The capital of the Burgundy region is an ideal base for holidays in the area. Dijon’s historical city centre has buildings dating back to medieval times, and it offers culture, gastronomy and sightseeing, but is perhaps more well known for its mustard!

Tip for visitors – the best way to enjoy the sights of Dijon and the surrounding wine area of the Côte de Nuits is to buy a Dijon-Côte de Nuits pass. Available for 1, 2 or 3 days, you can bypass the queues at the main sites, get around for free on the city’s public transport network and enjoy discounts in around 60 shops.

For more information, visit www.visitdijon.com/en/

This pretty town is perched on a hillside, with great views on the Yonne River and Nivernais Canal. During summer, you can use bridges over these waterways as a vantage point to watch the stunning sound and light show, which illuminates the monuments in the town – Saint Etienne’s cathedral, Saint Germain’s Abbey and the Clock Tower.

The cathedral crypt, and the wall paintings on the walls, date back to the 11th century. Even older is the Abbey’s crypt, dated back to the 9th century. There is a conservation area in the town centre, where you can wander around streets with pretty half-timbered houses in the Quartier de la Marine. Further afield, the Chablis wine area is only 15 minutes away by car.

For more information on Auxerre, visit www.ot-auxerre.fr/en

If your main interest in the region is the exceptional wine, Beaune is a great place to base yourself. There are wine cellars offering tastings in the city centre itself, and many of the best vineyards can be easily reached from the town.

Like many of the region’s cities, it has an old town centre. The most impressive building is the Hospices de Beaune, a renovated 15th century hospital. The Notre-Dame church is also worth a visit, and the Wine Museum is a homage to the region’s fantastic produce.

To find out more, visit www.beaune-tourism.com

This town has been around since the time of the Gauls. It reached great prominence in the Middle Ages as capital of the region of Burgundy. It is also the birth place of Joseph Niepce, who invented and pioneered photography from 1822. Not surprisingly, the town has a pretty old town complete with half-timbered houses and mansions from the classical era.

Niepce’s legacy lives on – the Niepce Museum is dedicated to the history of the image, as well as housing a collection of his personal items. See more at www.museeniepce.com

For more information, visit http://www.uk.chalon-sur-saone.net/

Named after the main town of the area, this is another great place to discover Burgundy wines. With a laid back atmosphere, it’s also a good place to get back to nature and enjoy the walking trails and cycling tracks.

There are plenty of beautiful buildings to admire, dotted along the Heritage Trail – Saint Vincent’s cathedral, the Hotel-Dieu Apothecary and Saint Clément’s archeological site to name a few.

Find out more about the area at www.macon-tourism.com/uk

Centrally located at the heart of Burgundy and at the gates of the Morvan Regional Natural Park, the Roman city of Autun is the ideal location to explore the region with guided visits, day excursion and longer stay.

Not to be missed
Visit Saint Lazare Cathedral with its perfect architecture inspired by Cluny and wonderful decorations sculpted by Gislebertus including ’The Last Judgement’ and ‘la Tentation d’Eve’ (Eve’s temptation), both on exhibition at the Rolin Museum. Discover the Gallo-Roman monuments including Janus Temple, the theatre and the city gates, testimony of a 2,000 year old heritage.

For more information, visit www.burgundy-visit.com/gb/index_gb.php

Half way between Dijon and Lyon, Tournus stands on the right bank of the Saône river, between the Bresse plains and the Macônnais hills. The city is dominated by the bell tower of its Abbey Church, a masterpiece of Romanesque Art.

Not to be missed
Stroll through the town and its picturesques little streets lined with period houses, visit the Saint-Philibert Abbey church - a real jewel of Romanesque art. Discover the 17th century Hotel Dieu including one of the finest pharmacies preserved in situ.

For more information, visit www.tournugeois.fr/ot-uk/decouvrir-villages.html