Auxerre (Yonne)

Auxerre

Auxerre

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Auxerre (Yonne) mini guide

Auxerre situated approximately 3 hours from Paris. Praised for its religious architecture, its pretty riverside setting and its football team, Auxerre is one of Frances' most celebrated places full of art and history.

The town is dominated by a gothic style Cathedral and several smaller churches.

Things To Do

Auxerre offers an Aladdin’s cave of places to see and things to do. Throughout the town itself, there are many attractive squares and narrow streets to meander around and plenty of cafés to sit and watch the world go by. In addition to the crypts and churches, there are numerous medieval half-timbered houses all offering their own slice of history.

Places of Interest

• Pont Paul-Bert - spans the River Yonne and offers undulating views of the towns’ skyline and its lush rolling countryside.
• Saint-Etienne Cathedral - built spanning a period of three centuries and still not completely finished. The cathedral still boasts some of Frances' best stained glass windows none the less. You will also find a fascinating crypt where you can see remains of the earlier cathedral on the same site.
• Saint-Pierre Church - once part of a monastery but now standing independent, the main church is 17th century but the adjoining clock tower was constructed in the 16th century. The church has a richly ornate classical facade which pays tribute to the local and patron saints of wine growers and butchers.
• Saint-Germain Abbey - a monastery complex, which has stood for a thousand years and is almost completely intact. The 9th century crypt would have to be the highlight of the visit and is decorated with the oldest mural painting in France to date.
  The Clock Tower - the ochre and gold coloured clock is still visible at the gateway in the centre of the older part of the town.
• Canal Boat Trip - situated in the town's pleasure port. The trip is a great way to discover some of the most beautiful vineyards and countryside in France.

In addition to the above mentioned, there are many other churches and museums all worth visiting; Natural History Museum, Saint-Eusèbe Church, Place Saint-Nicolas and Maison du Coche-d'Eau to name a few.

Weather

Summers are usually warm or hot with a continental feel to them and mainly dry. The climate in the spring and autumn is similar to that of South-eastern England, a mixture of sun and scattered showers with temperatures in the mid 20's.