Burgundy tour from Paris to Chablis and Vezelay.

Burgundy tour from Paris.

What a way to begin your Burgundy tour -- a Château!  The Château de Bazoches was built in the 12th century. Situated on a hillside and built on Roman ruins, it is at the gateway to Morvan, a mountainous area in Burgundy. With a direct view on Vezelay (6 miles away), the feudal Château de Bazoches, has a trapezoidal architecture with four towers and a keep surrounding an inner courtyard. Today, the descendants of Charlotte de Vauban (the daughter of the Marshal Vauban) are the care-takers of the castle.

Later in the morning, you will arrive in Vezelay, one of the most beautiful villages of France. It is home to delicious white wine, a place that pilgrims begin the road to St. Jacques de Compostelle, and the gateway to the Morvan. In Vezelay, you will visit the Basilica, a masterpiece of Romanesque art and UNESCO world heritage. The Basilica or Vezelay Abbey (now known as Basilique Saint-Marie-Madeleine) is located at the top of Burgundy's "Eternal Hill" and is one of the most important places of pilgrimage in France. From that place, pilgrims not only departed for the Crusades and for Santiago de Compostela, but it the draw to see the relics of Mary Magdalen that are in the Basilica.

In the afternoon, before returning to your Paris hotel, you will visit Chablis with its beautiful 13th-Century Saint-Martin Church. In that area, you will see some of the most splendid vineyards before leaving the Serein Valley and, of course, you'll do a wine tasting in a traditional Burgundy cellar.

• Tour days: Monday from April through October
• Tour Code T89
• Duration: 12 hours departing at 6:15 AM
• Children's Rate: 0-11 years of age
• Included: Stops in Chablis, Vezelay, Chateau de Bazoches, lunch (drinks not included); hotel pickup and drop off
• Vehicle: Minibus