At Guédelon, a 13th-century castle is being built in a wooded former quarry. Craftspeople demonstrate trades such as stoneworking, masonry and carpentry, blacksmithing, roofing with tiles and rope-making. Here, medieval construction is not just something you see in a finished building, but a combination of different techniques. This unusual approach to history is a striking starting point for discovering Yonne.
Landscapes and routes in Yonne
The département’s landscapes range from vineyards and cultivated fields to bocage, forests, waterways and canals. This variety offers different focuses for nature and cultural trips: you can explore natural areas or turn your attention to historic sites and their surroundings. Yonne’s tourist attractions include more than 200 places to visit.
There is also plenty of choice for outdoor activities: nearly 3,261 kilometres of maintained and signposted routes are designated for hikers, mountain bikers and horseback riders. The rivers of Yonne also offer opportunities for canoeing and kayaking. If a particular route is important to your plans, check its current course before setting out.
Craftsmanship and building history
Guédelon brings building history to life through demonstrations of traditional crafts. The trades represented include stonemasonry, masonry, carpentry and blacksmithing, as well as tiling and rope-making. If you are interested in how historic buildings were made, you can focus here on the craftsmanship that can easily go unnoticed when looking at a finished castle.
The Renaissance Château de Maulnes offers a different architectural feature. Its ground plan is pentagonal, arranged around a staircase. The building was constructed between 1566 and 1572 or 1573; Château de Maulnes has been classified as a Monument historique since 11 July 1942. Visits are available as self-guided, puzzle-based and guided experiences, as well as through activities. As the programme may change, it is worth checking the current visiting options before your trip.
Pilgrimage history and Romanesque architecture
The Basilica of Sainte-Marie-Madeleine in Vézelay is considered a masterpiece of Burgundian Romanesque art and architecture. Vézelay became an important place of pilgrimage after people came to believe that the church safeguarded relics of Saint Mary Magdalene. The pilgrimage tradition was linked to a route to Santiago de Compostela. The Vézelien preserves further traces of this religious and architectural history: its cultural landscape includes Romanesque churches, castles, fortified sites, calvaries and former pilgrimage routes.
Vézelay’s cultural heritage is not limited to the hill: the protected landscape also extends across fields, meadows and forests. The AOC wines of Vézelay are part of this setting, as are local producers and craftspeople, who contribute to the Vézelien’s culinary and craft identity.
Fortified sites and Gothic landmarks
In Noyers-sur-Serein, you can explore the fortifications on a walk along their 19 defensive towers; some are partly visible, while others are partially preserved. The Church of Notre-Dame adds to the town’s medieval character. It was built in the Gothic style between 1491 and 1515. The towers and the church offer different perspectives on the town: the defensive structures on one hand, and a building whose construction period is clearly defined on the other.
Saint-Étienne Cathedral in Sens is also considered the first and mother of Gothic cathedrals. The Grande Grotte at Arcy-sur-Cure offers a very different glimpse into the past: it features depictions of mammoths and ibex, as well as children’s handprints. The range of discoveries thus extends from medieval craftsmanship and sacred architecture to prehistoric traces.
Cycling and water activities
For cycling trips, the V56 Saint-Jacques à vélo includes the Vézelay–Limoges section. As infrastructure can change over time, check the current route before setting out. At Les Activités de l’Haliotis, the Tour de Bourgogne à vélo follows a canal towpath. Visitors can also steer electric boats there without a licence. Check the availability of these activities before your trip.
Whether you focus on building history, pilgrimage culture, landscapes or outdoor activities, Yonne brings together different themes without imposing a single, fixed itinerary. The Romanesque basilica, a castle under construction, fortified sites and river activities each offer their own highlights. When planning your accommodation, you can therefore start by considering which of these discoveries you would like to make the focus of your trip.
Discover more destinations: Cézy, Sougères-En-Puisaye, Auxerre, Avallon, Dissangis, Épineuil, Malicorne, Pisy, Pontaubert, Quarré-Les-Tombes, Sacy, Saint-Fargeau, Sarry, Thury, Treigny, Vareilles, Villeneuve-L'archevêque, Voutenay-Sur-Cure, Châtel-Gérard, Chaumot, Villeneuve-Sur-Yonne, Saint-Julien-du-Sault, Sens, Sauvigny-Le-Bois, Périgny, Monéteau, Joigny, Escolives-Sainte-Camille, Chablis, Bèze, Appoigny, La Ferté-Loupière, Tanlay, Champs-Sur-Yonne, Vermenton, Marmeaux, Vézelay, Vault-De-Lugny, Malay-Le-Grand, Toucy, Fontenay-Près-Vézelay, Arcy-Sur-Cure, Tonnerre, Cravant, Villefargeau, Armeau, Saint-Père, Rogny-Les-Sept-Écluses, Montigny-La-Resle, Châtel-Censoir, Aillant-Sur-Tholon, Andryes, Annay-Sur-Serein, Cussy-Les-Forges, Domecy-Sur-Cure, Jully, Sennevoy-Le-Bas, Sommecaise, Mailly-Le-Château, Vézinnes, Magny, Druyes-Les-Belles-Fontaines, Malay-Le-Petit, Champcevrais, Charny, Noyers, Venoy, Ancy-Le-Franc, Bléneau, Chemilly-Sur-Serein, Vignes, Arthonnay, Coulanges-La-Vineuse, Vincelles, Fontenay-Sous-Fouronnes, Lindry, Chemilly-Sur-Yonne, Saint-Germain-Des-Champs, Sainte-Vertu, Maillot, Saint-Cyr-Les-Colons, Villeneuve-Les-Genêts, Beauvoir, La Belliole, Courgis, Vinneuf, Pourrain, Brienon-Sur-Armançon, Taingy, Poilly-Sur-Serein, Villeperrot, Cudot, Saint-Georges-Sur-Baulche, Saint-Florentin, Merry-La-Vallée, Lixy, Nitry, Villebougis, Cornant, Thorigny-Sur-Oreuse, Champignelles, Courson-Les-Carrières, Thory, Chassignelles, Étais-La-Sauvin, Chamoux, Molinons, Collemiers, Saint-Bris-Le-Vineux, Irancy, Collan, Junay, Quenne, Maligny, La Chapelle-Vaupelteigne, Yrouerre, Lignorelles, Ligny-Le-Châtel, Jussy, Paroy-Sur-Tholon, Pierre-Perthuis, Turny, Bussy-Le-Repos, Saint-Clément, Préhy, Saint-Agnan, Courgenay, Les Sièges, Vaumort, Mézilles, Nailly, Passy, Merry-Sur-Yonne, Sermizelles, Lainsecq, Pacy-sur-Armançon, Bierry-les-Belles-Fontaines, Dicy, Diges, Savigny-sur-Clairis, L'Isle-sur-Serein, Héry, Poilly-sur-Tholon, Montillot, Champigny, Roffey, Rouvray, Crain, Cheny, Mélisey, Saint-Sauveur-en-Puisaye, Charentenay, Villeblevin, Accolay, Lézinnes, Saint-Valérien, Villiers-les-Hauts, Villeneuve-la-Guyard, Sainpuits, Saint-Privé, Brosses, Vergigny, Vallery, Merry-Sec, Villy, Courlon-sur-Yonne, Piffonds, Escamps, Lucy-sur-Yonne, Moulins-sur-Ouanne
For the broader travel overview: Burgundy.
