Chez La Vie: The Apartment in a Restored Convent in the Center of Beaune

Chez La Vie
4, rue Paradis
21200 Beaune, France

Rental information:

Ask about our off-season discounts!

Per night: 125 euros
Weekly and monthly rates available

Other charges
Security deposit (fully refundable) and cleaning fee

Contact sheribarnett@hotmail.com for availability.

CHEZ LA VIE

between Rue Paradis and Rue D'Enfer

The name Chez La Vie was chosen because of the location.

The apartment is between "Heaven" street and "Hell" street.

The home of life......

Try pronouncing ‘bone’ in a French accent and you will be somewhere near the pronunciation of Beaune, the main town amongst the sleepy villages of the Cote d’Or region. Beaune manages to retain its air of ancient French town while catering to the many tourists who come to buy the wine. The old city is enclosed by ramparts and a stream, around which runs the one-way boulevard. Just hanging out in Beaune and exploring the many cobbled stone streets is a treat.

LOCATION - Maps of France, Burgundy, and Beaune

ABOUT BURGUNDY

Burgundy is a beautiful wine region in the heart of France. It has a rich past and a worldwide reputation for fine wines, gastronomy and architectural wealth. Situated between Paris and Lyon and crossed by the Loire, Yonne and Saône rivers, Burgundy is on the main route between northern and southern Europe.

A Tour of Chez La Vie

Rue Paradis in Beaune
From Rue Paradis, you walk through a passageway into the enclosed courtyard.

The Apartment - A gem in the heart of Beaune

The "Residence Notre Dame" is an ancient convent (built in the 1400s) that was recently restored. The apartment in on the third floor, with views of the grassy courtyard and the rooftops of Beaune.

A relaxing retreat to come home to.
A kitchen in which to whip up something bought from neighborhood shops, or create a feast from fresh fixings from the Wednesday or Saturday market in Beaune.

Plenty of room to entertain
A good night's sleep
Indoor Plumbing - with an American shower

Views and the sound of church bells await you every day.

The Kitchen

A place in which to whip up some great meals.

The Apartment Building

A Bit About Beaune

Beaune is the ancient capital of Burgundy. It is a small town with a population of about 20,000 but, because wine is such a big deal, lots of people swarm upon the area.

There is a boat load of cultural stuff to do. There are summer music performances in the Hospices and the church of Nôtre Dame, a film festival every autumn and the famous Wine Auction in November, among other international events.

It seems that almost everyone who lives in the Burgundy region is in the wine trade, either directly or indirectly. If they don’t make the wine, then they own the vines, work the fields, build the tractors, design the labels, manufacture the cases, recycle the bottles, dream up the advertising, distribute the pesticides, etc. And then there are folks like us who come to savor the labors of the vines and taste the wines!

Beaune was founded by the Gauls around the 6th century B.C. They built their community between two small rivers, the Aigue and the Bouzaize, both of which still run around and underneath Beaune.

Conquered by the Romans in 52 B.C., then christianized by St Martin in the 4th century, the history of Beaune follows the general history of the region. But in the 8th century, Beaune became a significant community with the arrival of monastic groups. When the monks first began to settle here, they brought with them what would become the future of Burgundy, grape vines and viticultural know-how.

By the French Revolution in 1789, there were 11 monastic foundations in Beaune. Most of their vineyards were outside the city walls, but their cellars and winemaking facilities as well as their living quarters took up over 60% of the city proper. With the suppression of the monasteries in 1792, all the monasteries and their lands were sold off. Each religious house was ready-made for the production and storage of wine. Thus were born many of the large wine firms that now occupy Beaune.

The Nôtre Dame Basilica in Beaune was founded in the early 12th century by the Duke of Burgundy, Hughes II, and his wife Duchess Mathilde. A visit to the church examines several different building periods from the 12th to the 19th centuries. There are some interesting carved capitals of the 1130s and some frescoes of the 15th century with distinct Italian influences.

Beaune - The Best of..

Beaune at Night

Delightful Discoveries in Surrounding Areas

Pernand Vergelesses

Pernand Vergelesses
4 miles from Beaune
Highlights:
Views from the Virgin
Hikes to Cabottes

Restaurants:
Charlamagne
La Grappe

Wineries:
Domaine Rollin http://www.domaine-rollin.com/
Domaine Rapet
Domaine Denis
DeLarche
Dubreuil-Fontaine
Pavelot

Pizza Truck on Monday Night

Chateauneuf en Auxois

High on the hillside overlooking the Canal de Bourgogne, Châteauneuf has a commanding position. This is one of France’s most beautiful villages with fairytale turreted towers dating back to the twelfth century. Philippe Pot counsellor to the Duke Philippe-le-Bon had the château built around the keep; part of it is crumbling now but the paintings in the gothic chapel dating back to 1487 are still in tact.

Wander around the small streets with their arts and crafts shops, and enjoy a relaxing drink at one of the cafes.

Restaurants: For a simple meal, try the little cafe in the town square.

Why France? Why Burgundy? Why Beaune? Why Not!

Many many years ago, a newlywed couple selected Europe as their honeymoon destination. On this first visit to the wine region in France, they dined in outdoor cafés in Beaune, drove through small villages, and took a magnificent balloon ride over the Burgundy countryside. It was love at first sight.

They continued to visit France, year after year after year. Finally, in June 2003, after he retired, they put their toe in the water and were able to hang out in France for four months.

France had become a passion. They longed to live there for a very long stay, but could not figure out how to make the dream a reality. On February 26, 2004, they took yet another "tentative" plunge. This time a few more toes went in the water. They rented out their house for a year, and with dog in tow, made a commitment to living in Burgundy.

And what a year it was – truly a year of delightful discoveries. And after the year ended, they began to look for a place to buy in Burgundy. They eventually stumbled into purchasing a small apartment in a great location within the walls of Beaune.

The little place in Beaune is truly a gem, and is available for others to appreciate. Chez La Vie is a place to breathe in all that is so wonderful about Burgundy. The comfortable sweet apartment provides the opportunity to live in France, and appreciate those moments when you say to yourself:

It doesn't get any better than this...