From the gentle rise on which Tillenay is built, you can enjoy beautiful views of the Saône, the lake, the railway station and the foothills of the Jura. This combination offers a helpful perspective when choosing a destination: the view takes in bodies of water, the built-up surroundings and the wider landscape beyond. Tillenay also offers inviting places to go for a walk. If you would like to consider both the landscape and time outdoors, alongside historic sights, while planning your trip, you will find two clear points of interest here.

Saint-Denis Church and traces of the past

Saint-Denis Church brings together connections to different periods. A chapel already stood in Tillenay in the 7th century, near the site of the present-day church. The church itself was completely remodelled around 1830 and houses an 18th-century limestone holy-water font, which is part of the protected historic furnishings. The early chapel, the remodelling of the church building and a specific furnishing item thus represent different aspects of the town’s history. The dates are not interchangeable: the font dates from a different century than the remodelling. Anyone interested in architectural and cultural history can see both changes over time and the significance of individual details in these connections.

The railway station and the nearby chapel

Gare d'Auxonne railway station also has a clear historical connection. It is located in Tillenay and was listed as a Monument historique by decree dated 28 December 1984. The Chapelle de la Levée, by contrast, is geographically associated with Villers-les-Pots: it is located there, but was classified in the neighbouring municipality of Tillenay. Villers-les-Pots is its location; its connection to Tillenay lies in its classification. This distinction makes it possible to separate the history of the railway station in Tillenay from the chapel’s special cross-municipal connection.

The preserved needle dam and water retention

The former needle dam near Tillenay has been preserved. The former dam created the Auxonne-Tillenay water retention area; it is also the last needle dam of its size in France. The structure therefore points both to a technical past and to the creation of a named body of water. The water retention area adds another connection to the waterscape, alongside the views of the Saône and the lake. For travellers interested in industrial history, the needle dam offers a different point of interest from the church or railway station: the focus here is on a preserved structure and its connection with the water retention area.

Which focus suits your trip?

If you are looking for hotels for a stay in Tillenay, these different local attractions can help you choose a destination. Should the landscape, with the Saône, the lake and the foothills of the Jura, be the deciding factor, or are you more interested in the historical connections of Saint-Denis, the railway station and the needle dam? The inviting places to go for a walk can also factor into your plans. This way, you can decide whether the landscape, walks or the specific traces of Tillenay’s history hold the greatest appeal for you.

Discover more destinations: Rouvray, Jossigny, Planay, Corgoloin, Talant, Sennecey-Lès-Dijon, Saint-Philibert, Champagne-Sur-Vingeanne

For the overview of the wider region: Cote-Dor.