COTE- D'OR

Helen Parkson raises a glass to Burgundy’s vinous heart

- Helen Parkinson

Dijon’s covered market hall, a triumph of ironwork and glass, is an imposing reminder of the city’s most famous son. Born in the Côte-d’Or préfecture in 1832, Gustave Eiffel left his mark on his hometown as his company’s plans inspired the construction of Les Halles, an Aladdin’s cave of gastronomy befitting of one of France’s culinary capitals.

Sublime vines

Côte-d’Or shares its name with the limestone escarpment that stretches around 80km between Dijon and the département’s second city, Beaune. Come autumn, carpets of golden vines transform the hillsides: a nod to the area’s nickname, ‘Golden Slope’. As one of France’s premier wine-producing départements, vinitourism is a major draw. The 60km-long Route des Grands Crus traverses the