In Favour of The Cotswolds over the Côte d'Or

Protected Status - Beauty is officially recognised

Let's start by looking at the areas themselves, of course we know that The Cotswolds is designated an Area of Outstanding Natural Beauty in the UK and one of the most visited areas for tourists and sought after areas to settle in. It is famed for its picture perfect rolling countryside, the honey coloured stone and meandering country lanes, its handsome towns and lovely villages.

The Côte d'Or, by comparison, the hillside vineyards that start from Dijon in the North stretch for only 30 miles, however in 2015 this hillside and these vineyards were designated an UNESCO World Heritage Site. The patchwork of 'climat', which are the individual small vineyards often worked and cared for by single owners, have been recognised for their historical and cultural significance. Interestingly the geology of this French region is so similar to The Cotswolds that for a time stone was exported from that area of France to make roofing slates for properties in The Cotswolds!

Different Wine Similar Problems

OK let's not stretch the similarities between the two areas as far as wine is concerned too far, although English wines are getting excellent reviews from blind tastings, but the problems faced by hard working vignerons are comparable.

This year (2021) the Côte d'Or has experienced extremely cold temperatures with devastating frosts and here in the UK records show it has been the most frosty for 60 years. In an attempt to save the new buds candles are distributed amongst the vines to try to raise the air temperature sufficiently to stop frost damage. This very same method is used by the fabulous Larkhill Vineyard in Tetbury and by others vineyards in the region.

Pretty Villages

Bibury, Burford, Broadway, Castle Combe, the Slaughters the names of photogenic villages that roll off the tongue so easily from well travelled visitors to The Cotswolds. In much the same way as Aloxe-Corton, Beaune, Pommard, Volnay, Meursault, Puligny-Montrachet, Chassagne-Montrachet villages that sit next to one another on the Côte d'Or roll off the tongues for the numerous Burgundy wine tourists.

Both The Cotswolds and the Côte d'Or areas to an extent sit in a farming landscape where workers' cottages and houses form vibrant village communities. The properties of The Cotswolds being famous for the honey coloured stone whereas multi-coloured tiles often used for roofing are a feature of the French region.

Mansion Houses and Great Estates or Chateaux and Vineyards

Here in Cirencester we are unbelievably fortunate to have the beautiful Bathurst House and its fabulous parkland at the very heart of the town and the parkland has been and continues to be a haven for many thanks to the generosity of Lord and Lady Bathurst. The Cotswolds have beautiful Estates and Grand Houses whereas the French region has modest Chàteaux (by comparison with say the Loire Valley) that are mainly associated with their wine domaines.

The problems faced with maintenance and upkeep of these grand houses and estates are similar on both sides of The Channel so The Cotswolds are fortunate to have the Bathurst Estate as a vibrant asset to the community as do the Burgundians with the considerable and sympathetic refurbishments, renovations and events of estates such as the Chàteau de Pommard which has been given a new lease of life.

Cirencester and Beaune

We now find ourselves comparing the two 'capitals' of the respective regions of The Cotswolds and the Côte D'Or and there are striking similarities. Both Cirencester and Beaune are beautiful, vibrant market towns that have strong Roman connections and are steeped in history. They both have at their hearts imposing churches which create a truly important focal point for the respective towns and attract large visitor numbers.

The magnificent church of St John The Baptist in Cirencester is a huge feature and focal point to the town as are the Basilica of Notre Dame and the Hôtel Dieu in Beaune. St John the Baptist Church was built by Cirencester Abbey around 1480, as an administrative centre and only connected to the church in the 18th century. Between the dissolution of the monasteries and its connection to the church it was used as the town hall. The nave was again rebuilt between 1516 and 1530. The Basilica of Notre Dame in Beaune dates from a slightly earlier period and its architecture is very different and is more Romanesque in its style but equally as important to the town.

The Colours of Autumn

When the green and pleasant land gives way to Autumn in The Cotswolds the many and varied trees and vegetation turn the colours of oranges, reds and golds and all the hues in between. It is a feature of the British landscape and each year is a delight and a visit to Westonbirt Arboretum is surely one of the best ways to see the range of breath-taking Autumnal colours at close quarters. Close on its heels is the hillside of the Côte d'Or (the Golden Hillside) which is mile after mile of golden vineyards, dazzling when lit by the Autumn sunshine.

I think you'll agree that there are some surprising and interesting similarities between The Cotswolds and the Côte d'Or but which area is our favourite? Well, we have returned, settled and re-opened our business in Cirencester and we are very happy indeed to be home in the green and pleasant land of The Cotswolds.

About the author

fairfax thomson interiors is a family owned, independent Interior Design and Interiors showroom and studio based in Cirencester at 7 Gosditch Street, Cirencester, Gloucestershire, GL7 2AG.

In addition to a full Interior Design and Project Management service we offer wallpapers, fabrics and trimmings from well known brands, bespoke curtains, blinds and soft furnishings, lighting and lamps, interior furnishings, tailored furniture, bespoke rugs and giftware.

We also represent Paul Day the renowned British sculptor who started his career at Cheltenham College of Art and went on to gain the support of The Prince's Trust. He has executed fabulous commissions such as 'The Meeting Place' which is sited in the concourse of St Pancras International Station and also the Battle of Britain Memorial, amongst many others.

We acknowledge the photography and photographs kindly supplied by Lady Bathurst of the Bathurst Estate, Michael Baum of the Chàteau de Pommard, Ian Lloyd Graham ©571Photograpy, Mike Barby ©MikeBarby, the Larkhill Vineyard, Paul Groom (Westonbirt Arboretum). In France ©Sue Boxell who runs wine and gastronomic tours as ©Burgundyonaplate.