About this tour
A private 12-hour day trip by TGV from Paris into Burgundy's UNESCO-listed hills. You'll visit Vézelay's basilica—a major pilgrimage waypoint toward Santiago de Compostela—then explore the medieval hilltop village of Noyers-sur-Serein over lunch, and finish at 12th-century Fontenay Abbey, a serene Cistercian monastery. Hotel pickups and train tickets included; return to Paris by evening.
Highlights
- Vézelay basilica: UNESCO site and Santiago pilgrimage origin point
- Noyers-sur-Serein: Medieval village with three-course restaurant lunch
- Fontenay Abbey: 12th-century Cistercian monastery in quiet countryside
- TGV high-speed rail both ways from central Paris
- Private guide and transport throughout; no group mixing
- Hotel-to-hotel service with all admissions covered
What to expect
Your hotel pickup at 06:00 gets you to Gare de Lyon for the 06:49 TGV. Ninety minutes later, a local guide meets you in Vézelay. Spend the morning exploring the basilica's soaring interior and the spiritual weight of this pilgrimage landmark. By late morning you're in Noyers-sur-Serein, a preserved medieval settlement with narrow lanes and stone buildings, where you'll have a proper three-course lunch. The afternoon takes you to Fontenay Abbey—peaceful, cloistered, and far quieter than the morning's pilgrimage sites. You'll depart the station by 16:30, arriving back in Paris around 18:39 and at your hotel by 19:00.
Good to know
Drinks are not included. Wear comfortable walking shoes for village exploration and abbey grounds. The day involves steady activity but no strenuous hiking. Wheelchair accessibility available throughout. Not ideal if you have heart concerns. Buggies and infant seats provided for young children.
Tour sold and operated by Viator via Viator. Descriptions on this page are original BugBitten summaries written by our team — not copied from the operator. Prices and availability are confirmed at checkout.