Discover Autun: Cathedral, Theatre and City History

Autun offers several ways to explore its history: Saint-Lazare Cathedral, the Roman Theatre and experiences that bring historical themes to life as a narrated tour, guided walk or exploration route. If you are looking for a hotel in Autun, these different focuses can help you shape your stay around the themes that interest you. The Friday market adds a regular event to the cultural programme.

Saint-Lazare: Cathedral, Treasury and Film

Construction of Saint-Lazare Cathedral began in 1120. It is an important Romanesque church, a pilgrimage church on the Way of St James, and houses relics of Lazarus. Here, architectural history and religious significance come together. The cathedral treasury consists of four rooms; the Espace Gislebertus offers a different focus: a 15-minute 3D relief film explaining the Great Portal of Saint-Lazare is shown there.

The two experiences offer different perspectives: the treasury’s exhibits are spread across four rooms, while the film focuses on the Great Portal and explains it in a short, clearly defined format. If you are interested in Romanesque architecture, the cathedral offers several specific themes, from the period in which it was built to the design of the portal.

The Roman Theatre of Autun

The Roman Theatre was built around 70 AD. It has a diameter of 148 metres and could seat up to 20,000 spectators. Its diameter and historical capacity describe different aspects of its scale: one figure indicates the building’s physical extent, while the other gives the number of people the theatre was designed to accommodate. Together, they give a concrete impression of the building’s size without requiring general descriptions of ancient theatres.

Compared with Saint-Lazare Cathedral, the theatre brings a different era into focus. During a stay in Autun, those interested in Roman heritage can therefore consider the theatre as a distinct focus alongside the cathedral’s Romanesque architecture.

Experience history on the go

The Petit Train offers a multilingual narrated tour of Autun. It covers 2,000 years of history and significant monuments. The tour offers an overview while you travel; its operating dates may vary. Check the tour dates before planning your visit.

The guided tour “Balade entre pierres et eaux” (“A Walk Between Stones and Water”), by contrast, follows a specific route and focuses on a particular theme. It leads from the Poterne de Breuil to the foot of the Pierre de Couhard and explains how the Romans shaped the mountain to supply the town with water. The tour also offers views of the ancient and medieval town of Autun—from the cathedral to the Pierre de Couhard. It thus combines an explanation of Roman water management with a panorama that encompasses both eras. The guided tour takes place regularly; specific dates may vary.

Another way to explore the cultural heritage is the Explor-Games route in Autun. Designed for families, especially teenagers, it invites visitors to discover the town’s cultural heritage. This sets it apart both from the multilingual narrated tour and from the guided tour, which focuses on Roman water management. As activity details may change, check the current arrangements before your visit.

The Friday market

The Marchés d’Autun are held outdoors and in the market halls beneath the town hall on Fridays. If you would like to include the market in your stay, the day of the week is an important point of reference. Check the latest market dates and opening hours before your visit. This makes it possible to coordinate your visit with the historical themes in your travel plans without treating the different experiences—the cathedral, theatre, narrated tour, guided tour and exploration route—as interchangeable.

Discover more destinations: La Frette, Lans, Chasselas, Saint-Nizier-sur-Arroux, Mancey, Pontoux, Étrigny, Tramayes.

For the regional travel overview: Saône-et-Loire.