In every part of the world, Burgundy will forever be associated with the liquid gold that it nurtures in its soils. The famous 12th century Château du Clos de Vougeot built by Cistercian monks, is now the seat of the Brotherhood of the Knights of Tastevin, and boasts impressive cellars and wine-presses. But this land of unsurpassed wines has far more to offer. The Middle Ages were a time of sustained urban growth bequeathing to Burgundy a cluster of large and small towns of inestimable beauty. If there is one town in Burgundy whose charm can be summed up in the harmonious blend of two colours, that town is Beaune. Gold and ruby are the characteristic colours of the great wines of Burgundy of which Beaune is the undisputed capital.

But no visit to Beaune would be complete without a visit to the town's wine cellars. These are in many cases very impressive affairs, for the wine houses of Beaune, having acquired countless former convents and monasteries, jealously guard millions of bottles of fabled Burgundy wine beneath the surface of the town.

Then there is Cluny Abbey, founded in 910, which owes its extraordinary reputation to its strict observance of the Benedictine Rule that made it answerable only to Rome. At the height of its power, the abbey commanded over ten thousand monks living in more than a thousand religious centres stretching from England to Italy and from the Iberian Peninsula to the depths of Germany.

Vézelay - the "Eternal Hill" - was one of the most important places of pilgrimage in France. It was a point of departure and assembly for the Crusades and for pilgrims bound for Santiago de Compostela, but most of all it was a magnet for all who wished to see the relics of Mary Magdalene.

The historical centre of Dijon offers the visitor the charm of its squares and small streets for a stroll past half-timbered houses and elegant mansions. Notre-Dame, the Gothic parish church dating from the 13th century, is a veritable work of art in stone with its unique facade where rows of gargoyles alternate with slender columns topped by the Jacquemart Clock which has struck the hours of the day for the townspeople since 1383.

Deep in the heart of Burgundy lies the Morvan, the perfect destination for walking, sailing and rafting holidays, while the wide open spaces of the Châtillonnais and the gentle slopes of the Bresse are ideal for long-distance cycling expeditions.

WHY NOT - combine walking and wine tasting - not at the same time obviously! - but the exercise to better appreciate the restorative qualities and delicious flavours of wines from one of the world's finest wine-growing regions. All this while based in the delightful Château de Vault de Lugny - Website