Gudelon
Vezelay
Fontenay
Gudelon
Abbaye de Fontenay Cloitre Photo Alain Doire Bourgogne Tourisme
Gudelon
Denis Gliksman Vue arienne Gudelon
In depth visit to the Guédelon castle project to build a 13thcentury castle with optional stone carving hands-on workshop
Our base for the tour, the UNESCO World Heritage Site of Vézelay
Noyers-sur-Serein, officially classified as one of the 100 most beautiful villages in France
Fontenay Abbey, founded in 1118, another UNESCO World Heritage site
Two lectures from medieval historian, Julian Humphrys
Our popular historian and guide, Julian Humphrys, is spreading his wings and leading tours to France, including this superb tour that looks at the abbeys and fortifications of the fabled Burgundy region. A highlight is a day at the amazing project at Guédelon to build a castle from scratch using 13th century techniques, where you will also have an optional stone carving workshop with hands-on participation. Added to this are in-depth visits to the UNESCO World Heritage sites of Vezelay and Fontenay and the lovely village of Noyers-sur-Serein, one of the “plus beaux villages de France.” You will be accompanied throughout by enthusiastic, erudite and inspiring historian, Julian Humphrys.
Available Departures |
From |
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| 14 - October - 2025 | £ 2199.00 | Travel Info Book Now |
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Provisional Timings St Pancras Departing: 14th October 2025 at 10:22 Returning: 18th October 2025 at 17:13 |
Day 1: Travel by Eurostar from St Pancras to Paris and onwards to Auxerre St Gervais. Transfer by coach to Vèzelay for check-in to the hotel. Welcome drink and dinner with wine in the hotel restaurant.
Day 2: Full day in Vézelay.
A full day is allowed to explore the UNESCO World Heritage Site of Vézelay, including the superb visitor centre and Romanesque Basilica, with time to stroll around the town and ramparts. Legend tells of a monk bringing relics of Mary Magdalene to Vézelay in the 9th century, which made the hill town an important religious site and a starting point of the St James pilgrimage route. This evening we have a lecture from Julian, ‘How to get to Heaven in the Middle Ages’ followed by dinner with wine in the hotel restaurant.
Day 3: Fontenay Abbey and wine-tasting.
First of all to Fontenay Abbey, which was founded by St Bernard in 1118. Built in a Romanesque style, it is remarkably well preserved, particularly the church, dormitory and cloister, offering a fascinating glimpse into the serenity and austerity of medieval monastic life. Afternoon visit to Noyers-sur-Serein, classified as one of the 100 most beautiful villages in France. En-route back to the hotel, we will enjoy a wine tasting at a local vineyard. Second lecture, ‘How to capture a castle in the Middle Ages’. This evening is free for you to get dinner independently in Vezelay.
Day 4: Full day Guédelon Castle Project.
A full day at the extraordinary 25-year project at Guédelon to construct a 13th century castle using traditional methods and materials from scratch. Located in the forest in a once disused quarry the castle project is ever-changing and ever-evolving. We will have a guided tour of the site and you will also have free time to watch the castle-builders at work, talk to them about thier crafts, visit the castle kitchen, storeroom and rib-vaulted gaurdrooms as well as being able to walk along the battlements. Free time will be given for lunch. Please note that the catering at the castle is sheltered but open-air so dress appropriately. This afternoon there is an optional stone carving workshop where you can try your hand at dressing soft limestone. We return back to Vezelay late afternoon.
Day 5: Transfer from the hotel to Auxerre St Gervais train station for return SNCF to Paris and then onwards by Eurostar to St Pancras.
NB: Exact order of itinerary may vary according to local conditions and tour manager's discretion.
Please note the maximum group size on this tour is 25 passengers.
Tour Grading: Please note that this tour has been graded as demanding due to the amount of time spent walking between and at attractions, with lots of standing for viewing. Terrain may be uneven underfoot, with cobbles and steps without handrails. On Day 2 there is an 800 yard uphill walk from hotel to Basilica, plus an optional 1 mile undulating walk round ramparts. For further information please visit the mobility page of our website, or contact our team prior to booking.
