Taste of Lyon & Burgundy
A tribute to the legendary pleasure of French cooking with a glorious celebration of the Lyon’s cuisine and finest Beaujolais and Burgundy wines, while providing a unique approach of the historic cities of Lyon, Dijon, and Beaune.

6 days / 5 nights (Friday through Wednesday) at US$ 2985 / pers

• You are a gourmet amateur and you like to cook, ready to share the secrets of the French chefs, and to enjoy gourmet lunches and dinners at famous restaurants. • You are also interested in improving your knowledge in Beaujolais and Burgundy wines through classes and visits to wines properties and chateaux including Grands Crus tastings such as Montrachet, Pommard, Meursault, Nuits Saint Georges, Corton Charlemagne, Chambolle Musigny, and much more. • You are curious about the France history and culture, and ready to explore historic sites. Lyon, Beaune and Dijon are totally linked to the history of France, and take part to the country’s incredible heritage. All along visits and excursions you will admire beautifully restored buildings and monuments dating back to the 15th century and up.

This tour combines a unique exploration of Lyon, Beaujolais and Burgundy, through cooking and wine classes, visits to producers, and cultural excursions. Accommodation at luxury privately owned properties in Lyon and Beaune. The tour has been designed by Corinne A. Preteur, and it’s exclusive to Lifestyle Vacations.

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Internationally recognized for one of the finest cuisine in the world, Lyon's cuisine owes its virtuosity to the quality of local produces. The farms of the Bresse and Charolais regions, the wild game of the Dombes, the fish from the Savoy lakes, the fruits and vegetables from the Rhone Valley and the Forez region are all within easy reach and supply the essential ingredients for Lyon's famed cuisine.

Regional specialities include : cervelle de canuts (soft cheese with herbs), petit salé (ham with lentils), quenelles (dumplings : puréed fish, veal or chicken mixed with whipped white eggs and cream, before being poached and then cooked with some cheese). The best place to taste these specialities is to experience a lunch or a dinner at a typical bistrot which is called here “bouchon”.


Program includes 2 hands-on cooking classes on Saturday and Sunday morning at the “Lyon’s Cooking School” under Executive chef Jean-Marc V., and at the “School in Les Halles” with Executive chef Philippe L. who also guides the food market visit. The school is nestled in “Les Halles Paul Bocuse”, a unique indoor market with more than 50 artisans and merchants offering top-quality products among the best in France. Food lovers meet there around the same passion for excellence and best of the Lyon tradition. Classes are taught in English, and both celebrate the French and Lyon’s regional cuisine, paired with fine wines.

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When we talk about the Beaujolais, we think to the Beaujolais Nouveau table wine celebrated mid-November. But the Beaujolais mostly boasts 10 crus listed among the finest wines in France: Morgon, Chiroubles, Moulin à Vent, Saint Amour… without forgetting Chenas which was the King’s Louis XIII favorite red wine. Our itinerary includes a half-day excursion to this wine region with visits to producers, and tastings.

After Lyon & Beaujolais, the journey continues to Burgundy, a region internationally recognized for its high quality wines and grands crus. Aside to visits of Dijon and Beaune, you will explore the vineyards of Côtes de Nuits, Côtes de Beaune, and Chablis. Visits to wine properties are enjoyable as well as the connections you’ll have with producers and wine makers. Of course, you’ll enjoy wine tastings all along your visits. On the way to Dijon, we will stop at the Clos Vougeot.


In Beaune, you will attend a 2-hour 12 wines tasting class at our intimate Wine School. It’s a great opportunity to improve your understanding in the Burgundy wines: history, vineyards, soils, characteristics & classification, grape varieties, appellations, vintages, wine tasting techniques, food & wine pairing, etc

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PLACE BELLECOUR B&B, LYON
Conveniently located in central Lyon, one block to the elegant Bellecour Square, and steps to the chic shopping district. Place Bellecour B&B is at a third and top floor (without elevator) of a typical 18th-century building. The owner has beautifully restored her large apartment, and offers 2 large rooms of 325 sqft each, beautifully decorated in a modern-design style with orange or green colored painted walls, and furnished with queen-size beds. For your comfort, each room is air-conditioned, and has its private bathroom with a shower spa and all modern amenities. Organic breakfasts are served in the rooms or in the dining room.


