Auxerre and around

Church of St Germain

Founded by Queen Clothilde, wife of Clovis, the first Christian king of France, this abbey church is an important shrine and houses a Carolingian crypt of tombs and 11th-13th century frescoes.

Cathedral of St-Etienne

Built on the site of an old church dating back to 400 AD, this lovely Gothic cathedral took over 3 centuries to build and was finally completed in the 16th century. It boasts superb 13th century stain-glass windows, frescoes and an 11th century crypt.

Basilica of Ste-Madeleine (Clamecy)

A glorious and magnificent 12th century abbey that was supposed to house the relics of Mary Magdalene and was an important meeting point for pilgrims on their way to Santiago de Compostela in Spain. This architectural wonder will take your breath away with is splendid Tour St-Michel, ornate typanum sculpture, impressive nave, lofty choir and intriguing Romanesque crypt. This is a must see if you are travelling through the region and is located between Avallon and Clamecy on the D977.

Dijon

The Cathedral of Saint-Benigne

This is an 11th century abbey of which little remains today. It is the former Benedictine abbey dedicated to St Benigne and this monastery was the centre of the Cluniac reform movement. More fascinating is the Romanesque crypt, which lies below the Gothic church. It contains fascinating sculptures and a rotunda ringed by three circles of columns and is dated back to the 10th century. Next door amongst the abbey gardens and within the old dormitory of the Benedictine Abbey, lies the Archaeology museum and its superb collection of Gallo-Roman finds.

Church of Notre Dame

Situated in the Quartier Notre-Dame is this 13th century Gothic styled Burgundian church. The exterior is adorned with gargoyles, a Jacquemart clock and a chouette (owl) that is supposed to bring good luck when touched. The interior boasts a splendid stain glass window that has survived since the 13th century an in the north transept stands the 9th century wooden ‘black’ virgin, the oldest in France.

Another interesting church to visit is the Church of St-Michel, situated on the Place de St Michel.

Beaune

Collégiale Notre-Dame

Situated on the rue d’Enfer, this beautiful Romanesque church houses, five extraordinary Tornai woollen and silk tapestries from the 15th century that illustrate the life of the Virgin Mary.

Maçon and around

Abbaye de St Philibert (Tournus)

This is the oldest Romanesque building in Burgundy and is much favoured. The abbey was founded by monks in the 9th century who had been driven from Noirmoutier, off the Atlantic coast, by the Normans. Monks brought with them their patron saint Philibert. Toady the present building dates back to the 10th–12th centuries, when it was rebuilt. The nave is stunning and is superbly elegant and grand. Beside the church is the Burgundy Museum (Musée de Bourguignon) which has exhibits of costumes, furniture and wax models depicting life in the 19th century.