Burgundy Day Trips from Domaine de Cromey: Visit Autun
Take A Burgundy Day Trip to The City of Autun
Burgundy Day Trips
Domaine de Cromey is our place in Burgundy – the home of Elden Selections, where we’ve made memories for over thirty years. It’s also the home of Elden Selections in Burgundy. In our cellar, you’ll fund many of the wines you can see in our wine shop at BurgundyWine.com.
But Domaine de Cromey isn’t just for us to enjoy – it’s open to you and all of our customers to come and see and stay with us. It makes the perfect base for a holiday in Burgundy, and we guarantee you won’t find a better place to indulge your passion for Burgundy wine, food and hospitality on some stunning Burgundy day trips. Here’s just a few reasons why.
Cromey sits in a peaceful vale south-west of the wine capital of Burgundy – the world-famous town of Beaune, itself well worth a visit, with its famous Hospice de Beaune where the legendary wine auctions are held each year. Cromey was once known as a Chateau by the locals from the sixteenth century onwards, as did the Lords of Cromey, who used it as their winery to keep wines from the surrounding vineyards. But the place was always better described as a sort of baronial farm than a residence – a feel which we have kept to this day. You can still see the incredible giant wine press in our dining room, and the vast vaulted cellars underneath. But in recent years we’ve added a more contemporary feel to some parts of the building, catering for modern visitors. For example, there’s now a tasting room (where better to taste our wines than mere meters from where the grapes were grown?) We now have an outdoor pool for soaking up the warm French sun when you return from your day trips in Burgundy, a well-stocked library, and a luxurious salon with a baby grand piano.
At Home With Our Vines
The Cathedral of Saint Lazarus of Autun
Better still, we now have our very own vineyard which we’re making wine from! Cromey sits within the Couches commune in the arrondissement of Autun, and so we feel a particular attachment to the wines of this region. Indeed, our very own vineyard in the grounds of Cromey is within this up-and-coming appellation. In 2023 we celebrated our first wines, made in partnership with Domaine Ami, the fruits of our labor in our seven acres of Chardonnay and Pinot Noir, which we call Clos de Chateau. If you visit, you’re welcome there any time to see the next crop growing and maybe even lend a hand…
But one of the best reasons to visit us is for what lies just beyond the vineyard walls – the rest of Burgundy, a stone’s throw away! Think of Domaine de Cromey as the gateway to some of the most fascinating attractions in all of France. In this article, we’ll focus on just one – a cultured Burgundy day trip to the town of Autun, a historic commune located in the Saône-et-Loire department of Burgundy.
Lights, Fireworks, Action!
From Cromey’s location in Saint-Sernin-du-Plain, it’s just a 30-minute drive north-west to find this town famous for its art and history. There really is something for everything in this gem of a town. If you’re into history and drama, then this is the Burgundy day trip for you. In summer the Autun Roman amphitheatre plays host to a magical extravaganza of lights, sounds and fireworks featuring actors and volunteers alike. Like so many things in Burgundy, it represents a journey back in time and shows how these great towns can connect visitors with past and present in one experience.
No Burgundy town would be complete without an achingly beautiful cathedral, and Autun is no different, with the famous Cathédrale Saint-Lazare. It showcases the famous glazed Burgundy rooftiles that you may have seen, and is located near to some of the best restaurants in the area. After all, Burgundy is known as the ‘stomach of France’, and is regularly listed as one of the world’s most important gastronomic hubs.
Pyramids, Temples and Castles
Other places which should be on the bucket list of any history buff include the Pyramid of Couhard – the remains of a pyramid which was probably built in the first century as a funeral monument.
There’s also the Janus Temple, a building from the 3rd century but only excavated recently. Best of all, there are some excellent guided tours to allow you to see all of these places, for example, this tour of the castles of Grand Autunois Morvan.
On Your Bike!
Of course, driving around is not the only way to make day trips in Burgundy, as pleasant as it is. You could also get on your bike and take a leisurely cycle ride, at your own pace, entirely emission-free, and get fit in the process. With more than 2,900 kilometers of cycle paths to discover in Burgundy, whether that is through the Morvan Mountains, or along the Nivernais Canal, or Canal de Bourgogne, there’s a route for all abilities.
But let’s talk about wine for a moment – probably one of the main reasons you’re reading this blog. Autun is part of the Couchois wine appellation, which is not one you may have heard of much, if at all. But that’s why Elden Selections exists – to prospect for the best small producers at the most affordable prices, and bring them to you, the discerning customer! We know the best here because we travel around, tasting the best wines, meeting the best producers, and bringing their best bottles to you. The eponymous centre of this appellation is the town of Couches with its castle – the Château de Couches with its truly excellent guided audio tours (which is perhaps another Burgundy day trip for another day...) Then there are six communes producing wines in this region: Saint-Sernin-du-Plain, Saint-Pierre-de-Varennes, St-Maurice-lès-Cruches, Saint-Jean-de-Trézy, and Dracy-lès-Couches. They produce superb wines from about 8 hectares of the Pinot Noir grape.
The Best of Our Small Producers
We recommend two wines from one of our best small producers, the Domaine Royet, to enjoy on your Burgundy day trip to Autun. Located in the heart of the Côtes du Couchois, this family estate extends over 14 hectares (nearly 34 acres). The vines are planted on steep slopes at the foot of the Château of Couches. Combining tradition and modernity, the Domaine Royet produces wines that express the unique subsoils of this corner of Burgundy. Vincent Royet today works with his father, Jean-Claude, being the third and fourth generations to exploit the domain. No day trip in Burgundy in complete without a visit to one of these local producers. They’re used to welcoming people and will usually be more than happy to show you their cellars and vineyards. Their Couchois wines include:
Domaine Royet Bourgogne Cote de Couchois 'Expression' – This will give you aromas of black fruits, blackberry and cassis. Then come the licorice, vanilla, and clean woody notes. You’ll get full fruit flavors with spices enveloped in velvety tannins.
Domaine Royet Bourgogne Cotes du Couchois – this wine has a beautiful bright ruby tone, with fresh and intense black fruits, a light and toasty wood, and a good, mouthwatering acid base. Good length, and fine, smooth tannins.
Look out for more ideas of towns, villages and events to discover near to Domaine de Cromey, the home of Burgundy day trips. In the meantime, why not Book your Burgundy getaway now? We would love to welcome you and your loved ones into the heart of Burgundy for the vacation of a lifetime.
Discover more on the Burgundywine.com blog, where you can read about the surprising benefits of low-yield wines, explore everything you need to know about the Chardonnay grape, and read about more of our Burgundy day trip recommendations. You can also join our fabulous Burgundy Wine Club by following this link.
