The Traditions of Burgundy Franche-Comté: a Land of Culture and Celebration

A land of history and conviviality, Burgundy Franche-Comté is a true art of living, shaped by centuries of know-how, festivals and traditions .

Here, each village has its legend, each dish has its secret, and each bottle of wine is a heritage passed down from generation to generation.

From lively wine festivals to ancestral know-how and typical expressions that make you smile , Burgundy has this unique magic that takes you on a journey through time.

In this article, I take you off the beaten track to carefully unearthed nuggets, far from clichés, for an authentic and surprising immersion!

And as they say here: “ When you come to Burgundy, you always come back! ” 🍇

Speak Burgundian without stammering: the linguistic survival guide!

To make sure that we speak the same language and that you are not lost when reading the next sentences or hearing a Burgundian exclaim "Vindiou, what a rabasse!" , here is a little home-made lexicon:

"It's pouring!" → It's pouring with rain! (Expression also used in Belgium and the north of France.)

"I have a beak in my mouth" → My mouth is pasty / I'm thirsty. (Perfect after a nice wine tasting)

“Stop whining!” → Stop complaining or whining.

"A penny is a penny!" → Typical of the Burgundian spirit, which likes to count its coins and does not spend lightly.

"Don't fool me!" → Don't tell me nonsense, don't lead me on.

"I'm as round as a shovel tail" → I've had a little (a lot) too much to drink. (Yes, Burgundy and its wine...)

"You have a good forkful!" → You have a good appetite! (Indispensable in a region where gastronomy is king.)

"To be on springs" → To be hyperactive, always on the move.

"There's no need to wiggle your butt" → There's no need to hesitate, that's how it is and no other way!

"Eat your soup, it will make your legs grow hair!" → Expression used to encourage children to finish their plate.

"Don't be a prude" → Don't be too precious or shy.

Slip a few of these expressions into your conversations, and you'll (almost) sound like a local in no time!

And if you ever get caught red-handed with a Parisian accent, don't worry... we'll still adopt you with a nice glass of wine. 😏

Now that you are officially bilingual LV1 in Burgundy, let's continue the visit!

Some Burgundian sayings and superstitions!

1️⃣ "When it rains on Saint Vincent's Day, everyone drinks but no one harvests." 🍇🌧

Saint Vincent's Day (January 22) is the winegrowers' festival. It symbolically marks the beginning of the new cycle of the vine. Rain on this date is seen as a bad omen, because it announces a bad harvest. On the other hand, this does not prevent anyone from raising their glass to toast!

2️⃣ "He who sleeps under a barrel will wake up drunk without having drunk." 🍷

This saying illustrates the power of the aromas of wine that permeate the ambient air of the cellars. It is said that after a few hours spent under a full barrel, one would feel the effects of the alcohol just by breathing its vapors.

This means that you don't need to drink to appreciate the great Burgundy wines... but it's still better with a glass in your hand!

3️⃣ "There's no need to wiggle your butt, you have to drink a shot." 🍷

Here, the idea is clear: no need to ask too many questions, just pour yourself a glass and enjoy! In Burgundy, conviviality often involves a good glass of wine. No fuss, just pleasure!

4️⃣ “Never toast with water, it brings bad luck.” 💧

This superstition is very widespread in Burgundy (and elsewhere in France). It is said that toasting with water attracts bad luck and that it would be like wishing for seven years of misfortune... in love!

So, it is always better to have a drop of wine in your glass, if only as a precaution!

5️⃣ “When the wine is drawn, it must be drunk. ” 🍾

This saying, very well-known in France, means that once an action has been started, it must be followed through to the end. Coming directly from the world of wine, it reminds us that once a bottle is opened, it would be a shame not to finish it.

A commitment is a commitment… especially when it comes to a good vintage!

Singing Burgundy: the Anthem of the Region! 🎶

Here are the lyrics of the famous "Ban Bourguignon" , our anthem:

Chorus:
And hop , la la la la la la,
And hop , la la la la la la,
And hop , la la la la la la,
And hop , la la la la!

Verse:
Let's have a drink, mother, let's have a drink,
Let us drink to the health of the king of good children!
Let's have a drink, mother, let's have a drink,
One shot, two shots, three shots, and we'll drink so much!

(Chorus sung in chorus with the famous "la la la la la")

The Ban Bourguignon is accompanied by the famous rotating hands gesture , a tradition that involves raising the arms and rotating the hands in time with the melody during the "la la la".

