Driving from Paris to Dijon
Nov 25th, 2008, 12:39 PM
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Vezelay and its area of Burgundy to me is fantastic
A thriving medieval pilgrimage stop on the road to St Jacques shrine in Spain (i believe) the grandiose Basilica at Vezelay was built to house a very holy relic of i believe Our Lady - whatever the relic was it was exposed as a fake in medieval days and Vezelay's pilgrim trade dried to a trickle quickly and then the city became virtually abandoned and slumbered along until it was restored to its medieval stone (cobblestone streets and stone houses) glory - thus it is a perfect medieval town draped over a high hill standing sentinel over a bucolic Burgundy countryside.
Nearby Auxerre gets good reviews and could make a better overnight perhaps.
A thriving medieval pilgrimage stop on the road to St Jacques shrine in Spain (i believe) the grandiose Basilica at Vezelay was built to house a very holy relic of i believe Our Lady - whatever the relic was it was exposed as a fake in medieval days and Vezelay's pilgrim trade dried to a trickle quickly and then the city became virtually abandoned and slumbered along until it was restored to its medieval stone (cobblestone streets and stone houses) glory - thus it is a perfect medieval town draped over a high hill standing sentinel over a bucolic Burgundy countryside.
Nearby Auxerre gets good reviews and could make a better overnight perhaps.
Nov 25th, 2008, 01:38 PM
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Hi Emily,
On the way from the airport to Dijon, you could stop at Auxerre or Troyes. I only did a day trip to Troyes and while I really loved the town, I don't know where you could spend the night. (Is that what you meant by "where to stop?"
If you go to Auxerre, I recommend www.chateauderibourdin.com just outside of Auxerre. Both the B&B and the man who runs it are very nice.
Highlights in Auxerre include the cathedral & abbey. Troyes has a cathedral, churches & a wonderful art museum. I've heard great things about the tool museum but haven't seen it myself. Both towns have lively farmers' markets, too.
As far as highlights - I second PalenQ's recommendation about the basilica at Vezelay. I also enjoyed the abbey at Fontenay http://www.abbayedefontenay.com/abbayedefontenay.htm
with its well renovated exteriors and garden - it gives you a feeling of what it must have been like to have lived there. Another option near Auxerre is the abbey at Pontigny
http://abbayedepontigny.eu/ - although it needs a lot of work, the choir, organ, & altarpieces are impressive IMHO.
There's also the chateaux at Ancy le Franc and Tanlay.
I hope that this helps.
On the way from the airport to Dijon, you could stop at Auxerre or Troyes. I only did a day trip to Troyes and while I really loved the town, I don't know where you could spend the night. (Is that what you meant by "where to stop?"
If you go to Auxerre, I recommend www.chateauderibourdin.com just outside of Auxerre. Both the B&B and the man who runs it are very nice.
Highlights in Auxerre include the cathedral & abbey. Troyes has a cathedral, churches & a wonderful art museum. I've heard great things about the tool museum but haven't seen it myself. Both towns have lively farmers' markets, too.
As far as highlights - I second PalenQ's recommendation about the basilica at Vezelay. I also enjoyed the abbey at Fontenay http://www.abbayedefontenay.com/abbayedefontenay.htm
with its well renovated exteriors and garden - it gives you a feeling of what it must have been like to have lived there. Another option near Auxerre is the abbey at Pontigny
http://abbayedepontigny.eu/ - although it needs a lot of work, the choir, organ, & altarpieces are impressive IMHO.
There's also the chateaux at Ancy le Franc and Tanlay.
I hope that this helps.
Nov 25th, 2008, 03:22 PM
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The chateau at Tanlay is especially interesting because of its Renaissance roots. The family still lives there; so the chateau is furnished, unlike many in the Loire Valley.
Near Dijon is one of our favorite towns: Autun. It has a splendid Gothic cathedral with facade carvings by the famous Ghiselbertus, and the medieval precincts of the cathedral are interesting.
There's also a still-in-use Roman amphitheater, and the wrought-iron gates of the Jesuit college are worth a stop.
Near Dijon is one of our favorite towns: Autun. It has a splendid Gothic cathedral with facade carvings by the famous Ghiselbertus, and the medieval precincts of the cathedral are interesting.
There's also a still-in-use Roman amphitheater, and the wrought-iron gates of the Jesuit college are worth a stop.
