The Heart Of France – Burgundy

It is called the ‘heart’ of France; given its location on the map of France. It is said that if you were to hold the map of France and turn 180 degrees, the location of Burgundy would be close to where your heart is. It is called Burgundy by the Englishmen of UK; but in reality it is but Bourgogne, which is one of the 26 regions of France.

Burgundy, The Land Of Fine Art and Living

Describing it as one of the most fascinating regions of the French lands isn’t doing any justice to this place. It is but the Land of fine art and living. The pace of life isn’t too slow to bore you, neither is it so fast that it whizzes past you. It somehow manages to fit into that in-between cozy place that’s oh-so-perfect. The 2 secrets of a good life are something that is available in abundance here – good food and good wine!

Burgundy Wine

Their wines are perhaps (arguably) the best in the world. Beaune, Chablis, Gevrey-Chambertin; and these are just some of the names that come to mind. You will find extensive plantations of Pinot Noir and Chardonnay grapes in this region. They are used to create the fantastic wines (red and white) which are made here.

The Burgundy Canal

One of the biggest changes for the people of Burgundy was the construction of the Burgundy Canal or Le Canal de Bourgogne as they call it. The hundreds and thousands of hamlets that are located in the region have undergone an evolution of sorts owing to this canal. It is a master-piece of pre-industrial technology; and spans over more than 250 km in length. Believe it or not, it took over 2 centuries to construct.

The main reason behind which this canal has changed so much about this region is that – because of the construction of the canal, this region is no longer seen as some rural agricultural area. It is seen as a great state which is host to a navigable route of water, which is responsible for the connection of the north of Europe and the Mediterranean Sea.

Burgundy Cycle Tour

During the last few years, Burgundy has invested in creating an extensive network of family-friendly cycle routes along its entire stretch. The idea was to encourage locals and tourists to ditch motored vehicles; and take to cycling instead. Not only does it help reduce pollution; but gives you health benefits as well. 600 km of only-cycle tracks and 800 km of designated cycling paths sure make for one promising trip!

Remove any pictures that you may have of yourself sweating on a bicycle. The emphasis is on cool relaxation; with ‘gentle’ being the keyword. The basic idea is to enjoy the city and absorb all that it has to offer to you.