Hôtel des Ducs de Bourgogne

Museum in Beaune

Beaune Musée Du Vin — CC BY-SA 2.5 / Christophe.Finot

Since its installation in the Hôtel des Ducs de Bourgogne in 1946, the Burgundy Wine Museum has stood as France’s first ethnological museum dedicated exclusively to wine heritage. Situated in the heart of Beaune, the museum covers nearly 1000 m² over two levels, offering a comprehensive and engaging exploration of wine and its associated trades. This includes the history of viticulture, viticultural practices, cooperage, trading, and oenology. The exhibits showcase the evolution of wine-growing in Burgundy and the cultural significance of its wines.

As a historical partner of the Climats du vigne de Bourgogne, recognized as a UNESCO World Heritage Site, the museum plays a crucial role in highlighting the uniqueness and exceptional heritage of local viticulture, representing a model of community and tradition in the region.

The museum underwent significant modernization from 2013 to 2019, revitalizing the permanent exhibition route to enhance visitor engagement and understanding. This renovation involved the restructuring of 11 rooms, making them more accessible and informative, thereby aligning the historical narrative with contemporary perspectives. The modernized tour route includes audiovisual projections, an aroma space, and a quiz trail, designed to engage visitors of all ages in an exceptional architectural setting.

Originally housed in the belfry in 1938, the museum received a grand setting in the Hôtel des Ducs de Bourgogne in 1946, with its official inauguration in 1949. This historic building, part of the old Beaune castrum and once a residence of the Valois dukes, features a courtyard surrounded by buildings from the 15th century, including an octagonal stone staircase tower and a Renaissance façade on Rue Paradis.

The museum’s approach to museography is deeply influenced by Georges-Henri Rivière, a pioneering museographer, and André Lagrange, an ethnologist passionate about rural Burgundy. Their collaboration shaped the museum’s focus on the pre-phylloxera eras of viticulture, emphasizing the dramatic shifts in wine production following the phylloxera crisis. This focus not only preserves traditional viticultural practices but also reflects on the changes brought by modernization.

Today, the Burgundy Wine Museum continues to serve as a vital cultural institution, preserving and presenting the rich tapestry of Burgundy’s wine heritage through a blend of traditional and modern museographic techniques. It remains a testament to the enduring influence of Rivière’s museography, making it a cornerstone for those interested in the cultural dimensions of wine and viticulture.

The Hôtel des Ducs de Bourgogne appears in our Complete Guide to Visiting Beaune!

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Visiting Hôtel des Ducs de Bourgogne

Hours:

Open every day from March 29 to November 4, 2024, from 10 a.m. to 1 p.m. and from 2 p.m. to 6 p.m. except Tuesday

Ticket office closes 30 minutes before the museum

Price:

€6

Address: Musée du Vin - Hôtel des Ducs de Bourgogne, Rue d'Enfer, Beaune, France

Duration: 20 minutes