It is an essential ritual in Burgundy , particularly during wine festivals such as the Saint-Vincent Tournante , traditional banquets and even certain wine tastings.

The unmissable festivals and events in Burgundy 🎭

Here is a small table summarizing, in chronological order , the unmissable festivals each year in Burgundy:

Burgundy's wine and gastronomic heritage 🍽

Enough talk, let’s get to the heart of the matter: the drink and food so dear to our beautiful Burgundy!

An exceptional terroir and ancestral know-how

If Burgundy is a blessed land for wine and gastronomy lovers, it is not by chance. Its unique terroir , shaped by centuries of history, is internationally recognized, notably with the inscription of the Climats of Burgundy on the UNESCO World Heritage List. These plots of vines, meticulously classified since the Middle Ages, are the legacy of patient and meticulous work.

The Cistercian monks , from the 12th century, played a fundamental role in the delimitation and improvement of the Burgundy vineyards. Thanks to their rigorous observations of the soil and climate, they laid the foundations of the exceptional viticulture for which the region is renowned today.

Add to this the role of wine brotherhoods , such as the emblematic Chevaliers du Tastevin , who perpetuate traditions and promote Burgundy wine throughout the world. This know-how, jealously preserved, is passed down from generation to generation to guarantee unrivaled quality.

Vine and wine rituals: between passion and transmission

For the Burgundians, wine is not just a commodity, it is a culture , an identity and a living heritage . Each step, from the vine to the bottle, is marked by rituals, where passion and traditions mingle.

The art of tasting is a good example. Here, we don't just drink: we observe the color of the wine, we swirl it in our glass, we breathe it, we taste it carefully. This know-how is taught from a young age in winegrowing families, where we learn to identify the aromas, textures and subtleties of each vintage.

Family estates, true guardians of wine heritage , practice immutable traditions. The ban des vendanges, marking the official start of the harvest, or the Saint-Vincent Tournante, a traveling winegrowers' festival, are vibrant examples of this.

And what about the jealously guarded manufacturing secrets ? Each winemaker has his own trick, his own maturing method, his own choice of barrel, which make each Burgundy wine a unique signature.

The essentials of Burgundy gastronomy 🍲

Burgundy is also a paradise for gourmets , where each dish tells a story, each flavor evokes a terroir.

It is impossible to talk about the region without mentioning its must-see attractions:

🍴 Burgundy snails , prepared with parsley butter and garlic, a true symbol of the terroir.
🍴 Beef bourguignon , simmered for a long time in a full-bodied red wine, which literally melts in the mouth.
🍴 Coq au vin , which enhances this rustic poultry with a rich and fragrant sauce.
🍴 Local cheeses , such as Époisses, Cîteaux, or Délice de Pommard, which delight lovers of character.

Each dish is an invitation to discover Burgundy differently, letting yourself be carried away by its powerful and authentic flavors. Because here, the cuisine does not just nourish, it tells the story of a terroir, a culture and an art of living where we like to take the time to savor.

Craftsmanship & know-how: a living heritage 🏺

Puisaye pottery: between art and tradition

Nestled between forests and rivers, Puisaye is the beating heart of Burgundian pottery. Since the Middle Ages, this land rich in clay has seen the birth of an exceptional craft, where Puisaye stoneware reigns supreme.

Formerly used for tableware and wine storage jars, Puisaye pottery has survived the centuries by adapting to modern tastes, while preserving its traditional techniques. Today, there are still workshops and training centers , such as the one in Saint-Amand-en-Puisaye, where artisans perpetuate this heritage by hand-making unique and authentic pieces .

📍 Where to discover this art?

• Puisaye Sandstone Museum , Saint-Amand-en-Puisaye
• Artisan workshops and galleries in the surrounding villages
  
  

Barrel making: an ancestral craft

Without them, no great wines! The work of the cooper is an essential link in Burgundy viticulture. For centuries, these craftsmen have been shaping French oak barrels, which will give the wines their complex and refined aromas.

Each barrel is the result of meticulous work: the choice of wood, the assembly of the staves, the flame bending , everything is a question of precision and experience. A know-how that continues in workshops like those of Cadus or François Frères , where we can admire these ancestral gestures and understand the importance of the barrel in the aging of wines.

📍 Where to meet coopers?

