The treasures of North Burgundy / 10 days

Day 1 Arrival
You arrive in Auxerre, a Town of Art and History, which has preserved an exceptional architectural heritage through the ages: St Etienne's Cathedral, a model of Gothic elegance, St Germain's Abbey, a virtually intact monastic complex with its 9th-century crypts, one of which contains one of the oldest wall paintings discovered in France.

Day 2 Auxerre - Montigny-la-Resle 29 km
After strolling through the streets of the old town, you leave Auxerre by bike and soon find yourself on small country roads. 20 km further on, you'll see Pontigny Abbey, the largest and one of the most beautiful Cistercian churches in France. After a visit to the abbey, you finish your stopover in Montigny la Resle, in a charming hotel with an excellent gourmet restaurant. Quite a programme for this first day.

Day 3 Montigny-la-Resle - Noyers-sur-Serein 40 km
As you leave Montigny, you can already see the vineyards of the Chablis appellation, the largest single-appellation white wine vineyard in France. After a visit to Chablis and a tasting of its wines, the tour continues through the Serein Valley, passing through some superb villages in the south of the Chablis vineyards and the medieval market town of Noyers-sur-Serein with its Museum of Naïve Art. Noyers has preserved its fortifications and timber-framed houses.

Day 4 Noyers - Ancy-le-Franc 58 km
After visiting Noyers-sur-Serein, the tour continues to Tonnerre: a small town with a 12th-century Hôtel Dieu and the Fosse Dionne, a 33-metre-deep spring right in the heart of the town.
After lunch, you leave Tonnerre, passing through fields and a small forest as far as Tanlay. There is time for a short visit to the Renaissance château at Tanlay, and you then set off for Ancy-le-Franc, where you spend the night.

Day 5 Ancy-le-Franc - Montbard 30 km
Don't leave Ancy-le-Franc before visiting the famous Renaissance Château, designed by the architect Serlio. (Approximately one hour's visit). Next, drive along the superb Canal de Bourgogne. It's so much fun to drive along this small road and pass barges and boats. Continue along the towpath to Montbard.

Day 6 Montbard - Semur-en-Auxois 64 km
First you follow the towpath, passing 37 locks in 12.7 kilometres! Along the Canal de Bourgogne, you pass through Alesia, where Caesar built 2 parallel lines of defence around the hill to hold back Vercingetorix. You then leave the Canal de Bourgogne and pass through the peaceful countryside of Semur-en-Auxois.

Day 7 Semur-en-Auxois - Avallon 56 km
Today's route takes you through extraordinary landscapes and picturesque little villages. Pass through the medieval hamlet of Montréal and arrive in Avallon, a pretty old town with 12th-century walls perched on a rocky outcrop. It's a pleasure to stroll through the historic quarter.

Day 8 Avallon - Escolives-Ste-Camille 70 km
Passing through small villages and secondary roads, you reach Vézelay. One of the finest views in Burgundy awaits you here, near the Basilica of Sainte Madeleine, a masterpiece of Romanesque art and a UNESCO World Heritage Site. After a short climb through the Bois de la Madeleine, you reach the Yonne Valley, and follow the river and the Canal du Nivernais. You will pass through some very pretty places, including Châtel-Censoir, Le Saussois and its rock-climbing crags, and Mailly-le-Château. Today's stage ends in Escolives Ste Camille, very close to an archaeological site, and you will be welcomed at a wine estate where you will also find your bed and breakfast.

Day 9 Escolives-Ste-Camille - Auxerre 33 km
Burgundy is known as the "water table of France". The rivers are interconnected by an extraordinary system of canals. You ride alongside the water and then leave this landscape behind to pass through the wine-growing villages of the Auxerrois region: Irancy, Saint-Bris-le-Vineux and Bailly. In Bailly, you enter the "Centre of the Earth", a huge cellar where the famous Crémant de Bourgogne is made, which you will have the pleasure of tasting. You will then make your way to Auxerre along the Canal du Nivernais.

Day 10 Departure