Beaune

Resting in the heart of the Cote d’Or and its vineyards, the town of Beaune is a wine-lover’s paradise. It was the home of the Dukes of Burgundy before they moved to Dijon, and there still exists a rivalry between the two towns, but there is more than enough to delight visitors to both. The imposing Hôtel-Dieu in Beaune is certainly an impressive sight which draws crowds of tourists during the summer months. Built in the 15th century as a charitable hospital, the sombre façade visible from the street demonstrates the multi-coloured roofing so typical of the region and is topped by a wonderful Gothic spire. It ceased to be a hospital in 1971, but the Grand Salle still contains beds that are either originals or exact copies of them in this immense hall with its eye-catching roof. Among the other rooms open to the public are the kitchens and the pharmacy although the highlight of the trip is surely the magnificent altar-piece The Last Judgement by the Flemish painter Roger van der Weyden commissioned by the founder of the Hôtel-Dieu, Nicolas Rolin and completed in 1451.