Getting There
If you're driving, note that Beaune is a few miles from the junction of four highways -- A6, A31, A36, and N6. Beaune has good railway connections with Dijon, Lyon, and Paris. From Paris's Gare de Lyon, there are 14 TGV trains per day (trip time: 2 hr.; one-way fare 45€-55€/$65-$80); from Lyon, 10 trains per day (trip time: 1 1/2 hr.; 21€/$30 one-way); and from Dijon, 26 trains per day (trip time: 35 min.; 6.50€/$9.45). For train information and schedules, call tel. 08-92-35-35-35.
Visitor Information
The Office de Tourisme is at 1 rue de l'Hotel-Dieu (tel. 03-80-26-21-30; fax 03-80-26-21-39; www.ot-beaune.fr).
Special Events
The town comes to life during the third weekend in November, when wine buyers and oenophiles from the world over descend on the old town for a 3-day festival and wine auction called Les Trois Glorieuses. The town is packed with wineries offering dégustations priced from 20€ to 35€ ($29-$51) for "several" glasses each of a different wine vintage -- and with tourists visiting the labyrinth of caves and wine cellars. With all the free spirits (both kinds), visitors crowding the streets can be more than a bit tipsy.
