Viewpoint above the Hautes-Côtes de Nuits at Chaux
Drive ten minutes west of Nuits-Saint-Georges into the hills and the landscape opens into a panorama of vine-striped slopes, oak forest and tiled village rooftops stretching toward the Saône plain — a view almost no guidebook mentions. The hamlet of Chaux, perched at around 400 metres, is your launchpad.
Getting Up There
From Nuits-Saint-Georges take the D25 westward, climbing steeply through Hautes-Côtes de Nuits vineyards producing lighter, more affordable Burgundy wines worth picking up at roadside signs. The road narrows charmingly and the gradient rewards with increasingly expansive views behind you as you ascend.
Park near the water tower above Chaux and walk the short gravel track to the open ridge. On a clear day — most common from April through October — you can trace the entire Côte de Nuits appellation from Marsannay in the north down toward Beaune, with the silver ribbon of the A31 motorway marking the plain beyond.
Best Times and What to Bring
Sunrise and the golden hour before sunset transform the vine rows into glowing copper and green stripes that photograph spectacularly. Autumn harvest (mid-September to mid-October) adds tractor activity, vivid foliage and the sweet smell of pressed grape must drifting up from the valley — arguably the single best time to be anywhere in Burgundy.
Bring a picnic: there are no cafés or facilities at the viewpoint, but a bottle of Hautes-Côtes de Nuits rouge, a wedge of cheese and a baguette consumed on the ridge while watching the valley below is an experience worth planning your whole afternoon around.
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