Our last day of exploration before returning home presented us once more with a plethora of sights to see. We hiked up the mountain (ok it was a hill) La Montagne des Trois Croix, spotted castle Rochepot, drove through Orches and then made a beeline for the city of Beaune.
Beaune is a historic town in the Côte-d'Or department, renowned as the wine capital of Burgundy. Surrounded by prestigious vineyards, it’s especially famous for its Hôtel-Dieu (Hospices de Beaune), a 15th-century medieval hospital with a colorful tiled roof and remarkable architecture. With cobbled streets, wine cellars, and a rich cultural heritage, the city offers an exceptional blend of history, architecture, and viticulture. Of course we bought home some regional Pinot Noir, an espresso roast from a local coffee roaster, as well as some local cheese. Special highlight for all three of us was THE staple of Burgundy cuisine: Bœuf Bourguignon is a classic French stew made with beef braised in red wine, along with onions, carrots, garlic, mushrooms, and bacon. The dish is slow-cooked to tenderize the meat and develop deep, rich flavors. Typically, a Pinot Noir is used, and the stew is often flavoured with thyme, bay leaves, and parsley.
After lunch it was high time to venture out in north-easterly direction in order to make some miles. We found a campground situated on the banks of river Moselle near the town of Liverdun, a small historic town, located in the Meurthe-et-Moselle department near Nancy. Nestled on a hill overlooking the Moselle River, it boasts a picturesque medieval old town with cobbled streets, stone houses, and remnants of ancient ramparts. Liverdun was once a strategic stronghold and later a favored retreat for bishops of Toul. Today, it's known for its scenic views, historic charm, and traditional madeleines (a small, shell-shaped sponge cake). After dinner consisting of baguette, cheese, ham and wine we strolled through town and along the river before we called it a day.
Next day it took us a mere three hour drive and we arrived back home in the early afternoon. After all the new impressions, smells and various places Hilda was more than happy to be back and made a beeline for our bedroom in order to snuggle with her favourite blanket.
