Auxerre

Auxerre is the capital (prefecture) of the Yonne department and the fourth-largest city in the Burgundy historical region southeast of Paris. Auxerre's population today is about 35,000; the urban area (aire d'attraction) comprises roughly 113,000 inhabitants. Residents of Auxerre are referred to as Auxerrois.
Auxerre is a commercial and industrial centre, with industries including food production, woodworking and batteries. It is also noted for its production of Burgundy wine, including Chablis. In 1995 Auxerre was named a "Town of Art and History".
Geography
Auxerre lies on the river Yonne and the Canal du Nivernais, about 150 km southeast of Paris and 120 km northwest of Dijon. The A6 autoroute (Paris–Lyon) passes northeast of the city. Auxerre-Saint-Gervais station has rail connections to Dijon, Paris, Corbigny and Avallon.
History
Auxerre was a flourishing Gallo-Roman centre, then called Autissiodorum, through which passed one of the main roads of the area, the Via Agrippa (1st century AD) which crossed the Yonne (Gallo-Roman Icauna) here. In the third century it became the seat of a bishop and a provincial capital of the Roman Empire. In the 5th century it received a cathedral. In the late 11th-early 12th century the existing communities were included inside a new line of walls built by the feudal counts of Auxerre.
Bourgeois activities accompanied the traditional land and wine cultivations starting from the twelfth century, and Auxerre developed into a commune with a Town Hall of its own. The Burgundian city, which became part of France under King Louis XI, suffered during the Hundred Years' War and the Wars of Religion. In 1567 it was captured by the Huguenots, and many of the Catholic edifices were damaged. The medieval ramparts were demolished in the 18th century.
In the 19th century numerous heavy infrastructures were built, including a railway station, a psychiatric hospital and the courts, and new quarters were developed on the right bank of the Yonne.
Until the early 20th century, Auxerre was one of the most prosperous cities in the department. But the local authorities of that period refused the railway that was subsequently set in the village of Migennes, and signed the economic decline of the town.
Demographics
Climate
Main sights
Cathedral of St. Étienne (11th–16th centuries). In Gothic style, it has three doorways with bas-reliefs. There are stained-glass windows in the choir and the apsidal chapel. The 11th-century crypt houses the remains of the former Romanesque cathedral.
Abbey of Saint-Germain, existing from the 9th century. The crypt has some of the oldest mural paintings in France, and houses the tomb of the bishops of Auxerre. There is a chapter room (12th century), a cellar (14th century) and a cloister (17th century).
The Clock Tower, in the Old Town
The church of St. Pierre en Vallée (17th–18th centuries), established over a 6th-century abbey. In late Gothic style, it has a tower similar to that of the cathedral. Portions of the decorations and inner chapels were financed by local winegrowers.
Church of St. Eusèbe, founded in the 7th century. The nave was rebuilt in the 13th century, while the tower is in Romanesque style.
Notable people
Germanus of Auxerre (– ), bishop of Auxerre, missionary to Britain
William of Auxerre (died 1231), early High Scholastic theologian from Auxerre
Jean Baptiste Joseph Fourier (1768–1830), mathematician, experimental physicist and politician, born in Auxerre
Paul Bert (1833–1886), physiologist and politician, born in Auxerre
Louis Amable Crapelet (1822–1867), water-colour painter, born in Auxerre
Théodore Frédéric Gaillardet, (1808–1882), journalist, publisher of French-language newspaper Courrier des États-Unis in New York City and mayor of Plessis-Bouchard, France, born in Auxerre
Eugène Hatin (1809–1893), historian and bibliographer
Saint Helladius (died 387), bishop of Auxerre
Paul Monceaux (1859–1941), historian, born in Auxerre
Benoît Mourlon (born 1988), footballer
Jean-Paul Rappeneau (1932), film director, born in Auxerre
Guy Roux (1938), coach of AJ Auxerre for more than 40 years, holding the French record of 894 games in Ligue 1
Specialties
Gougère – baked choux pastry made of dough mixed with cheese.
Kir – a traditional aperitif mixed drink from Burgundy wine (traditionally Bourgogne Aligoté) and blackcurrant liqueur.
Bœuf bourguignon – a typical main dish made of beef and vegetables.
Truffe bourguignonne – truffles from Burgundy.
Regional wines
Chablis wine: a white wine made exclusively of Chardonnay in the Chablis AOC
Saint-Bris AOC: the only white wine in Burgundy made of Sauvignon grapes, especially Sauvignon blanc and Sauvignon gris
Irancy: a red wine from the surrounding area made of Pinot noir
Bourgogne côte d'Auxerre: belonging to the Burgundy AOC (wine), it is made of Chardonnay for the white wine and Pinot noir for the red.
Crémant de Bourgogne: sparkling wine following the tradition of Champagne, Crémant de Bourgogne has a strong production in and around Auxerre.
Bourgogne Aligoté: dry wine. Aligoté is the second most popular grape variety grown in Burgundy after Chardonnay.
The whole region of Burgundy produces over 200 million bottles per year.
Twin towns – sister cities
Auxerre is twinned with:
Greve in Chianti, Italy
Płock, Poland
Redditch, England, United Kingdom
Roscoff, France
Saint-Amarin, France
Worms, Germany
See also
County of Auxerre
Bishopric of Auxerre
Cathédrale Saint-Étienne d'Auxerre
Lady of Auxerre
Saint Germanus of Auxerre
Remigius of Auxerre
William of Auxerre
Communes of the Yonne department
AJ Auxerre, the local football club
References
External links
Auxerre Town Hall
/ Visit Auxerre Tourist Info
Communes of Yonne
Prefectures in France
Gallia Lugdunensis
Burgundy