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France's
Burgundy Walk
For
much of its history, Burgundy was a powerful and independent
state. There is a strong sense of pride in Burgundy's
regional identity. Burgundy was once a great Celtic kingdom
ruled over by Vercingetorix, the last of France's great
Celtic kings. Vercingetorix made the mistake of fighting
the Romans rather than negotiating. Unfortunately, he
was opposed by the Roman general, Julius Caesar and his
crack legions. The drama ended with Caesar triumphant
and Vercingetorix brought to Rome in chains and executed.
From then on, France was to be dominated by Latin influences
at the expense of Celtic influence.
Today, Burgundy is one of the richest regions of France
and its historic towns and cities are the product
of many centuries of civilization. The region is best
known for producing some of the world's finest wines.
But for the student of art, architecture, or history,
Burgundy is also a feast.
Our walk takes you through some of the most famous
and beautiful towns and villages of Burgundy. Your
walk starts in Auxerre, the capitol of lower Burgundy,
and a sleepy little town on the banks of the Yonne
River. This is a beautiful town with the Cathedral
St. Etienne dominating the skyline and famous polychrome
roofs on many buildings.
You will also visit the wine center town of Chablis.
This quaint little stone town is at the northernmost
point of the great Burgundy vineyards. You will get
a chance to sample the excellent cuisine of this region
and try the wine in one of the town's excellent restaurants.
But the walk is of interest to nature lovers also.
As Burgundy is one of the great watershed regions
of France, there is a wide variety of wildlife in
the area and the plant life is impressive.
Your accommodations will be in a combination of Bed-and-Breakfasts
and hotels and are equipped with private bathrooms.
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