• Cooperage François Frères , Saint-Romain
• House of Wine and Barrel , Beaune
  
  

The famous glazed tiles of Burgundy

They adorn the roofs of the most emblematic monuments of Burgundy, from the Hôtel-Dieu de Beaune to the Château de La Rochepot . Glazed tiles , recognizable by their colorful geometric patterns, are a symbol of prestige and elegance that dates back to the 15th century.

Made of terracotta and then covered with an enamel in bright tones (ochre, green, brown and yellow), these tiles were once reserved for noble buildings. Today, they are still produced in a few specialized workshops, perpetuating a know-how that lights up the Burgundian roofs with a thousand colors.

📍 Where to learn more?

• Rural Heritage Museum , Saint-Fargeau
• Visit to the Hospices de Beaune
  
  

Forgotten professions

While some know-how has stood the test of time, others have unfortunately disappeared or survive thanks to a few enthusiasts . Among them:

• The farrier , once essential for work horses, became rare with the modernization of agriculture.
• The tile makers , who shaped the famous Burgundy tiles by hand, before the rise of industrial production.
• The washerwomen , who once kept the village wash houses busy by beating the laundry in the icy waters.
• Scythe beaters , specialists in sharpening agricultural tools, now replaced by modern techniques.

Although these trades are no longer part of everyday life, they remain anchored in the memory of Burgundy, and some artisans still strive to revive these traditions through demonstrations and dedicated events.

📍 Where to learn more?

• Ecomuseum of Bresse Bourguignonne , Pierre-de-Bresse
• Museum of Burgundian Life , Dijon
  
  

Burgundian customs and folklore

Here, the past never sleeps: it still dances to the sound of hurdy-gurdies, it resonates through the tales and legends that enliven the evenings, and it is proudly displayed in the traditional clothes worn during the big festivals. Between heritage and regional pride, let's go and meet a folklore that is still very much alive!

Traditional Burgundian costumes and clothes 👘

While Burgundy is often associated with its vineyards and gastronomy, it also has a rich clothing heritage. Burgundian folk outfits, inherited from past centuries, are still visible during festivals and historical reenactments.

👗 In women :

• Long dress made of thick fabric (often cotton or wool).
• Traditional lace headdress, sometimes decorated with a colored ribbon.
• Large embroidered apron, often worn over the dress.

👖 In men :

• Wide pants and a loose shirt in linen or cotton.
• Waistcoat made of velvet or woolen cloth, often decorated with metal buttons.
• Beret or felt hat to complete the set.

📍 Where to see these costumes?

• During folk festivals , such as the Saint-Vincent Tournante.
• During traditional local festivals, where the brotherhoods proudly display them.
• In some heritage museums , such as the Museum of Burgundian Life in Dijon.

These costumes are not just ceremonial clothing: they reflect a rural way of life and an attachment to traditions, proudly passed down from past generations.

Music and dances of Morvan: a living tradition 🎻

The Morvan , a granite massif in the heart of Burgundy, is the cradle of vibrant popular music , where bourrées and mazurkas once punctuated village evenings and festivals. Even today, these musical traditions survive thanks to enthusiasts who are reviving this heritage.

🎶 The emblematic instruments :

• The hurdy-gurdy : an ancestral instrument which produces a continuous sound, typical of traditional music.
• The diatonic accordion : king of popular dances, it accompanies both bourrées and tavern songs.
• The Morvan bagpipe : less well-known than its Scottish cousin, it is nevertheless a mainstay of Burgundian festivals!

💃 Typical dances :

• Bourrée : fast, rhythmic dance, often performed in a circle or line.
• The branle : collective dance where people hold hands to form a moving chain.
• The polka and the mazurka : influences from central Europe, adopted in traditional Burgundian balls.
  
  

📍 Where to discover these musics and dances?

• Vielle Festival in Anost (major annual event for traditional music lovers).
• Folk evenings and balls organized in the villages of Morvan.
• Museum of Traditional Music of Morvan , which celebrates this musical heritage.

Whether at an open-air ball or a fireside gathering, these music and dances bring the soul of Morvan to life and bear witness to a past that is still firmly anchored in the present.

Burgundian tales and legends 📖🌙

If the landscapes of Burgundy are marked by serenity, they nevertheless hide a rich tradition of tales and legends , where history and fantasy subtly blend.

