Exceptional place
Le Marché aux Vins is located in the former Cordeliers church, built in the 14th century. Today, only three chapels and a few arches remain in this 500 m² space, which houses more than 1,500 Burgundy wines.
a space dedicated to Burgundy wine
Since 1976, Le Marché aux Vins has welcomed visitors for Burgundy wine tastings in its cellars.
In 2014, Olivier Halley and his team opened the Cordeliers Church to passersby, enriching the experience with an educational approach. The chapels are showcased, and large maps of the Côte d’Or appellations adorn the church walls.
The appellations
Burgundy is made up of four vineyards: Chablis, Côte d’Or, Côte Chalonnaise, and Mâconnais. The Côte d’Or occupies a special place both for its reputation and its geographical location. Made up of the Côte de Nuits (to the north) and the Côte de Beaune (to the south), the Côte d’Or contains 32 of Burgundy’s 33 grands crus. The Côte de Nuits is home to the finest red wines, while the Côte de Beaune is home to the most prestigious Chardonnay-planted vineyards.
Côte de Nuits
Côte de Beaune
some history
In the year 1239, a procession of monks was heading back to Paris, escorting Christ’s crown of thorns. Upon arriving in Beaune, one of the Franciscan monks, Valerian, fell ill and, unable to continue his journey, settled with another brother in the guardhouse at the Porte de Bellevent, located on what is now Rue de l’Hôtel Dieu. Named Cordeliers, because of the rope belt tied around the waist of these monks, the order was founded by François Bernardone, better known as Saint-François d’Assise
On July 15, 1246, Pope Innocent IV gave his consent for the founding of a Franciscan convent in Beaune. While the day and month construction began on the church is known, the year remains a mystery.
Most historians agree that it was built between the late 13th and early 15th centuries. This church, dedicated to Saint Bernardine, was very tall, and its bell tower rivaled that of the Hôtel-Dieu. Its north-facing entrance would today be on the axis of Rue de l’Hôtel-Dieu.
Numerous tombstone fragments were found during excavations, testifying to the fervor of the Beaune residents and the region’s inhabitants for the Franciscan monks. These burials were acts of piety and charity, as they involved a donation of a large portion of the property. In return, the Franciscan friars then prayed for the salvation of the benefactor.
Nicolas Rolin founded the Hospices de Beaune in the early 15th century, and the Franciscans donated part of their land to the Hospices in exchange for a room for sick monks.
Nicolas Rolin founded the hospital, the Hospices de Beaune, in the mid-15th century. The Franciscan monks donated part of their gardens and land to the north in exchange for a room for sick Cordeliers. It remained theirs until the death of the last Franciscan monk.
The Cordeliers order in Beaune declined during the 18th century, and the church disappeared with the confiscation of clergy property during the French Revolution.
Rue de l’Hôtel Dieu was opened in 1803, removing the nave and separating the convent and chapels.
The Cordeliers Church served as a grain exchange, stables, warehouse, tinsmith’s workshop, and car garage before being rediscovered in the early 1970s. These three intact chapels are the highlight of a visit to this historic site, now dedicated to wine tasting. Since its opening in 1976, ties with the Hospices de Beaune have been renewed, and the Marché aux Vins has been a loyal buyer of Hospices de Beaune wines for over 35 years.