INCLUDED
NOT INCLUDED
Hotel de la Poste et du Lion d’Or, Vézelay
This charming and traditional four-star hotel is located in the very heart of Vézelay a few minutes’ walk from the Basilica. With just 39 rooms, it offers personal service and exudes old-world atmosphere. Hotel facilities include a bar, restaurant, breakfast room and wi-fi. Bedrooms all have a private bathroom with bath/shower, TV, telephone air-conditioning, free wi-fi, hairdryer and tea/coffee making facilities.
Hotel de la Poste et du Lion d'Or Website
Your Guide
Julian Humphrys
Julian read history at Emmanuel College, Cambridge, has worked at historical sites both in Britain and overseas and is now a trustee of the Battlefields Trust and a Fellow of the Royal Society of Arts. He has a very infectious enthusiasm for history and has published numerous books on castles and battles. He currently leads more than a dozen tours for Travel Editions and imparts his extraordinary historical knowledge with wit and panache, making a tour led by him both an educational and entertaining experience.
We enjoyed the tour very much - saw some glorious places, learnt a great deal and had a lot of fun. A terrific programme run by Karen with quiet efficiency and enhanced by Julian’s erudite and hugely entertaining talks - and wonderful weather. The hotel was excellent.
Review by Sullivan who travelled 22-October-2022
A very good trip - my first abroad for 3 years. It was chosen as we particularly wanted to go to Guedelon.. This was a great experience but I would have liked longer - perhaps the stone carving, while good fun, took too big a chunk of time - and lunch was rather protracted. Vezelay was a lovely place to stay. The hotel was very good. My thanks to Karen, and to Julian for his enthusiastic sharing of all things mediaeval.. As a scientist with a poor grasp of history I learnt a lot! An excellent holiday.. Thank you.
Review by Anonymous who travelled 22-October-2022
Hotel room lacked chest of drawers; it had separate toilet apart from washing facilities. Food excellent.
Review by Berry who travelled 22-October-2022
Our four days were filled so well with visits to fascinating sites, where we had some wonderful guides. Julian and Karen did an excellent job of looking after us, answering our many questions and providing clear instructions, all with plenty of smiles and enthusiasm. Julian’s lectures were very entertaining and rounded off our experiences of the day so well. My friend and I will certainly use Travel Editions again.
Review by Rich who travelled 22-October-2022
Even more interesting than the brochure description ! Guedelon really exceeded expectations, but the choice of other places made it a brilliant mixture. Karen her usual lovely friendly efficient self and as for Julian's wonderful lectures. well...! One of the very best. Wish it had been longer.
Review by Batchelor who travelled 22-October-2022
Review by Anonymous who travelled 22-October-2022
My first foray into the world of Travel Editions and the Medieval Burgundy Tour experience exceeded all expectations by miles. We were well looked after by our Tour Manager Karen who ensured all the travel arrangements went smoothly and entertained us with interesting and amusing anecdotes. Our Tour Guide and Lecturer Julian was fantastic. He brought his subject to life with an easy informative manner and a lively sense of humour. Our accommodation was lovely and it would be hard to beat the Medieval Town of Vezelay as a perfect location in which to stay. Julian's two lectures cleverly introduced us to the following day's tour, culminating in the day round the Medieval Castle at Guedelon: a truly fantastic place in concept and realisation. I now have the difficult decision of choosing which Travel Editions holiday to take next!
Review by Clear who travelled 22-October-2022
We did not do the sculpting at Guedelon as there is so much more to see in the grounds now as they make such progress with the building. Super trip!
Review by Burton who travelled 22-October-2022
Oops! I did it again!, with apologies, of course, to Britney Spears. I don’t know why that came into my mind on this Tour as it is one of many Travel Editions Tours I’ve done twice. It may be the proximity to last time as it was the cancellation of another Tour that allowed me to transfer my booking and return to Vezelay, something I had always intended to do. My Review from March 2018 still holds good. Vezelay is a spiritual place, Fontenay Abbey tranquil and serene and Guedelon an inspiration. A change from last year found us spending an afternoon in Noyers-sur-Serein, a pretty village with many medieval buildings where Karen Blackwell, our hard working and very efficient Tour Manager organised an inpromptu lunch at a local restaurant, already known to Julian Humphrey, our eminent historian and lecturer. Although I already knew how to capture a castle, I refrained from heckling Julian’s interesting and informative lecture. I can’t say my stone carving skills at Guedelon had improved much from last year although I did manage a recognizable butterfly rather than a “P”. The hotel de la Poste et du Lion d’Or is really good and the food superb, each course at dinner served on its own special crockery. If I decide to go again, which I wouldn’t rule out, I guess my Review will have to start with Oops! I did it again, again. Just watch this space!