👹 The Burgundy Wyvern :
This winged serpent, guardian of a fabulous treasure, is said to haunt the rivers and marshes of the region. It is said that only a pure soul could approach the Vouivre without danger...

🧙‍♂️ The wizards of Morvan :
Until the 19th century, certain mysterious figures of the Morvan were feared and respected: these "healers" practiced rituals and were said to possess supernatural powers.

🏰 The ghost of Couches Castle :
Among the many stories of ghosts that populate Burgundy, that of the Château de Couches still intrigues... Some visitors claim to have felt a strange presence in its corridors at nightfall!

📍 Where to listen to these legends?

• During night tours of castles , where guides tell these captivating stories.
• At the Maison du Patrimoine Oral de Bourgogne , where popular tales are perpetuated.
• At the Morvan tales and legends festival , dedicated to the transmission of these ancestral stories.

These stories, passed down orally from generation to generation, continue to thrill and amaze those who take the time to listen to them. So, the next time you're walking in Burgundy at dusk... keep your eyes open and your ears pricked!

Where to experience Burgundian traditions?

Iconic villages and sites to explore 🏡

In Burgundy, each village tells a story , each alley seems frozen in time, and each stone whispers the past. These emblematic towns , true jewels of heritage, are living witnesses to Burgundian traditions.

📍 Vézelay – A high place of spirituality with its Sainte-Marie-Madeleine basilica, listed by UNESCO, and starting point of the pilgrimage to Santiago de Compostela.
📍 Beaune – Capital of Burgundy wines, known for its Hôtel-Dieu with glazed tiles and its prestigious Hospices Wine Sale .
📍 Cluny – Formerly a major religious center of medieval Europe, with its Benedictine abbey which was one of the most powerful of the Middle Ages.
📍 Semur-en-Auxois – Small medieval town with impressive ramparts and half-timbered houses, a real dive into the past.
📍 Flavigny-sur-Ozerain – Listed among the Most Beautiful Villages in France , this town is famous for its anise and its intact medieval charm.

These villages are like little time capsules , where we can still see the traditions of yesteryear parade through the festivals, markets and artisanal know-how that continue there.

The estates and cellars where you can experience the wine tradition 🍷

To experience the tradition of Burgundy wine from the inside, there's nothing like an immersion in the cellars and estates that perpetuate this age-old know-how:

🍷 Domaine de la Romanée-Conti (Vosne-Romanée) – Absolute myth of Burgundy wine, recognized worldwide for its exceptional grands crus.
🍷 Château de Pommard (Pommard) – Complete wine experience with visits, tastings and workshops around the terroir.
🍷 Domaine Faiveley (Nuits-Saint-Georges) – Large family home that offers an immersion in the climates of Burgundy.
🍷 Domaine Bouchard Père & Fils (Beaune) – One of the oldest producers in Burgundy, housed in an 18th century château.
🍷 Domaine Michel Lafarge (Volnay) – An estate where biodynamics is in the spotlight, respecting traditional methods.

This list is obviously not exhaustive, but it is a great way to start your adventure! These visits are not limited to tastings: they allow you to understand the art of winemaking, the work of the vineyard and the importance of the Burgundy terroirs. An immersion between science, passion and family transmission.

👉 Do you dream of discovering the vineyards in a different way? Offer (or treat yourself) a unique experience with a gift box getaway in a 2CV and tasting at the Château de Saint-Pommard ! 🚗🍷

Museums and cultural places dedicated to Burgundian traditions 🏛

To better understand the history of the people and the land of Burgundy; several cultural sites offer captivating exhibitions on the trades of yesteryear, peasant traditions and the evolution of regional know-how.

🏛 Burgundy Wine Museum (Beaune) – An immersion in the world of wine, from the work of winegrowers to the cultivation of grape varieties.
🏛 Museum of Burgundy Life (Dijon) – Reconstruction of daily life in Burgundy in the 19th century: costumes, craft objects, rural traditions.
🏛 Morvan Ecomuseum (Saint-Brisson) – Presents the history of the Morvan massif, its agriculture and its ancestral traditions.
🏛 Musée des Hospices Civils de Beaune (Beaune) – A journey through time through the rooms of the Hôtel-Dieu, a masterpiece of Burgundian heritage.

These places allow you to relive the customs of yesterday, to appreciate the ingenuity of the artisans, and to better understand the attachment of the Burgundians to their land and their traditions.