Aloxe-Corton is a commune in the Côte-d'Or department in the Bourgogne-Franche-Comté region of eastern France.

Geography

The commune lies about 4 km north by north-east of Beaune and 40 km south-west of Dijon at the northern end of the Côte de Beaune. There, the village of Aloxe is dominated by the Corton hill, nestled between the neighbouring communes of Ladoix-Serrigny and Pernand-Vergelesses. The D974 road forms the south-eastern border of the commune but does not enter. Access to the commune is by the D115D running north-west off the D974 to the village then continuing north-west to join the D18 road south of Pernand-Vergelesses. There is an extensive network of country roads throughout the commune which is entirely farmland, with the edge of the Bois de Corton in the north forming the northern border. The only stream in the commune is the Fosse des Branots in the south flowing to the east. There are no villages or hamlets in the commune other than Aloxe-Corton.

Climate

Aloxe-Corton has an oceanic climate (Köppen climate classification Cfb). The average annual temperature in Aloxe-Corton is 11.4 C. The average annual rainfall is 777.7 mm with May as the wettest month. The temperatures are highest on average in July, at around 20.9 C, and lowest in January, at around 2.5 C. The highest temperature ever recorded in Aloxe-Corton was 39.7 C on 31 July 1983; the coldest temperature ever recorded was -20.0 C on 9 January 1985.

Etymology

Aloxe-Corton comes from the Celtic "al" meaning "high place". The name of its Grand Cru vineyard Corton was added to that of the village on 22 March 1862.

History

Legend has it that the Emperor Charlemagne granted the lands in 775, initially planting some 70 vines. The vines were located in the area of "Curtis Otto" (i.e. Corton). The beneficiaries were the Canons of the Collegiate Church of St. Andoche Saulieu. Henri Poisot has a large collection of postcards of the village with nearly one hundred and fifty and still growing. He also has a large number of photos and old documents. Henri Poisot published a book entitled: 1728-1999 - History of the Cartography of the Great Vineyards of Burgundy, a book of 102 pages with three folding maps. The book is available only from the Athenaeum in Beaune and from the Author.

Heraldry

Administration

List of Successive Mayors of Aloxe-Corton

Twinning

Aloxe-Corton has twinning associations with:

Demography

The inhabitants of the commune are known as Aloxois or Aloxoises in French.

Sites and Monuments

Aloxe-Corton has three castles and a church: There is also a Lavoir (Public laundry) (1902) which is registered as a historical monument.

Wine

Aloxe-Corton is one of the wine communes of the Côte de Beaune. The southern and eastern parts of the Corton hill, including most of its vineyards, are located in the commune, including vineyards used to produce wines under the two Grand Cru appellation Corton (mostly red, some white) and Corton-Charlemagne (only white).

Wineries