Greeters on the Route des Grands Crus de Bourgogne. |

Another way to discover Burgundy

Greeters are volunteer locals who love their area and invite you to discover their village, their vineyard or their landscape as they experience it on a daily basis. There’s no fixed agenda here: just chat, stroll, observe and take your time.
On the Route des Grands Crus de Bourgogne, these encounters take on a very special dimension, between wine heritage, the UNESCO-listed Climats du vignoble de Bourgogne, emblematic villages and the Burgundian art of living.

Chassagne Montrachet seen from the sky on the Route des Grands Crus de Bourgogne — ©Bivb Aurelien Ibanez

Corton hill — ©Alain Doire - BFC - Colline de Corton|Alain DOIRE / BFC Tourisme

Greeters of the Beaune region

Between vineyards, golden stones and the art of living

The Greeters of the Pays Beaunois reflect all the richness and diversity of this emblematic area of the Burgundy Grands Crus Route. Whether in Beaune or in the authentic villages of the Hautes-Côtes de Beaune, each greeter has his or her own perspective, history and unique way of telling the story of Burgundy. Some have always lived here, while others have left Paris, the UK or even Australia to make the Côte-d’Or their permanent home.
According to their wishes – and yours – they enthusiastically share their favourite places, their anecdotes and their love of the region. It’s up to you to choose the Greeter that’s right for you… and discover Burgundy from the perspective of a local.

*If you would like to choose your “Greeter”, please indicate this in the “Tell us about yourself” section of the form.

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Christian is interested in what Beaune has to offer, discovering its curiosities, anecdotes and historical heritage.

A Beaune resident by adoption since 1975, he has often travelled the length and breadth of the town in search of details that will give him a better understanding of it.

On this fun walk through the medieval streets, he’ll take you on a tour of the town’s remarkable landmarks and help you imagine the lives of the people of Beaune and how their heritage has evolved.

A former winegrower and a generous man, Michel loves explaining the day-to-day aspects of the winegrowing profession, a job he learned on the job from his father and grandmother: the technical gestures, the passing seasons, the work on the vines or the ins and outs of the appellations…. With Michel, there’s no doubt that the vines of Meursault will hold no secrets for you!

A native of Beaune by adoption, born in Marseille, he loves cars, cycling and his home town. From the South he has kept the ‘bagout’, from Beaune he knows the secrets. With him, you’ll push open the town’s hidden doors, andhear all the little stories that made up the big story… He’ll show you Beaune in the footsteps of Louis Chevrolet, founder of the car company of the same name.

Sophie adopted Burgundy out of love for her husband, a native of Beaune. A keen cook, for several years she has been collecting and publishing recipes from the inhabitants of Baubigny, the picturesque village in the Hautes-Côtes de Beaune where she has settled. Her smile and joie de vivre will win you over, as will the walks she suggests between Baubigny and Evelle, through narrow streets and gardens…

Let us tell you all about Orches, a pretty little village full of character overlooking the Côte de Beaune vineyards, and take a stroll (or a hike for the more sporty) in Anny’s company. As you discover Burgundy’s heritage and urban and vernacular architecture, she’ll tell you all about her love affair with this little corner of paradise with its superb panorama.

Whether you prefer a relaxed stroll or a more challenging hike, Philippe will help you discover HIS MOUNTAIN. He’ll tell you how Beaune’s “mountain” is considered by some to be the “Beverly Hills” of Beaune, the wooded hill overlooking the town. This generous, straight-talking man will regale you with his anecdotes and his knowledge of this cherished place.

Anita takes a sensitive look at the ramparts of Beaune. She takes a tour of the ramparts, sharing her passion for them and her personal history. As a little girl, she knewthe Théâtre de Verdure when we still went to the “bains-douches”; as a young woman, she used to go dancing in the old Lycée Jules Ferry. Today, she loves wandering along these stone paths whose colour changes with the hours, and whose secrets she knows all about.

A lifelong lover of his town, he returned after years in Paris. He’ll tell you how the people of Beaune almost fought a revolution to change the direction of traffic on the streets of Hell and Paradise! But above all, he’ll tell you all about his favourite addresses in the town centre and the history of the famous Corton hill.

Philipp is British and, as is often the case with foreigners in France, he knows a thing or two about Burgundy! He fell in love with the region and the village of Monthelie years ago, and has settled there to spend a very active retirement. He loves to share his passion for the history of winegrowing, and will be the perfect companion as you stroll through this winegrowing village on the Côte de Beaune.

The Côte de Nuits Greeters

Where Pinot Noir writes the legend

By following the Route des Grands Crus de Bourgogne, visitors will be carried away by the aromas and flavours of the great appellations. The more curious sometimes leave the main route to explore the Hautes-Côtes de Nuits, a land of confidential vineyards, blackcurrant cultivation and emblematic red berries. Out of sight, the Burgundy Truffle also hides in the most secret corners of the region, adding a gourmet touch to the adventure.

Heritage enthusiasts can extend their discovery along the Côte de Nuits, dotted with major sites such as the Château du Clos de Vougeot and Cîteaux Abbey, veritable pillars of Burgundy’s winegrowing history.

*If you would like to choose your “Greeter”, please indicate this in the “Tell us about yourself” section of the form.

Sign up for a "Greeters" tour of the Côte de Nuits

Originally from Villers-la-Faye,Anne is passionate about human interaction and communication. She knows her village like the back of her hand and tells her story with enthusiasm. A host of anecdotes punctuate her walk, bringing a very personal perspective to this astonishing discovery.

Bénédict will walk with you, at a reasonable pace, through the hills, woods and vineyards of the Pays Nuiton, explaining the landscapes of the Hautes Côtes de Nuits through the subsoil, the work of man and the climate.

Born in Angers, he married into Burgundy. A keen walker, he loves exploring the vineyards around Nuits-Saint-Georges along the Grands Crus trails and the monks’ circuit, admiring the scenery and discovering the local flora.

Marie-Jeanne will tell you all about the history and traditions of her village of Saint-Nicolas-les-Cîteaux. Starting with its creation by the monks, the surrounding countryside, the specimens and curiosities of the local flora that only the locals know about… A change of scenery guaranteed!

Danièle is a winemaker at Villers-la-Faye, in the Hautes Côtes de Nuits, and took over the estate at the end of 2008. She has travelled extensively and takes great pleasure in meeting new people. She’ll take you along the village paths through forests, fields and vineyards. She’ll tell you all about her history and her job.

Originally from Normandy, now a Burgundian convert! André lives in Reulle-Vergy in the Hautes-Côtesde Nuits and is passionate about the history and built heritage of this exceptional “Pays de Vergy” from the 10th to the 18th centuries. It’s an inescapable wealth of heritage that he loves to share.

Become a Greeter, meet a Greeter Contacts & useful info

For all information relating to the “Burgundian for a day” network, please contact the relevant Tourist Office directly.