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Voykit pocket guide · France
Époisses
Stop for 1–2 hours to buy cheese and see the château, then move on. Not a base: no overnight needed.
Époisses is a tiny Burgundy village famous for its washed-rind cheese. The main draw is the Berthaut fromagerie, the château and the church. Most travellers spend an hour or two here on the way between Dijon and Semur-en-Auxois or Vézelay. No overnight stay is needed.
- Country
- France
- Best months
- Apr–Oct
- Avoid
- Nov–Feb (many places closed, cold)
- Stay
- 0 nights
Checked 2026-09. Prices, hours and rules change; anything marked (check) is not confirmed.
Essentials
- Currency
- EUR
- Money
- Currency is the euro (EUR, €). Contactless cards work in most shops, cafés and restaurants.
- Daily spend
- Budget €0–10 (just a cheese stop) · Mid €10–30 (cheese + lunch) · High €30+ (cheese + meal + wine) (estimate; check)
- SIM and data
- Orange, SFR, Bouygues Télécom and Free sell prepaid SIMs in their shops and at tabacs; ID is required to register.
- Emergency
- Police 17 · Fire and ambulance 18 · European emergency 112
- Plugs
- Types C, E · 230 V · 50 Hz · Round two-pin plugs; type E sockets have an earth pin sticking out, so Schuko (type F) plugs need a C/E hybrid or an adapter.
- Tipping
- Café or bar: Leave small change, €0.20–1.; Restaurant: Service is included; leave 5–10% in cash for good service.; Taxi: Round up to the next euro or two.; Hotel porter or housekeeping: €1–2 per bag or per night.; Tour guide: €5–10 per person for a half day, more for private guides.
- Water
- Tap water is safe everywhere unless signed otherwise. Restaurants must serve a free carafe of tap water on request.
- Toilets
- Paris has free automatic public toilets (sanisettes); elsewhere use cafés (buy a coffee), museums and stations, where some charge €0.50–1.
What things cost
| Item | Price |
|---|---|
| Époisses cheese (250 g) | €5–8 |
| Lunch menu (starter + main + drink) | €15–25 |
| Coffee | €1.50–2.50 |
| Bottle of Burgundy wine (village AOC) | €8–15 |
Desk estimates, checked 2026-09; check locally.
Get in
By air
- CDG · Paris Charles de Gaulle
- 2.5 h by TGV to Dijon then 1 h by car or bus
- ORY · Paris Orly
- Similar to CDG
- DIJ · Dijon-Bourgogne
- About 1 h by car; limited flights
Typical fares
- Dijon → Époisses by car
- about 45 min, 50 km (31 mi)about 45 min, 31 mi (50 km)
- Montbard station → Époisses by taxi
- about 20 min, €30–40 (check)
Show 7 more sections and the pocket cardHideGet around, See and do, Sleep, Phrase card, Etiquette, safety and scams, One and two days, Sources, Pocket card
Get around
The village is walkable. A car is needed to reach Époisses from the nearest train station (Montbard or Dijon).
See and do
Known for
- Époisses de Bourgogne cheese
- Château d'Époisses
- Church of Saint-Symphorien
Day trips
| Where | How | Time |
|---|---|---|
| Semur-en-Auxois | Car, about 15 min | 15 min |
| Dijon | Car, about 45 min | 45 min |
| Vézelay | Car, about 1 h | 1 h |
| Beaune | Car, about 1 h 15 min | 1 h 15 min |
Sleep
- No accommodation in Époisses
- Stay in Semur-en-Auxois (15 min drive) or Dijon (45 min) for more options.
Phrase card
| English | Say or show |
|---|---|
| Hello | Bonjourbohn-zhoor |
| Thank you | Mercimair-see |
| How much is it? | Combien ça coûte ?kom-byen sa koot |
| I would like this cheese | Je voudrais ce fromagezhuh voo-dray suh fro-mahzh |
| Where is the fromagerie? | Où est la fromagerie ?oo ay la fro-mahzh-ree |
Etiquette, safety and scams
Etiquette
- Greeting: Say 'bonjour madame/monsieur' on entering any shop, bus or office; avoid: Asking a question before saying bonjour — it is read as rude
- Cheek kisses (la bise): Follow the other person's lead; one to four kisses depending on region; avoid: Initiating la bise with strangers or in business
- Addressing people: Use 'vous' and titles until invited otherwise; avoid: First names and 'tu' with older people or staff
- Restaurants: Wait to be seated in restaurants; call the waiter 'monsieur' or 'madame'; avoid: 'Garçon', snapping fingers, asking for the bill before you are finished
- Conversation: Debate is a pleasure; food, politics and philosophy are fair game; avoid: Asking about salary or religion; loud voices on trains
- Dinner at a home: Bring flowers (not chrysanthemums), chocolates or a good bottle; arrive 10–15 minutes late; avoid: Cutting the tip off a cheese wedge or asking for ketchup
- Dress: Smart-casual in cities; covered shoulders in churches; avoid: Beachwear in town centres
Scams and watch-outs
- The fromagerie may close for lunch (12:00–14:00) and on Sundays/Mondays: check ahead.
- No ATM in the village; bring cash for cheese purchases.
- The château is private: you can only view it from the outside.
Very safe. The only risk is driving on narrow country roads; watch for tractors and cyclists.
One and two days
No timed day plan for Époisses yet. Suggested stay: 0 nights. Build a day from the list below, mornings for the big sight.
- Époisses de Bourgogne cheese
- Château d'Époisses
- Church of Saint-Symphorien
Sources
Written by Voykit; facts cross-checked against these sources, last desk check 2026-09. Prices, hours and rules change: check on the day.
- Wikivoyage: Époisses, revision 5328143 (CC BY-SA 4.0): en.wikivoyage.org/w/index.php?oldid=5328143
Pocket card
Cut along the border and keep it in your wallet. Show the local-script lines to a driver.
Époisses
À cette adresse, s'il vous plaît
To this address, please
My hotel (write the name and address in the local script)
The US Embassy is in Paris; consulates in Lyon and Marseille. Most other countries have embassies in Paris.
Époisses is a short stop; carry cash for cheese.
Voykit · checked 2026-09
Printed from Voykit (/epoisses). Written by Voykit; checked 2026-09. Estimates only: confirm prices, hours and entry rules on the day.