Pommard to Beaune - Route des Grands Crus

Start: Church square in Pommard on Rue de la Mairie.

Access: If accessing the walk by car there is parking in the centre of Pommard near the Mairie or an infrequent bus service. It is a linear one way walk but return to the start would be fairly easy along a direct short flat route back or by bus.

(S) Start at the church square in Pommard and walk out through the village along Rue Notre Dame and turn right along Rue du Charmillot up (North-East) a steep slope into the vineyards till you reach a stretch of multiple junctions all within a short distance of each other. At these junctions, keep uphill following several Yellow/Red (YR) signs.

(1) Eventually at the final junction fork left straight on up the hill. After a long climb up the road (Northward) there is a small car park and barrier at the top. Go through the barrier to join a track. Proceed straight on and then there are several routes through the woods – either across or round the loop - but they all come to a yellow Pays Beaunois sign.

(2) At this sign for Pays Beaunois take the smallest path on the opposite side of the junction to the sign and you will see as usual YR markers and walk 300m until you each a sharp right turn. After turning right continue on this narrow stony path past a blue and red sign on a tree and keep left here to reach a junction.

(3) Turn right (South) down a wide track downhill to a left turn and then immediately right and then continue down hill until you reach a sign towards Beaune (2.8 Km) on your left.

(4) Turn left towards Beaune and follow until you reach a T-junction with Chemin des Sizies.

(5) You are near the edge of Beaune. Turn right and either carry on the RDGC into Beaune (see below). or choose a circular walk and return on the circular walk by turning right on the cycle path road back to Pommard . This route leads you all the way back on a quick straight flat road to the start of the walk in Pommard village where you can enjoy your sandwich lunch on a bench in the church square or proceed down the street to cafes and wine tasting near the D973 .

If you want to complete the full RDGC walk towards Beaune, simply keep following the pointers and YR signs towards the Parc de la Bouzaise, eventually reaching the suburban streets of outer Beaune by coming down from the fields through the Porte des Aveaux stone posts. Then pick up the Velo-route through Rue de Verottes into Rue de Sceaux. following this across the D970 Avenue Charles Jaffelin, and Avenue du Parc which leads you to the gates of the Bouzaises park.

At the end point, at the gates, you can either have a welcome lunch sitting by the lake or find the nearest bus stop to return to Pommard or into the centre to stay in the historic city of Beaune. (E)

Start: Church square in Pommard on Rue de la Mairie.

Access: If accessing the walk by car there is parking in the centre of Pommard near the Mairie or an infrequent bus service. It is a linear one way walk but return to the start would be fairly easy along a direct short flat route back or by bus.

Transport:
From the end point, you can take a bus stop to return to Pommard.

Dog policy: Dog allowed

Note : Take lots of water and sun-protection.

Refreshments:
For food of course you can visit cafes in the towns but for on-route picnic lunches we recommend buying their lovely baguette sandwiches, quiches or fruit tarts at the patisseries before setting off. Remember the concept of the village country pub doesn't really exist in France!

More information about the series of walks along the Route de Grand Cru as a whole can be found in the Walk 1 of the series
or the overall multi walk Route des Grands Crus including more about signage, wine tasting etc

If you go into Beaune there is the famous medieval hospital and wine museums

The wines: if you are wine tasting on a budget as many Visorando walkers may be, our advice is to find a cave or cellar with free tastings where even if you taste one expensive wine from a named village you might perhaps buy that one but also two cheaper but still great wines like the generic Bourgogne or Haute Côtes de Beaune or Nuits. Or try wine by the glass with your evening meal in the restaurant and then buy your emerging favourite from the supermarket! If you can afford a bit more, try a paid for tour of a Cave and perhaps a Premier Cru (but the Grand Cru may be out of reach!)