Itineraries lasting 2 days / 1 night
Days of Bacchus
DAY 1
MORNING : Meeting point with your guide at the Tourist Office. Departure for a guided tour of Auxerre, whose hillsides have long been planted with the best vintage wines. Discover the Saint-Pierre church, in the ancient wine-maker's neighbourhood, and the Saint Etienne’s Cathedral.
Departure for Irancy, one of the largest red wine vineyards in Burgundy. Irancy is located in kind of amphitheatre of vineyards and cherry trees. Birthplace of the architect Soufflot, the village perpetuates Auxerre's winemaking tradition. Visit of wine cellar, followed by wine tasting.
Lunch in the Auxerre or Chablis region.
AFTERNOON : Departure for Chablis. Presentation of the world-famous vineyards whose vines spread across 4 000 ha of the Serein Valley hillsides. With its annual production of around 200 000 hl, Chablis is the biggest white-wine producer in Burgundy. Visit of the village and Wine tasting with commentary in a typical cellar.
End of the visit. Return to Auxerre. End of the guide’s services. Arrival in rooms (Accommodation in a 2 or 3 star hotel in Auxerre or its region.)
Traditional Burgundian dinner at the Domaine Borgnat. Entertainment (tales, songs, dances) by a local folk group : please consult us.
85 Kms
DAY 2
MORNING : Meeting point with your guide at the Tourist Office. Departure for Tonnerre. Visit of Hôtel Dieu (medieval hospital), founded by Marguerite de Bourgogne at the end of the 13th century. This hospital was partially funded by Tonnerre vineyards. Magnificent framework and beautiful 15th century entombment.
Departure for Epineuil. Birthplace of Alfred Grévin (of the Paris Grévin museum), Epineuil has replanted its beautiful hillsides over the past 20 years, which were ravaged by phylloxera at the beginning of the century. The chevalier d'Eon already appreciated this village's "nectar" in the 18th century. Visit of wine cellar followed by wine tasting.
Lunch in a typically burgundian restaurant or in the region of Tonnerre.
AFTERNOON : Departure for the village of Coulanges-la-Vineuse. Discovery, in an old Barn, of one of the last specimen of press dated of 18th century. Tour of the wine and vineyard “Ecomuseum”.
Transfer to Bailly. Tour of the Bailly Lapierre cellars. These cellars overlook the Yonne river and are situated inside a former quarry, covering four hectares, 50 m underground where 5 million bottles of crémant (sparkling wine) are stored. At the end of the visit there will be a tasting of “ Crémant de Bourgogne ”.
End of the tour. Return to Auxerre at approximately 6.30 p.m. End of the guide’s services.
Day 1 : 95 Km and day 2 : 109 Km
Price : 149 € in a 2* hotel and 165.50 € in a 3* hotel basis 31 persons
Availability : All year
"Let's entertain in Auxerre !"
DAY 1 :
MORNING : Set off on the guided tour of Auxerre
Visit to the Quartier de l’Horloge:
The pedestrian centre, the second most important conservation area in Burgundy: fine, half-timbered houses from the 16th to the18th c., Tour de l'Horloge (an elegant building with sundial and moondial), statues of the poet Marie Noël and the writer Restif de la Bretonne.
Visit to the St. Etienne’s Cathedral :
Indisputably the most important religious building in Auxerre and occupying an important place in the history of art. A lot of buildings have been constructed here since the 5th century. Fine crypts (11th c.) ornamented with wall paintings, including the famous "Christ on Horseback" (end 11th c.). The Cathedral treasury contains lots of illuminated manuscripts, ivories, wood carvings, gold and silver vessels and a fine collection of Limoges enamel reliquaries (13th c.).
End of the guided tour and lunch in Auxerre.
AFTERNOON : Departure for a cruise on the Canal du Nivernais, in the heart of the Yonne Valley, a preserved region with a natural environment of exceptional quality. Appreciate the Auxerre countryside, with its vineyard-covered hillsides, and discover the delight of river navigation.
Arriving in Vaux and transfer to 2* or 3* hotel according to your choice. Free time.
Set off for a dinner show with the cabaret of your choice
- La Coupole des Anges in Bussy en Othe: two alternating shows, “Paris in Bussy” and “La Coupole s’amuse”, which will transport you into a wonderland!
- La Ruche Gourmande in Perreux: feathers, gloss and costumes, a successful cocktail of laughter and emotion, with tributes to international legends such as Tina Turner, Mylène Farmer, (quick-change artists, dancers and singers)
Return to hotel at the end of the show.
DAY 2 :
MORNING : Set off on the guided tour of Auxerre
Visit to the Quartier de la Marine:
In front of the Place Saint Nicolas stood the pier for the horse-drawn barges which for centuries transported passengers and merchandise from Auxerre to Paris (polychrome statue of the Patron Saint of sailors, fountain). The Place du Coche d'Eau is one of the most picturesque in the Quartier de la Marine, with a number of half-timbered houses.
Visit to the St. Germain’s Abbey:
Saint-Germain Abbey is one of Auxerre’s two most prestigious monuments. Its elegance can be seen from the banks of the River Yonne and takes the shape of an abbey church rebuilt in the 11th century and the Saint-Jean Tower, built in the 12th century Come for a visit and you’ll not only marvel upon this exceptional church, but also a superb cloister (17th century) and various 18th century chambers (monks’ room, sacristy and storeroom). Lastly, the development of the crypts, built in the 9th century, presents one of the most beautiful examples of the Carolingian Art in Europe.
Lunch in Auxerre or the surrounding area.
AFTERNOON : Transfer to Escolives and visit to the Gallo-Roman site with its 4th century thermal baths.
Coach transportation to Bailly tour of the Bailly cellars. These cellars overlook the Yonne river and are situated inside a former quarry, covering four hectares, 50 m underground where 5 million bottles of crémant (sparkling wine) are stored. At the end of the visit there will be a tasting of “Crémant de Bourgogne”. Return to Auxerre. End of guide’s services.
Day 1: 109 (Perreux) or 75 Km (Bussy), day 2: 19 Km
Price : 177 € in a 2* hotel and 193.50 € in a 3* hotel basis 31 persons
Availability : please consult us
For information, quotations, suggestions ... your contacts
Approval no. AU 089-98-0001 Office open Monday to Saturday Hélène Chaumont Emmanuelle Pillaz Tel.: +33 (0)3 86 52 85 72 Fax: +33 (0)3 86 51 23 27
Write to : groupe@ot-auxerre.fr
