Hospices de Beaune Wine Hospices de Beaune Wine bike © C Lorch Agence RP Events The King's Room, Hospices de Beaune but didn’t sleep here, instead he headed to what is now the Hotel le Cep just around the corner. The “sisters” were there to join the party complete with authentic coifs – their famous wing-like headwear. In the film, it was here in the distinctive ancient hospital beds that the fugitive airmen hid in plain sight. The Hospices looks much as it did 600 years ago, a glittering tiled roof you can only see from the vast courtyard, gargoyles hanging from the historic wooden ceilings, stunning artworks, religious artefacts, an ancient kitchen and pharmacy. 10km away, a major part of the film took place in the charming town of Meursault. The townsfolk are proud of the old fashioned fire engine that appeared in the film and it is now displayed in a showcase outside the chateaulike town hall! UNESCO-listed vineyards This whole area is in the heart of the UNESCO-listed vineyards of the Côte d’Or known as the Climats of Burgundy. The Climats are a series of 1247 plots of land that form a ribbon of vineyards which run about 60km from the gastronomic city of Dijon to the south of Beaune, where there is a Maison des Climats exhibition centre. Alterpiece, Hospices de Beaune, The Last Judgement, Rogier van der Weyden circa 1450 These vineyards are the legacy of a tradition of viticulture dating back as far as 2000 years, small parcels of land shaped by man to grow vines and make wine that reflects that every parcel of land is unique. Some vineyards are just a few acres in size, others are considerably larger. Each vineyard is precisely defined and named. The names have Celtic, Gallic, Latin and German roots and record the influence of those who worked here and helped shape the landscape such as Les Casse-Têtes in Meursault which means ‘brain teaser’, indicating the hardness of the soil and the difficulty of planting vines here! One of the best known is the Clos de Vougeot, the headquarters of the Climats de Bourgogne and seat of the Confrérie des Chevaliers du Tastevin. Built in the 12th century by monks from the nearby Abbey of Cîteaux there is also a 16th century château where you can discover more about the Climats, wine and Burgundy, and enjoy a 5-wine tasting. Each plot is influenced by its own unique terroir – the French word that’s impossible to translate into English. It refers to the growing conditions - the soil, the grapes, the local climate, know-how, altitude, exposure to sun and rain, and local vegetation. This is an area that produces some of the best wines in the world with names like Montrachet, Romanée- Conti, Clos de Vougeot, Corton, Musigny, and Chambertin. And there are many cellars where you can stop for a tasting including 56 | The Good Life France The Good Life France | 57
