Discover Auxerre: History, Gardens and Walking Trails

In Auxerre, architectural history, exhibitions, green spaces and walking trails offer different focal points for planning a trip. If you’re looking for a hotel in Auxerre, your interests can guide your plans for your stay: would you like to focus mainly on history, include science and exhibitions, or spend time surrounded by greenery? The city offers several specific places to explore these themes.

The abbey, clock tower and a unique mural

Saint-Germain Abbey has a history spanning sixteen centuries; its crypts are among the oldest in France. On a visit, you’ll see a group of monastic buildings with a variety of architectural styles. Some of these buildings house the collections of the Auxerre Museum of Art and History. The abbey thus brings together several distinct cultural highlights: the architecture of the monastic buildings, the crypts, and the city’s art and history collections.

Another historic landmark is the Tour de l’Horloge. It was built on the foundations of a former Gallo-Roman city gate complex. Its astronomical clock has two hands indicating the movements of the sun and moon. Access to the tower itself may change during construction work, so if you’d like to visit, check access arrangements beforehand. The crypt of Auxerre’s Cathédrale Saint-Etienne also contains a rare mural of Christ on horseback. This distinctive image provides a separate cultural and historical highlight alongside the architectural history and astronomical clock.

Gardens and walking trails in green surroundings

The Parc du Muséum is designed as a French Baroque garden. Its diverse tree species include native varieties as well as species from Asia and North America. The selection of trees makes botanical diversity a defining feature of the garden. On the banks of the Yonne, the Parc de l’Arbre-Sec combines green spaces, shaded walking paths and play areas. The two parks offer different reasons to spend time outdoors: one focuses on the design of a Baroque garden with a diverse collection of trees, while the other brings together green spaces and paths along the riverbank.

If you’re looking for a longer walk, the Coulée verte offers a different option. This developed, nature-rich corridor follows a former railway line and provides a walking trail of almost 15 kilometres around Auxerre. Unlike a single park, this trail covers a longer distance and follows a former transport route through the landscape. The stated length can help you compare this option with a visit to one of the parks without assuming a walking time.

Museum, boat trips and wine tradition

The Muséum d’Auxerre offers temporary exhibitions, workshops and events focusing on biodiversity and current scientific topics. This lets you explore nature not only by spending time outdoors, but also through exhibitions and events. From Port d’Auxerre, visitors can take a sightseeing boat trip or steer a small electric boat. Operators and availability may change; if you’re planning one of these activities, check beforehand which options are available during your visit.

The Clos de la Chaînette is also part of local history. It is the only working vineyard within the city of Auxerre and is among the oldest wine estates documented in France; its history is documented as far back as the 7th century. The wine tradition adds another dimension to the city’s other attractions: alongside religious buildings, museums and walking trails, you’ll encounter a long-established history of winegrowing. You can shape your stay around your own interests, whether they lie in culture, science, walks in green surroundings or this historic wine estate.

Discover more destinations: Malicorne, Nailly, Crain, Molinons, Villeneuve-Sur-Yonne, Chamoux, Villeperrot, Taingy

For the wider travel overview: Yonne.