Saint-Père: Between the Cure, Archaeology and Wine

Saint-Père combines a distinctive townscape with archaeological history, outdoor activities and wine. The Cure, a river in the Morvan, flows through the town; the Fontaines Salées archaeological site lies 1.5 km south of Saint-Père. This brings together several different interests for a stay: the town’s architectural character, the long time span represented by the excavation site, and specific routes and wine-related offerings.

Townscape and River

Old stone houses define Saint-Père; some are still roofed with stone slabs. The town also has narrow lanes, entrances, cellars, washhouses and fountains. Together, these details reveal different scales of the townscape, from the roofing of individual houses to other architectural features in the village. Anyone interested in local architecture can consider the houses, lanes, and the washhouses and fountains mentioned here as elements of the townscape.

Archaeology and History

The Fontaines Salées outdoor site and the archaeological discovery centre present the excavation findings and the defining characteristics of human societies that lived there from the Neolithic to antiquity. The archaeological content thus spans several periods and is explored both outdoors and in the discovery centre. The Church of Saint-Pierre offers a different point of reference in time: it is dated to the 11th or 12th century and has been listed in the Supplementary Inventory of Historic Monuments since 1926. These represent three distinct time references: the societies from the Neolithic to antiquity, the church’s dating, and its listing in 1926. This makes it possible to distinguish the archaeological time span, the building’s date and its listing as a historic monument.

Activities and Routes

AMCK offers canoeing and kayaking introductions, leisure activities and seasonal rentals. The rentals are seasonal, so bear this time restriction in mind if you plan to include them in your itinerary. This means introductions and leisure activities are available alongside rentals that are tied to a particular season.

For La ronde de Vézelay, the 2023 programme featured three loop routes of 50, 35 and 20 km. They all started at 9 a.m. at the Saint-Père campsite. The recurring walking event includes routes of 8 and 15 km through the vineyards of the Vézelien. In terms of distance, the walks are shorter than the loop routes; the formats also differ. The shared 9 a.m. start is part of the 2023 programme details.

Wine in Saint-Père

The Domaine de la Cadette winery offers wine tastings and wine sales in its cellar at 47 route d’Avallon, 89450 Saint-Père. Anyone wishing to include a tasting in their stay will find a specific offering at an exact address in the town. Wine therefore represents a distinct focus alongside architectural history, archaeological subjects and outdoor activities.

The various themes can be prioritised according to your interests: Fontaines Salées represents archaeological periods, the church a later building date, and the route offerings differ in length and format. Wine tasting and sales offer another way to get to know Saint-Père. Together, these specific local features provide a basis for planning your stay around your own interests.

Discover more destinations: Lixy, Cudot, Nailly, Diges, Merry-Sec, Villeblevin, Joigny, Poilly-Sur-Serein

For the overview of the wider region: Yonne.