby! I think we're gonna like it here.

The next morning we went sightseeing in the town of Beaune. Their chief attraction is the Hotel Dieu, a medieval charity hospital. The weather really cleared up from yesterday. The hospital, a "palace for the poor", was established in 1443 by Nicolas Rolin, chancellor to the Duke of Burgandy and his wife, Guigone de Salins, following the Hundred Years' War and the Black Death plague. The outside doesn't look like much.

But the inner courtyard was impressive. This building housed an operating room, kitchen, pharmacy and laboratory.

The Great Hall of the Poor. It looks more like a church than a hospital ward. Those structures along each side are the patient beds. Almost like little rooms. The ceiling was very ornate.

People who had money stayed in a different building.

Of course, everything in those days was closely involved with the church.

The outside of the Great Hall.

Beaune's cathedral, the Collegiale Notre-Dame, built in the 12th and 13th centuries.

Downtown Beaune.

It only took a few hours to see Beaune so Lynnette and I hopped into the car and headed south into wine country. We drove the vineyard loop south of Beaune which went by several of Burgundy's best vineyards. We didn't stop to do any wine tasting though.



One of the things to see in the south vineyard loop was the Chateau de la Rochepot. It wasn't too hard to find.

Lynnette storms the drawbridge! Notice the Pot family coat of arms.

The inner courtyard.

Another side of the courtyard.



"They started building the castle during the end of the Middle Ages (when castles were built to defend) and was complated during the Rennaissance (when castles were transformed into luxury homes). The castle was ransacked during the French Revolution. After that, it was used as a quarry until being purchased by a local family and rebuilt."

You can see the family did a great job of rebuilding it, because this is what it looked like before.

This gives you an idea how thick the castle walls were.

This little village sits at the base of the castle.

Lynnette checks out the village.

Lynnette reading in the peaceful courtyard.

A look at the courtyard from one of the towers.

We continued on the vineyard loop and stopped at this picturesque overlook. That's the village of St-Romain below.

We stopped in the village of Meursault to have lunch.

But it was around 2PM or so and both town restaurants were closed. A little food store was open, though, so we bought some food and drinks, sat down in the village square and had a nice lunch.

We still had time so we decided to check out the Chateauneuf En-Auxois northeast of Beaune. On the way we intersected the Burgundy Canal.

It turns out that the Chateauneuf En-Auxois was the same chateau we had passed on the highway yesterday! Chateauneuf means New Castle. It was a medieval castle built in 1132.

Unfortunately, the castle was closed today so we couldn't go inside.

The moat.

Not ready to call it a day, we headed east to Dijon. We toured the Dijon Cathedral (Cathedrals Saint-Benigne), then had some beers at an Irish pub across the street. There is also a Notre Dame Cathedral in Dijon but we didn't go see it.


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France, June 2016 - Burgundy