Things To Do in Autun

Autun was an important Roman link on the road from Lyon to Boulogne. A legacy of that period is the 17m (56-ft.) high Porte d’Arroux, once the city’s northern gate, which has two archways now used for cars and smaller ones used for pedestrians. Also exceptional is the Porte St-André (St. Andrew’s Gate), northwest of the Roman theater. Rising 20m (66 ft.), it has four doorways and is surmounted by a gallery of 10 arcades.

After visiting Autun (if you have a car), you can tour winery Domaine Maurice Protheau, Château d'Etroyes, in Mercurey, 40km (25 miles) southeast along D978 (tel. 03-85-45-10-84). Among the selections are at least two appellations contrôlées (a regulation system that ensures a wine has been produced where the bottle says), so you'll have a chance to immerse yourself in the subtle differences between reds (pinot noir), whites (chardonnay), and rosés produced under the auspices of Rully and Mercurey. The headquarters of the winery, founded in the 1720s, is a château built in the 1700s and early 1800s. Free tours of the cellars are offered Monday through Friday, in French, Italian, and English,  from 9am to noon and 4pm to 8:30pm (call ahead to confirm). Wine tastings are available. 

5 kilometers (3.1 miles) away, you can visit the Château de Rully, site of the Domaine de la Bressande (tel. 03-85-87-20-89), a well-respected producer of white and some red burgundies. Originally built in the 12th century as a stronghold for the comte de Ternay, it offers tours to the public for 8€. The owner prefers that you visit the château as part of a group of at least twelve, but you can call ahead to arrange for a smaller group visit. Individuals can visit in July and August Sundays-Saturdays from 11am to 7pm, but this offering is more limited than the group tour.