Falling in Love with Burgundy

After a not-so-quiet breakfast, where Noah kept us on our toes and Doug earned brownie points by running out to a bakery for fresh croissants, we headed out for the day.  Set to explore some of the region north west of Beaune we wound our way along the Burgundy Canal through a never ending series of pretty little villages.

Our first real stop was in the beautiful little hilltop village of Chateauneuf-en-Auxois.  With a romantic castle, great views and a cute little stone house on every corner, I can't imagine why this place isn't listed in any of the guidebooks.  Filled with flower-topped stone walls, rustic little wooden doors to mysterious courtyards and vine-covered buildings we would have loved to stay and stop for lunch.  Unfortunately, it was still a little early.

Instead, we had a picnic lunch next to the Canal, where Noah had a chance to run and watch the barges pass by.  Really, how can you go wrong with fresh baguette and cheese at a picnic table by a canal?  The only thing that was missing was a bottle of wine but we saved that pleasure for later in the day.

Knowing the kids patience would only last so long, we only stopped long enough for a panoramic view of beautiful Semur-en-Auxois. This is only one of several beautiful towns we hope to come back and visit again later in the week.

Our biggie for the day was the Abbey of Fontenay, a place of peace and serenity, where monks worshipped for centuries ... until Noah came along!

Founded in 1118, the Abbey was at its peak between the 12th and 15th centuries but was still active until it was confiscated during the French Revolution.  It is now privately owned with all the original buildings intact and well-maintained.  Now designated an UNESCO World Heritage Site, it is one of the best preserved Cistercian Abbeys in Europe.  The Abbey grounds and buildings are beautifully kept and it is easy to imagine the monks working and living a quiet, contemplative life here over the centuries.

We thought Wilfred would have especially appreciated the straight lines mowed into the incredibly well-kept lawns.

I wonder what the monks would have thought of Noah's antics as he splashed in the fountains and ran around the Abbey's grounds (don't worry, Mom, we didn't let him run completely wild!). 

The day ended with a visit to the supermarket in a downpour and a quiet dinner (with wine this time) in the apartment.

After only one day, it is plain to see that Burgundy is going to be VERY easy to fall in love with.