Chemilly-Sur-Yonne: Art, Church and the Yonne Canal

When planning your visit, it helps to distinguish landmarks from activities whose dates or participation requirements should be checked in advance. The clearest points of reference are Église Saint-Georges, the navigable Canal de dérivation de l’Yonne and a municipal pond where fishing is available.

Church, Art and Architectural History

Église Saint-Georges in Chemilly-sur-Yonne is a two-aisled example of Auxerre religious architecture from the 15th and 16th centuries. “Two-aisled” describes a feature of its design; the centuries place this architectural example in time. The church also houses the protected 17th-century painting “Adoration des bergers,” after Guido Reni. This brings together two distinct ways of looking at the site: its two-aisled form and its place in Auxerre religious architecture of the 15th and 16th centuries, as well as a protected painting from the 17th century. These dates refer to different features and should not be conflated. This makes it possible to consider the building’s design and the artwork as distinct cultural topics.

Le Lavoir du XIXéme siècle is a washhouse from the 19th century. Unlike the church, it is a different type of building. The washhouse therefore provides its own historical point of reference alongside the religious architecture and the painting; the two buildings represent different aspects of local history.

Waterways and Fishing

The Canal de dérivation de l’Yonne is navigable, begins in Gurgy and flows into the Yonne at Chemilly-sur-Yonne. The relationship between the waterways is important for orientation: the canal does not begin in Chemilly, but in Gurgy; at Chemilly, it reaches the river. The canal and the Yonne are therefore distinct, even though they meet here. This makes the town a clearly identifiable point along this waterway.

The municipal pond is a different kind of water feature: the Goujon Chemillois association manages fishing there. The canal information concerns a navigable waterway, while the pond is used for fishing. If you are considering fishing, check the current arrangements locally.

Events and Association Activities

A committee organizes the annual Foire Art et Gastronomie in Chemilly-sur-Yonne. If you are considering the festival as a reason to travel, check the specific dates for the period of your visit. This will help you plan your trip around the actual event date.

A group program in Chemilly-sur-Yonne includes a visit to Le Borvo with a smoked salmon tasting. Since 1980, Le Borvo has used a family-run artisanal method to produce smoked salmon. Here, two perspectives on the same product come together: the tasting as a program activity and the production method as part of its culinary history. Check the current booking details before making firm plans for the group program.

The hiking association SENTIERS VOUS BIEN is also based in Chemilly-sur-Yonne. If you are considering taking part, check the arrangements with the association. This makes the association another possible point of contact when planning your trip, without implying any particular type of outing.

Getting There by Train

The small Gare Chemilly-Appoigny station is closed and has no ticket office; nevertheless, TER trains stop there regularly. When planning your journey, it is important to distinguish train stops from ticket office services. The station is in Chemilly-sur-Yonne’s industrial area, about 1 km from the town center. If you are arriving by train, check the TER timetable before travelling and allow for the stated distance between the station and the town center.

Discover more destinations: Tonnerre, Toucy, Épineuil, Cravant, Sennevoy-Le-Bas, Vézinnes, Pierre-Perthuis, Escamps.

For an overview of the wider area: Yonne.