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Castle · Dijon, Borgonha-Franco-Condado
Château du Clos de Vougeot
Castle built by monks of Cîteaux in the middle of a walled vineyard of the Côte de Nuits, on the Route des Grands Crus. It houses four giant medieval wine presses and is the seat of the Confrérie des Chevaliers du Tastevin.
Illustrative images. The pictures in this guide are illustrations based on the real place, not photographs, and may differ from it.
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About Château du Clos de Vougeot
The Château du Clos de Vougeot stands in the middle of the Clos de Vougeot vineyard, enclosed by a stone wall, about 17 km south of Dijon. It was built between the 12th and 16th centuries by the monks of the Abbaye de Cîteaux, who planted and tended these vines for centuries. Clos, in Burgundy, is a vineyard surrounded by a wall.
In the 15th century, the monks built a cuverie in the form of a cloister with four monumental oak presses, each capable of pressing four tons of grapes. Beside it, the large cellier, the partly buried cellar, held up to 2,000 barrels. Above, the dormitory housed the lay brothers who worked in the fields. The Renaissance château was added in the 16th century.
The castle is run by the Confrérie des Chevaliers du Tastevin, a brotherhood that promotes Burgundy wine with banquets and ceremonies. In 2015, when the climats were inscribed as a World Heritage Site, the château became the symbolic headquarters of the site.
The castle lies on the Route des Grands Crus, the roughly 60 km tourist road that links Dijon to Santenay, passing through 38 wine villages of the Côte de Nuits and the Côte de Beaune, such as Gevrey-Chambertin, Vosne-Romanée and Nuits-Saint-Georges.
Before you go
Practical information
Cidade Turismo reviews its information regularly, but something may have changed. Check with the place before planning your trip.
How much time to set aside
About an hour at the castle. With the Route des Grands Crus, allow half a day.
Best time
From September to October, when the harvest usually takes place in September and the vine leaves tend to change color in October. The castle is open year-round; check opening times, as the site may close for brotherhood events.
How to get there
It is in Vougeot, about 17 km from Dijon and 20 km from Beaune via the D974, the Route des Grands Crus road. Without a car, the option is the regional train from Dijon to the small station Vougeot-Gilly-lès-Cîteaux, followed by a roughly 20-minute walk, or a guided tour.
Tip
Combine the visit with a tour of the villages along the Route des Grands Crus. If you plan to taste wine, have someone else drive or take a guided tour: drunk-driving enforcement is strict in France.
Official website
Get your questions answered
Frequently asked questions about Château du Clos de Vougeot
Is the Château du Clos de Vougeot closer to Dijon or to Beaune?
It is practically halfway: about 17 km from Dijon and 20 km from Beaune, on the Route des Grands Crus.
Can you go without a car?
Yes. There is a regional train from Dijon to Vougeot-Gilly-lès-Cîteaux station, about a 20-minute walk from the castle. Excursions from Dijon and Beaune also go there.
What is the Route des Grands Crus?
It is the roughly 60 km tourist road between Dijon and Santenay, created in 1937, which crosses 38 wine villages of the Côte de Nuits and the Côte de Beaune.
Is there tasting at the château?
The château is a historic monument, not a commercial winery. To taste wines, look for the domaines and cellars in the neighbouring villages.