On the way to Champagne…

the Cathedral St Etienne was inpressive

on the Yonne river

This month we took a few days off to visit the Champagne –Ardenne region and catch up with a group of australian friends during their french sojourn. This visit they decided would have a theme – wine – who would have guessed ?

we loved the chambre d'hotes we found

an ideal spot for breakfast 

As it’s quite a drive diagonally across France from our house in the south west to Champagne, we chose to stopover in a town about which we knew nothing.  Auxerre is the capital of the Yonne department and is on the river Yonne .  It started out as a roman town on the Via Agrippa linking the Mediterranean to the North Sea and grew over the centuries eventually including a cathedral, an abbey and two fine churches. Nearby towns include Chablis ( for the wine of course) and Chaource which is known for it's cheese, one of our favourites.

not so sure about french taste in house colours

it may have a lean but it's still standing 

so many colours

This is a beautiful town with a pretty medieval  centre and lots of little lanes for discovering original half timbered houses. There is a park along the riverside where visitors can stroll and enjoy eating in a string of restaurants overlooking the moored boats and barges.  

Place Saint Nicolas with it's restaurants beside the river

Saint Nicolas - unusual house adornment\

not the first one we've seen in a french town

the clock gate

beautiful gold leaf decoration 

A walk across the pedestrian bridge provides a wonderful view of the town and the hilltop cathedral. It is said that St Patrick studied here before going off to Ireland.   

Cathedral St Etienne towers above the town

and finally - families playing in the water feature by the river

trés bonne semaine