LES JARDINS DE BEAUNE, BURGUNDY
The best place to stay in Burgundy is definitely Beaune, capital of the Burgundy wines, which is perfectly located between the prestigious vineyards of Hautes Côtes de Nuits and Hautes Côtes de Beaune. Few years ago, a wine marker decided to renovate his storage house and to transform it into a luxury B&B, located steps to the Hospices of Beaune, one of the finest examples of French 15th-century architecture which was a former charitable almshouse, now transformed into a museum.Once you cross the threshold, you discover a haven of peace that invites to relaxation and serenity. This house, full of character, overlooks a 50.000 sqft beautiful garden, and offers 4 air-conditioned large bedrooms and suite furnished with king-size beds, and stylish antiques, and equipped with a flat screen TV, Wifi access. All have their private bathrooms with separate WC, a walk-in shower, and all modern amenities.

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DETAILED ITINERARY

> Day 1 (Friday) :  Welcome to Lyon airport or TGV train station. Check-in at the B&B. Afternoon guided tour of Lyon. Welcome Gourmet Dinner.
- Pick up at Saint Exupery airport or La Part Dieu station.
- Transfer to Place Bellecour B&B. Check-in and relaxing time with a welcome drink.
- Afternoon 2-hour guided tour of Lyon featuring Saint-Jean quarter and Fourvière.
- Welcome dinner at gourmet Restaurant Thomas (wine is extra).
- Overnight at the B&B

> Day 2 (Saturday) :  Morning visit to Les Halles Paul Bocuse food market followed by Cooking Class and tasting lunch accompanied by wine. Afternoon tour of Lyon “La Croix Rousse” or shopping. Dinner at a Bouchon
- Breakfast at the B&B.
- Private drive to Les Halles Paul Bocuse food market. Food market visit and shopping with our chef
2-hour hands-on Cooking class celebrating the French cuisine using the fresh seasonal products. Tasting lunch accompanied by wine follows the class.
- Afternoon 2-hour guided tour of Lyon featuring La Croix Rousse (the former silk weavers district) and the hidden passages called “traboules”, or shopping in the Peninsula district.
- Dinner at a Bouchon typical bistrot in the old district (wine is extra)
- Overnight at the B&B

> Day 3 (Sunday) :  Morning Cooking Class and tasting food & wine pairing lunch. Afternoon excursion to the South of Beaujolais “Les Pierres Dorées”.
- Breakfast at the B&B.
- Hands-on cooking class at Jean-Marc Villard school located in Champagne au Mont d’Or, north to Lyon. The class celebrates the French delightful cuisine, and it’s taught in English. Class lasts 3 hours and it’s followed by an aperitif with salty petits fours, a 3-course lunch accompanied by wine.
- Afternoon excursion to the Beaujolais (about 30mn distance to Champagne au Mont d’Or), and to Les Pierres Dorées “Golden Stones” villages of Oing, Charnay, Vaux en Beaujolais knick named  “Clochemerle”, Jarnioux and its chateau. Through the wine route, we will visit a wine property and enjoy a wine tasting.
- Dinner by your own.
- Overnight at the B&B.  

Day 4 (Monday) :   Drive to Burgundy through the Beaujolais Crus Route. Beaune Old District walking tour. Wine tasting class - Gourmet dinner.
- Morning breakfast at the B&B, and check-out.
- Excursion to the North Beaujolais wine route, from Morgon to Saint Amour, Chiroubles, Chenas and Julienas.
- Lunch at Le Coq in Julienas (owned by celebrity chef Jean-Paul Lacombe). Afternoon arrival to Beaune in Burgundy.
- Afternoon visit to Beaune by walking.
- End afternoon 2-hour wine tasting class starting at 5:00pm at the Beaune Wine School
- Dinner at Benaton gourmet restaurant in Beaune (menu saveurs, wine is extra)
- Overnight at the property.
                                   
