Activities
Domaine de Cromey is the heart of Burgundy. Not only are our Burgundy House Parties justifiably renowned for culinary excellence—cuisine and wine being our formative force—they are also an immersion in the region’s history, culture, and traditions. It’s a lifetime of experience that lets you see Burgundy with Burgundian eyes.
A Burgundy House Party lets you choose what you see and what you do during your stay at Cromey. In addition to the varied itinerary that a House Party offers, here are some of the other tempting activities that might be built into your stay.
Tours
A Burgundy House Party will show you a Burgundy that tourists never see. From Dijon, south through the Cote d’Or wine region via the ‘route des Grands Crus’ and the Clos de Vougeot, into Beaune with its glorious medieval Hospices and cobblestone streets, and down into the cellars of our favorite winemakers, we are never far from home. A morning trip to the Roman ruins and medieval market town of Autun. An evening’s drive to a hilltop windmill to taste wines from the vineyards that lay below. The options are seemingly endless. And our expert guides will craft your itinerary to suit your interests.
Cooking Demonstrations
The kitchen at Cromey is always open. Come on in, and let’s talk food! And if you are an avid cook, our chefs will be happy to arrange cooking sessions to demonstrate recipes and techniques that you can take home with you to impress your friends. Be forewarned, however. Our most popular cooking demo does not take place in the kitchen. Cromey has a beautifully restored bread house with an enormous wood-fired oven. Pizza, of course (the best in the world, we think), but you can also learn wood-fired oven cooking techniques that will astound you. To view recipes from the Domaine de Cromey kitchen, click here. Some of these are from Ellie’s Cookbook, At Home In Burgundy.
Biking
Burgundy is cycling heaven. Beautiful countryside. Countless circuits. Great roads and hardly any traffic. Restaurants as destinations! And what’s more, Burgundy is accessible to any level of cycling you can imagine, from an afternoon outing on the flat Green Way cycle paths that take you into the heart of the wine country; to a morning on electric bikes (the great equalizer) that take you anywhere you want to go; or to serious climbs and day-long itineraries on professional quality equipment. Let our expert tour guides help plan your route and become your chase crew, following in vans as you explore one of the most incredible cycling destinations in Europe.
Ballooning
This has been a ballooning destination for nearly 50 years. And understandably so. Burgundy has great natural beauty. Flights take place early in the morning mist or in the evening when the wind dies down, and the light is perfect. To see Burgundy from the air is to understand its pastoral roots. The vineyards. The river valleys and cliff faces. Pastureland with grazing herds. Villages that come alive as a balloon floats above. Spectacular is the word.
Hiking
There’s no better way to get the lay of the land than to walk through it at your own pace. The French Grande Randonnée (GR) routes propose itineraries that bring Nature right to our front door. There are many marked and maintained hiking trails that pass through Burgundy, and you can join them just outside Cromey’s gate. Whether it’s an hour’s stroll through the vines, an afternoon’s exploration of the surrounding countryside, or a full-blown expedition to join the route to Compostela, it all starts here.
Swimming
Cromey’s heated swimming pool is the perfect way to cool off on a hot day. And the comfortable pool deck overlooking a picturesque valley is the perfect place to simply chill out, catch a few rays or sit in the shade with your favorite book.
Yoga
The tranquility at the heart of the Domaine de Cromey naturally soothes both body and soul—an idyllic setting for the mindful meditation and grounding discipline that is yoga. Our compassionate instructors will guide you through sessions versed in anatomy, philosophy, and spirituality, set in the calm yet energizing peace of the Cromey estate.
Pleasure Walks
A Cromey House Party offers so many choices and options that guests often forget that some of the best of Cromey is right out the back door. You don’t have to go far into the grounds to find a world that belongs to the squirrels and the birds. An early morning solo stroll, or a preprandial amble with friends takes you into the park, where perennial gardens line the path and specimen trees shade the lawns. Cut through the ‘potager’ (vegetable garden) and cross the stream up into the meadow for a view across the estate and vineyards that will linger in your memory.
Tasting Room
It may seem unnecessary to say that we do Wine Tastings! It is, after all, our 'raison d'etre'. But there are wine tastings and wine tastings. And because we at Cromey have access to literally dozens of small-production domaines, we can offer tastings that are more than just a sales pitch for an individual winemaker. Our wine tastings, whether they be spontaneous casual affairs in the 16th century cellars at Cromey, or week-long master classes in the subtleties of Burgundy 'terroir' in the company of our winemaker partners, are didactic. You learn not just the 'what' but the 'why', and we do it in the best way we know: glass in hand!
The Team
The team at Cromey loves what they do. It’s not just unstinting service or meticulous attention to detail. It’s honest hospitality. The love of welcoming and entertaining guests. This is why we call our Cromey stays a ‘house party.’ It’s a recollection of a time gone by when travel was not so quick and easy, when you might visit friends not just for an evening but for a week. And that meant accommodation and service. In the day, a great house would have a superior staff to provide for guests’ every need. That’s us: the Cromey team. We’re here to make your Burgundy house party perfect.