Located on the banks of the Yonne River, Auxerre is in the Burgundy region of France. The cathedral towers over the town, as do several other churches, but historically the town owed its success to the strategic position it occupies on the river, which was at one time a very important trade route between the North Sea and the Mediterranean.

Take a stroll along the Pont Paul Bert, the main bridge across the river, for an excellent view of Auxerre’s skyline. Here you will also notice the town’s three main churches, the Saint Etienne Cathedral, the Church of Saint Peter and the Saint Germain Abbey. Saint Etienne is a gothic cathedral that is still under construction and has some of the best stained glass in all of France.

The old town gateway, which features a 15th century clock tower that is complete with an functional ochre and gold sundial, acts as a sentry watching over passage into the old town centre, which remains a region of protected development