Day 25 - September 12, 2026

A Scenic Drive Through Burgundy to Bourbon-Lancy

After another excellent breakfast at the voco Beaune, we checked out and began our leisurely drive toward Bourbon-Lancy. Rather than taking the fastest route, we followed much of Burgundy’s beautiful Route des Grands Crus, enjoying one last immersion in the region’s famous wine country.

The drive itself became one of the highlights of the day. Rolling vineyards stretched across gentle hillsides, their famous climats creating a patchwork landscape that has been carefully cultivated for centuries. Between the vineyards were peaceful fields dotted with curious cows, quiet villages with stone houses, and winding country roads that encouraged us to slow down and simply enjoy the scenery. It was one of those drives where arriving quickly almost seemed beside the point.

We made a couple of relaxed stops along the way. One was for a cappuccino in a small village café, and later we stopped for lunch in the charming town of Luzy. Lunch was wonderfully simple: a classic crêpe complète filled with ham, egg, and cheese—the kind of satisfying French comfort food that never disappoints.

By about 3:30 PM we arrived in Bourbon-Lancy and checked into the Grand Hôtel Bourbon-Lancy. The staff spoke very little English, but Google Translate bridged the gap without any trouble, and everyone was friendly and welcoming.

The hotel’s spa was one of the reasons we chose this stop. Admission included two hours, but thinking we might want to linger, we paid an additional €14 per person for unlimited access. In hindsight, the included two hours would have been plenty. Although the spa was attractive, it was fairly compact and, being a Saturday afternoon, noticeably busier than we had expected.

Even so, it was a relaxing experience. The different pools were comfortably warm, and the various hydrotherapy jets and water features made it enjoyable to move from one area to another. I decided to skip both the sauna and hammam, preferring not to overheat, and instead simply enjoyed soaking in the warm water and unwinding after several active sightseeing days.

After the spa we took a leisurely walk through the adjacent park and into Bourbon-Lancy’s small medieval quarter. The town was peaceful and pleasantly quiet, with a handful of attractive historic buildings, narrow streets, and an old church that added to its understated charm. It felt like a place that exists primarily for its residents rather than for tourists.

Dinner was at Chez Paulette, beautifully situated beside the lake. We shared a small baked Camembert and a fresh beef tartare, accompanied by a glass of Pinot Noir. Everything was delicious, and the highlight was an outstanding Tarte Tatinfor dessert—rich, deeply caramelized, and one of the best we’ve had during the trip. Service was definitely on the slow side, but somehow it suited the relaxed atmosphere. Watching local families enjoying their Saturday evening while looking out over the peaceful lake made the wait feel perfectly acceptable.

Walking back to the hotel, we had one final surprise. Behind a fence, quietly grazing in the grass, were four young spotted deer, looking just like Bambis. Seeing them unexpectedly at dusk was a lovely, gentle ending to an equally gentle day.

Sometimes travel is about famous landmarks, and sometimes it’s about beautiful roads, warm mineral water, a memorable dessert, and the unexpected sight of deer in the evening light. Today was very much the latter, and it felt like exactly the kind of pause we needed before continuing the journey.