Avallon - commune in Yonne, France

Avallon is a city in Bourgogne-Franche-Comté. Many buildings here recall the city's rich past: the fortress wall, with its turrets and bastions, still surrounds parts of the Old Town, where the St. Lazarus Church, the bell tower, and old half-timbered houses have all stood the test of time in admirable condition.

Understand

The town of Avallon is located in the heart of Burgundy on a granite rock at an altitude between 163 and 369 m. It is the northern entrance to the Morvan. It has just over 7,200 inhabitants within the city limits and 16,000 in the urban area. The Gallo-Romans built a temple, a court and a theater, but even before Roman times, the site of the town was home to a fortified stronghold of the Aedui, a Celtic tribe. Later, in the Middle Ages, Avallon had an important strategic position. Today, many buildings here recall the city's rich past: the fortress wall, with its turrets and bastions, still surrounds parts of the Old Town, where the St. Lazarus Church, the bell tower, and old half-timbered houses have all stood the test of time in admirable condition.

Get in

By train

Avallon has a SNCF train station and is connected to the TER (dead link: December 2020) (Transport Express Régional) railway network.

By bus

There are two bus lines with connection to Avallon (please inform at the SNCF station):

• Transdev Rapides de Bourgogne (local bus transport within the Yonne department)
• St Marc Transport (connects Auxerre with Dijon through Avallon)

By car

The fastest way to reach Avallon by car is by exits 21 and 22 of national highway A6 that runs from Paris to Beaune

Get around

By bus

A free shuttle bus service is available on Wednesday (14:00-19:00) and Saturday (09:00-12:45).

• CITEO (Avallon shuttle bus). Starting point centre (Place des Odebert).
  • Line1 : Center – SNCF Station - La Morlande - Centre (25 minutes)
  • Line2 : Center – Les Chaumes – Cousin - Centre (25 minutes)

By foot

A large part of the historical centre is a pedestrian zone.

See

• Saint-Lazare Church (Église Saint-Lazare) - The church was founded in the twelfth century and became a place of pilgrimage as a relic (a part of the skull) of St. Lazarus is preserved here. Only the crypt under the choir is left from the original structure from the fourth century. The two portals on the front are constructed in the 12th century. The church was destroyed several times by fire and the bell tower, that collapsed in 1633, is rebuilt in 1670.
• Saint-Martin Church (Église Saint-Martin) - The church was built around 1650 and restored and expanded in 1848. Note the glass-glass above the portal at the entrance. It depicts the wonderful scene with St. Martin, dressed as a Roman horseman, sharing his red robe with the poor.
• The Capuchin Monastery (Les Capucins) - In 1653 the monastery was built thanks to the contributions of Pierre Odebert. Some remains of the buildings have been preserved.
• Les Ursulines - The monastery was built in 1629 (next to Clock Tower). The courtyard is surrounded by a vaulted gallery that recalls to the medieval monastery.
• The gates and ramparts - Little is known about the initial construction. In the 11th, 14th and 16th century fortifications were made​​. In the 18th century a part was lost by the expansion of the city. From 1926 the building is protected and has become a major tourist attraction.
• The bell tower - The tower was built in 1456 and is 49 meters high.
• The statue of Vauban - This statue was created by Frederic Auguste Bartholdi, who is famous for building the Statue of Liberty in New York City. The statue can be found on Place de Vauban. In Neuvy, about 32 km southwest of Avallon, the castle of Sebastien Le Prestre de Vauban can be visited.

Museums

• Le Musée de l'Avallonnais, 6, Rue Belgrand, +33 3 86 34 19 95. Daily 10:30-12:30, 13:30-17:30. The museum is located in the heart of the historic center just a stone throw from the impressive bell tower. It tells the story of Avallon and its inhabitants. Free
• Musée du Costume, 6, Rue Belgrand, +33 3 86 34 03 19. Sa Su 14:00-18:00. In the heart of a mansion from the 17th and 18th century costumes from a private fund are exhibited. Wedding dresses are displayed in the chapel. €4
• La Verrerie d’Art (glass blowing art), 13, Rue des Îsles Labaumes, +33 3 86 34 10 14, olivier.j.lesniewicz@wanadoo.fr. M-F 09:30-13:00, 14:30pm-18:30; Sa Su 10:30-12:00, 15:00-18:30. See how master glassblowers create glasses, vases, bottles, lamps and figurines. These are for sale in the showroom. €5

Do

• Stroll around and see or visit the monuments. Maps are available at the tourist office including for hiking in the area.
  • Office du Tourisme, 6 Rue Bocquillot, +33 3 86 34 14 19, avallon.otsi@wanadoo.fr. Tu-Sa 09:30-12:30 and 14:00-18:00 (closed on Su M).

Buy

• Glass blowing art
• Regional products (wine, cheese, jams)

Eat

• Chez Dame Jeanne, 59 Grande Rue Aristide Briand (near the church), +33 3 86 34 58 71. A charming salon de thé with garden. Warm welcome. Light meal with a glass of good wine €15
• La Rose des Sable, 32 Rue de Lyon, +33 3 86 34 28 60. Asian food
• Les Capucins, 6 Av Paul Doumer, +33 3 86 34 06 52, hotellescapucins@wanadoo.fr. Traditional food
• Les Remparts, 13 Rue de Paris, +33 3 86 34 59 64. Pizzeria, Italian food

Drink

• Le Night Club, 13 Bis, Rue de l'hôpital, +33 3 679 77 20 17, ct@lenight.fr. F Sa 23:00-06:00.
• Cinema le Vauban, 1, Rue Maréchal Foch, +33 3 386 34 22 87.

Sleep

• Camping Municipal Sous Roche, Rue Sous Roche, +33 3 86 34 10 39. Open from April until October.
• Hôstellerie de la Poste, 13, place Vauban, +33 3 86 34 16 16, info@hostelleriedelaposte.com. A monumental four-star hotel that exists since 1707
• Hôtel d’Avallon Vauban, 53 Rue de Paris, +33 386 31 63 20, contact@avallonvaubanhotel.com.
• Dak‘ Hôtel, 117 Rue de Lyon, +33 386 31 63 20.
• Le Moulin des Templiers, 10 Route de Cousin, 89200 Pontaubert, +33 386 34 10 80. Pontaubert is located about 4 km west of Avallon

Cope

• Gendarmerie Nationale (Police), 2 av Victor Hugo, +33 17.
• Bureau de Poste (Post office), 9 Rue Des Odebert, +33 386 34 86 20. M 10:30-12:30, 13:3m-17:30; Tu-Th 08:30-12:30, 13:30-17:30; F 08:30-18:00; Sa 08:30-12:00.
• Centre Hospitalier d'Avallon (Hospital), 1 Rue Hôpital, +33 386 31 90 84.

Go next

• Morvan Regional Natural Park - Avallon is the biggest town in this regional park that spreads out further south
• Vezelay - This famous pilgrimage is located 17 km east of Avallon
• Arcy-sur-Cure - In this village, 21 km north of Avallon (direction Auxerre), are beautiful prehistoric caves