Review by Richardson who travelled 05-April-2019
I very much enjoyed the trip, thanks especially to the quality of lecturing and tour management, the content of the programme and the small size of the group.
Review by Anonymous who travelled 05-April-2019
If we hadn't just experienced Gill as a Tour Manager to Normandy, Karen would have been a 'Good' as well, but it is difficult to give gradations with only four categories to choose from. Julian, as previously, was absolutely excellent.
Review by Anonymous who travelled 05-April-2019
Review by Bonham who travelled 05-April-2019
Review by Martin who travelled 23-March-2018
Julian was excellent as usual. It was good have Hélène as a charming native french speaker, it helped greatly on several occasions. The hotel was very good. The tea making facilities were a pleasant surprise. The food in general was very good both in the hotel and the local restaurants. When we went to Avalon it was on a Sunday and finding somewhere for a light lunch was almost impossible in an unfamiliar place. Most of the places in the immediate vicinity of the coach stop were closed. Perhaps a packed lunch could be offered in future? On the last day the journey home could start earlier. We felt there was time wasted in the morning that could be better used at the end of the day for our journey home. Altogether for a new venue the break ran very well.
Review by Hudson who travelled 23-March-2018
This was an excellent tour. Vézelay was a brilliant base. The excursions were varied and very well selected. Fontenay, tranquil and serene, contrasting with. Guedelon an amazing vision of thirteenth century construction and toil. Julian’s lectures were delivered with his usual blend of knowledge and enthusiasm and if ever I get the urge to capture a castle, I now know exactly how to do it! Vézelay has its own vineyards and we were able to sample a range of their wines during our Tasting session. Sadly, even with the extra space afforded by upgrading my train tickets, I only managed to return with 2 bottles of rose. Thank you, Travel Editions.: this tour is one of your best.
Review by Richardson who travelled 23-March-2018
Good hotel and location. Trips and lectures interesting and thought provoking.
Review by who travelled 23-March-2018
I really enjoyed this tour very much. I thought Vezelay was charming and interesting with good restaurants and lovely views. Hotel was excellent, food very good and well presented. I thought Helene, our tour manager and Julian our historian, were very pleasant, well informed and made the trip go very well and made me feel a valued customer. This is my third trip with Travel Editions and wont be my last!
Review by Morris who travelled 23-March-2018
Our guides made this an exceptional t your with their attention to detail,good humour and knowledge. The hotel was just right and very welcoming.
Review by White who travelled 23-March-2018
Excellent tour which was very well managed and excellent and informative speaker. Guedelon was fantastic and it was great that we could go everywhere on the site. Vezeley is a jewel and the guide from Masion du Visitation was wonderful. Fonteney is such a peaceful place and so unexpected. Good hotel with very helpful staff.
Review by Jackson who travelled 23-March-2018
Very little paperwork or information ever reached me - not much on website either. Excellent tour, this was first one and odd tweeks would improve it. The visitors Centre is very good, but so intense that a break for coffee and reflection would be good before the visit to the Basilica. The visit to Guedelon was fascinating, with a very good Guide (Sarah) but I was ready for the stone carving an hour before it happened . Also the lunch was not good; too complicated and nothing hot enough for such a cold day. the coffee (not very medieval) was horrible. The hotel was very nice, simple but everything one needed - including, rare for France, tea and coffee making equipment. (I had scoured the pictured on the net and seen no sign, so I brought my own and need not have bothered) It was also good that they not only provided bottles of water in the rooms but replenished them. Eurostar a horrible scrum both ways, and machine refusing my ticket on the way back so I had to queue for a person didn't help. It is a lovely part of France and well worth the visit.
Review by Wheeler who travelled 23-March-2018
Special thanks to Helene and Julian who made the trip so interesting. Maybe allow for a bit more free time in Fontenay Abbey for future tours?
Review by who travelled 23-March-2018
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