Auxerre

Auxerre, the capital of the Yonne department in the Bourgogne-Franche-Comté region, is a captivating city with a deep historical and cultural heritage. Situated on the banks of the picturesque Yonne River, about 150 km southeast of Paris, Auxerre was a flourishing Gallo-Roman center called Autissiodorum. Its historical importance is reflected in its designation as a "City of Art and History," highlighting its well-preserved medieval old town, which spans 67 hectares.

Among its most notable architectural treasures is the Saint-Étienne Cathedral, an imposing Gothic structure built between the 13th and 16th centuries, famous for its 13th-century stained glass windows and a Romanesque crypt housing ancient frescoes. Equally impressive is the Saint-Germain Abbey, founded in the 5th century, which contains some of the oldest murals in France in its Carolingian crypt and encapsulates sixteen centuries of the city's history. The 15th-century Clock Tower, with its distinctive solar and lunar clock, is another emblematic landmark in the heart of the pedestrian center.

In addition to its monumental wealth, Auxerre is a commercial and industrial center and the gateway to the prestigious Chablis vineyards, world-renowned for their Chardonnay wines. Visitors can enjoy strolls along the renovated quays of the Yonne, explore museums like the Natural History Museum or the Leblanc-Duvernoy Museum, and immerse themselves in the atmosphere of its charming squares and winding streets lined with colorful half-timbered houses. The city offers an authentic Burgundian experience, combining cultural enjoyment with gastronomic and oenological pleasures.