About Burgundy (Bourgogne)
Burgundy (population 1.61 million) contains the departments of Côte d'Or (21), Nièvre (58), Saône-et-Loire (71) and Yonne (89). The region has few industries, which means it's almost totally unspoiled and one of France's most beautiful and fertile areas (it has been dubbed the 'rural soul' of France). It's a timeless land where little has changed over the centuries and a haven of peace and serenity (particularly the Parc du Morvan at its heart). The name Burgundy is synonymous with magnificent wines such as Nuits-Saint-Georges, Meursault, Beaune, Puligny-Montrachet, Gevrey-Chambertin and Pouilly-Fuissé, grown on the 60km (37mi) Côte d'Or hillside, as well as fine cuisine, including boeuf bourgignon (made with Charollais beef), coq au vin (with Bresse chicken), Morvan ham and snails, generally served with rich sauces, as well as pain d'épices ('spicy' bread) and kir (white wine with a dash of blackcurrant liqueur).
The region is also renowned for its many canals and canal boats, and has some 1,200km (750mi) of navigable waterways, including the Burgundy Canal and the rivers Saône and Yonne. Burgundy has a rich and colourful history (it was an independent kingdom for some 600 years), celebrated in numerous colourful festivals and pageants, and a wealth of Romanesque churches, cathedrals, medieval villages and historic towns. Its most important towns include Autun, Auxerre, Beaune, Chalon-sur-Saône, Dijon (21), famous for its mustard and the regional capital, Fontenay, Micon, Nevers, Paray-le-Monial and Vézelay.
Somewhat surprisingly, Burgundy isn't popular with foreign property buyers, perhaps because of its relative isolation, and there are few holiday and retirement homes there. It rarely features in international property magazines and, although the region has a wealth of beautiful chàteaux, manor houses and watermills, these (and vineyards) are rarely on the market. Prices tend to be higher than average for France, but inexpensive, habitable village houses and farmhouses in need of restoration can be found in most areas. Burgundy is located just 100km (around 65mi) south of Paris and 80km (50mi) north of Lyons, and has excellent connections with both the north and south of France via the A6 and A31 motorways and the TGV.
©Text by David Hampshire, from Survival Books' Buying a Home in France