Discover Chablis through its wine culture and historic buildings. Museums and a multisensory visitor trail offer different perspectives on winegrowing, while churches, a former priory and an old wine press tell the story of the town. There are also different ways to enjoy the area, from a narrated tour to a guided walk through the winegrowing region.
Wine Culture, from the Visitor Trail to Tastings
The Cité des Climats et vins de Bourgogne presents the history, heritage and wine culture of Chablisien, Grand Auxerrois and Châtillonnais through an immersive multisensory visitor trail. It also offers a wine bar and year-round activities. The programme may change; check the current activities when planning a specific visit.
The Cité's architecture also reflects the past: the contemporary building connects to the historic Petit Pontigny complex. Its 15th- to 18th-century buildings were formerly cellars belonging to the monks of Pontigny Abbey. Here, a modern introduction to wine culture meets a historic building complex.
The Musée Vinéa Passion focuses on the winegrowing heritage of Chablisien. On display are distinctive objects and tools used for planting vines, winegrowing and winemaking, as well as reconstructed soils from the winegrowing region. Exhibition details may change. A visit concludes with a tasting of wines from the Ermitage Ste Vaubourg estate or, for those who do not drink alcohol, grape juice. Visit and tasting arrangements may also change.
Historic Buildings and Their Periods
Several buildings illustrate different periods in Chablis's history. The Obédiencerie dates from the 15th to 17th centuries and historically belonged to the chapter of the canons of Tours. The Collégiale Saint-Martin was built in 1160 and rebuilt from the 1220s onwards. These dates place the collegiate church's construction history in two distinct periods.
The Church of Saint-Pierre is a Gothic building from the 12th and 13th centuries and was formerly the town's only parish church. The Prieuré Saint-Cosme, meanwhile, was built in the 12th century by Premonstratensian canons. It was originally fortified and protected by moats. Details of their construction dates, former functions and original layouts distinguish these historic sites without reducing them to a single period.
The Pressoir à abattage can be seen at the western entrance to the town. The old wine press is typical of the period from the 12th to 16th centuries and is now visible to everyone. Its historical context connects winegrowing with the traces of the past that remain in the town.
Tour, Walk or Tasting
The Petit Train Touristique de Chablis offers a 45-minute narrated tour through the historic centre and the winegrowing region. For this specific tour, check in advance whether it is running on your visit date, as operating times may change. Another way to experience the area is the Balade commentée dans le vignoble de Chablis: a guided walk on the Colline des Grands Crus de Chablis. It is available by reservation only; reservation and operating details may also change.
The Domaine Antoine et Laura Robin offers a tasting of its cuvées with a view of the Grands Crus. Choose from a range of experiences: a narrated tour through the town centre and winegrowing region, a walk on the Colline des Grands Crus that requires a reservation, or a tasting. If you plan to book one of these activities, check the relevant dates and conditions in advance.
Discover more destinations: Escamps, Villeneuve-Sur-Yonne, Brienon-Sur-Armançon, Beauvoir, Auxerre, Ancy-Le-Franc, Avallon, Malay-Le-Grand
For the broader travel overview: Yonne.
