Campsites in the Yonne
There are more than 40 campsites in the Yonne that will accommodate you to make the most of all the places you want to discover here. Like the municipal campsite Les Lancières *** located in Rogny-les-Sept-Ecluses, ideal for visiting the castle of Guédelon 25 km away. The campsite L'Arbre Sec *** located in Auxerre, perfect for discovering the beautiful city, is located 800 metres from the river Yonne and a leisure centre. The municipal campsite Le Pré du Roi ** in Mailly-le-Château offers 80 pitches and welcomes your pets.
Nuggets not to be missed
Auxerre, one of the most beautiful towns in the Yonne
Famous for its medieval monuments, Auxerre has an admirable cultural heritage. Classified as a town of Art and History, and a former episcopal city, its Saint Etienne cathedral is classified as a Historic Monument thanks to its magnificent stained glass windows with medallions, its Romanesque crypt decorated with frescoes from the 12th and 13th centuries and its sculpted portals. As far as landscapes are concerned, in the Marine district, passing by the Place Saint Nicolas and its pretty old houses, you can enjoy an exceptional panorama from the footbridge over the Yonne. On the way back to the historic centre, you will discover the flamboyant clock tower and the famous statue of Cadet Roussel on the Place Charles Surugue, as well as Art Deco architecture and sumptuous Renaissance-style town houses. The Saint-Germain abbey, also classified as a historical monument and founded in the 5th century by Queen Clotilde, is also worth exploring, with crypts and wall paintings that are among the oldest in France. Finally, the church of Saint Eusebius is a real jewel of the 12th century, not to be missed.
Vézelay, where the development of the religious heritage
Located at the gateway to the Morvan, Vézelay is one of the treasures of Burgundy's heritage. Renowned by pilgrims for being a starting point for one of the roads to Santiago de Compostela, its Marie-Madeleine basilica is without doubt the town's flagship monument. Listed as a UNESCO World Heritage Site, it dates from the 12th century and was restored by Viollet-le-Duc in the 19th century. The three portals of its narthex as well as the representation of Christ in glory on the central tympanum is a true masterpiece in itself. The charming village of Vezelay, which has been designated one of the Most Beautiful Villages in France, is also in the spotlight, with its old houses with pretty facades and its craftsmen's shops, as is the superb view of the Morvan valley from the terrace of the old castle.
The hidden treasures of Sens
Firstly, the Saint-Etienne cathedral, built between 1130 and 1168, is one of the oldest Gothic churches in France. Then the buildings of the former archbishop's palace and its superb tiles restored by the architect Viollet-le-Duc, which house collections that are treasures of the past. Sens is also a particularly flowery place with the Moulin à Tan park which has a wild rose garden, tropical greenhouses and an arboretum. There are activities for children, as well as a playground and animal enclosures. The beautiful covered market is an invitation to discover local delicacies.
The superb medieval town of Noyers-sur-Serein, with its half-timbered houses and cobbled streets, is a sumptuous medieval town classified as one of the most beautiful villages in France. About thirty kilometres from Sens and Auxerre and on the banks of the Yonne, the pretty town of Joigny is also worth a visit. A town of Art and History, its three churches are classified as Historic Monuments and its houses of the Tree of Jesse and the Pilori are worth discovering.
Located in the east of the department, the town of Ancy-le-Franc is home to a castle, a true masterpiece of the Renaissance, its architecture is exceptional. There is an exceptional series of wall paintings.
Famous for its impressive trompe-l'oeil gallery, the castle of Tanlay, classified as a historic monument, is surrounded by a moat and is considered to be one of the most beautiful Renaissance buildings in Burgundy, with its pleasant park, its pretty fountains and its large canal over 500 metres long.