> Day 5 (Tuesday) :  Full-day excursion to Dijon through the “Côtes de Nuits” wine route, its villages and sites.
- Breakfast at the property.
Private excursion by car to Dijon through the “Côtes de Nuits” wine route : Savigny les Beaune, Pernand Vergelesses. We will stop at a wine property in Savigny les Beaune to meet with the wine maker, visit the cellar and enjoy a wine tasting.
- Lunch at Michelin-star chef Jean-Pierre Billoux in Dijon (4-course lunch including cheese)
After the lunch, excursion continues to Nuits Saint Georges, Vosne-Romanée, Vougeot (visit to the Clos Vougeot), Chambolle Musigny, Morey Saint Denis, Gevrey Chambertin and Dijon.
- One-hour walking tour to the picturesque city of Dijon, capital of the Dukes of Burgundy, starting at 5:00pm.
Back to the property in Beaune around 6:30pm.
- Relaxing time.
- Dinner by your own (it’s possible to bring food at the B&B and have a snack with bread, cheese, ham, and wine).
- Overnight at the property.

> Day 6 (Wednesday) :    Morning guided tour of Beaune. Afternoon excursion to the “Côtes de Beaune” wine route. Evening arrival to Paris
- Breakfast at the property.
- Morning visit to Les Hospices de Beaune, starting at 9:30am
- Noon departure to the Côtes de Beaune wine route.
- Lunch at l’Auberge des Vignes in Volnay (we will enjoy a 3-course menu, wines are extra)
2:00pm : we continue the excursion to Meursault, Puligny and Chassagne Montrachet, and la Rochepot (beautiful chateau).
- We drive directly to Paris. It will take about 3 hours to get there.
- Evening arrival to Paris.
- Accommodation in Paris upon request.

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PRICE PER PERSON (double occupency) : US$ 2,985.00
Single supplement : US$ 330.00
• Please not that prices are subject to change based on exchange rates. Call for updated rates.

PRICE INCLUDES
• Private transfer from Lyon airport or train station
• 6 days ground transportation by private air-conditioned car to Lyon, Beaujolais, Burgundy, and Paris.
• 6 days private escort by Corinne A. Preteur
• 3 nights accommodation at Place Bellecour luxury B&B
• 2 nights accommodation at Les Jardins de Beaune property
• 5 continental breakfasts.
• 2 cooking classes followed by lunch
• Market visit on Saturday morning with the chef
• 2 dinners in Lyon at a gourmet restaurant and at a bistrot
• 4 gourmet lunches and dinners in Beaujolais & Burgundy (including 2 Michelin-star restaurants)
• Afternoon excursion to the Beaujolais “Les Pierres Dorées” on Sunday
• Morning excursion to the Beaujolais “Route des Crus” on Monday
• Afternoon excursion to Cotes de Beaune on Wednesday
• Full-day excursion to the Cotes de Nuits, from Beaune to Dijon, including the visit to the Clos Vougeot (entrance tickets included)
• Guided tours of Lyon, Dijon and Beaune by walking, as detailed in the itinerary.
• Visit to Les Hospices de Beaune (entrance tickets included) on Wednesday morningVisit to local producers and wine properties & chateaux in the Beaujolais and Burgundy, tasting included

NOT INCLUDED
• International Airfare to/from France
• Drinks at the restaurants
• Dinners on Sunday and Tuesday
• Accommodation in Paris on Wednesday
• Personal expenses and personal insurance

This tour is available for 2 persons, and it’s limited to 4 participants.

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2012 TOUR DATES