Bourgogne – Burgundy
Bourgogne is now part of Bourgone-Franche-Comté, one of the 13 new regions created by the territorial reform implemented on January 1, 2016.
Although historically important, Bourgogne became an administrative region during the 20th century.
It comprises four departments:
Côte-d’Or (21 – Dijon), Nièvre (58 – Nevers), Saône-et-Loire (71 – Mâcon), and Yonne (89 – Auxerre).
Dijon is the administrative centre, or préfecture.
Other major cities include Chalon-sur-Saône, Nevers, Auxerre, Mâcon, Sens, Le Creusot, Beaune, Montceau-les-Mines, and Autun.
Creation of the Kingdom of Bourgogne
The Burgundians, a Germanic people, gave their name to the region. After the fall of the Roman Empire at the end of the 5th century, they indeed invaded what is now French-speaking Switzerland and southeastern France. However, the Franks annexed their territory to the Kingdom of France in 534 AD, giving rise to the Bourgogne, which in the 8th century became part of Charlemagne’s Holy Roman Empire. The Treaty of Verdun in 843 AD divided Charlemagne’s empire into three kingdoms, shared among his grandsons. The Duché de Bourgogne was created in 880. Dijon was the capital of this feudal fiefdom, which was fully integrated into the Kingdom of France in 1477. The former duchy roughly corresponds to modern-day Bourgogne, with the exception of the Nièvre department.
Geography and economy
The northern and eastern parts of Bourgogne are covered with vast plains, while the central area features limestone plateaus renowned for their vineyards. This central area also includes forests such as the Morvan, an ancient forest massif now designated a regional natural park. To the south, the landscape extends to the foothills of the Massif Central, where the Mâconnais region is dedicated to mixed farming, livestock breeding, and viticulture.
Approximately 60% of Bourgogne’s land is devoted to agriculture, primarily the cultivation of cereals and oil-seeds, and employs 5% of the population. Burgundy is recognised as the second-largest producer of beef in France, particularly for the quality of its Charolais beef. Viticulture also plays a major role, with vineyards covering nearly 31,000 hectares spread across the Beaune, Chalon, Mâcon, Chablis, and Beaujolais appellations.
However, despite its vast size, Bourgogne is sparsely populated, with the majority of its inhabitants concentrated along major transport routes such as the Saône Valley, from Chalon-sur-Saône to Mâcon, and in the capital, Dijon. Located at the confluence of continental, Mediterranean, and oceanic climate zones, the region enjoys a predominantly temperate climate.
Some of the region’s tourist sites
The region is also renowned for its gastronomy, as well as its rich historical and architectural heritage, which includes:
- The site of the Battle of Alesia, where Julius Caesar besieged Vercingetorix and his warriors in 52 BC.
- The Abbey of Cluny, which in the 10th century was the greatest spiritual and intellectual centre in Europe.
- La Roche de Solutré, a limestone plateau overlooking Solutré-Pouilly, is renowned for its Pouilly-Fuissé wine. This site, inhabited for over 55,000 years, has yielded a multitude of artefacts, leading to the designation of a Paleolithic period bearing its name: the Solutrean. The site’s limestone soil also triggered the development of a specific flora, unique to the plateau
- The Photography Museum of Chalon-sur-Saône, a popular tourist destination, situated in the birthplace of of Joseph Nicéphore Niépce, the inventor of photography.
- The Morvan region and its verdant landscapes are ideal for eco-tourism and outdoor activities.
How to get there?
Bourgogne benefits from a strategic location on the Rhône-Rhine axis, ensuring excellent connectivity thanks to an excellent road and rail network.
- By Air: The region is served by several airports, including Dijon-Bourgogne Airport (DIJ) and Lyon-Saint Exupéry Airport (LYS). Lyon airport is the largest in the region and offers a wider selection of flight. From the airport, you can rent a car or take the train to reach your destination within Burgundy.
- By Train: The French rail network, operated by SNCF, offres connections to major cities. The TGV connects Dijon to Paris, Lausanne, Berne, Montpellier and Marseille. The Rhine-Rhône high-speed line (LGV) connects Dijon to the rest of Europe!
- By Car: If you prefer flexibility and independence, renting a car is a practical option. Bourgogne is well-served by the French motorway network, making it easily accessible by road. is well-served by the French motorway network, making it easily accessible by road.
- By Bus: Bus services also operate in Bourgogne, connecting small towns and villages. Some long-distance bus companies offer connections to the region’s main cities from other parts of France.
Area:31 582 km21
Population: 641 130 (2012)
Photos via Wikimedia Commons: Map by Oie blanche CC BY-SA 4.0 – Vineyard and Header by Benoît Prieur (1975–) CC0
