You’re now standing on Place Monge, one of the oldest squares in Beaune, named after Gaspard Monge, a brilliant mathematician born here in 1746. He’s best known as the founder of descriptive geometry, a key discipline that helped shape modern engineering. But Monge was much more than a scientist—he was a major figure of the French Revolution, helped create the École Polytechnique, played a part in developing the metric system, and even joined Bonaparte’s expedition to Egypt, where he led a team of scientists. The statue in the centre of the square is a tribute to his extraordinary life and legacy. Framed by old façades and shaded by a few welcome trees in the summertime, Place Monge opens up like a little open-air theatre. It often hosts local markets where you can discover some of Burgundy’s best regional products—it’s the perfect spot to experience the region’s authentic, no-frills charm. The buildings around you speak of the square’s merchant past, with timber-framed houses and stone façades that date back to the Renaissance, if not earlier. Take a closer look and you might notice the remains of old archways, vaulted cellars or decorative wrought-iron signs, echoing the days when this was a bustling spot filled with medieval market stalls. Just follow the cobblestones beneath your feet and let yourself be carried along by the rhythm of Burgundy’s history—and the mouthwatering aromas that come with it.