# Road trip in the Yonne > In early November 2018, we set off for three days by car from Paris to discover Burgundy, and more precisely the Yonne department: it was also a chance to celebrate our eight years together! Source: https://voyagesurlacomete.fr/en/blog/road-trip-yonne/ Published on 10 November 2018 In early November 2018, we set off for three days by car from Paris to discover **Burgundy** and more precisely the **Yonne** department: it was also a chance to celebrate our eight years together! We wanted to follow a little itinerary to visit the towns and villages along the Yonne, such as **Sens**, **Joigny** or **Auxerre** : we tell you everything below. ![Map of the Yonne marking the stages of the road trip](https://voyagesurlacomete.fr/photos/2026/roadtrip-dans-yonne-02-2842d9ea.webp) ## Sens 130 kilometres from Paris, our first stop was the small town of **Sens**, which is worth a detour for a few hours. We wandered around the **historic town centre** with its many half-timbered houses, which give the town a lot of charm. Don't miss the **Gothic cathedral of Saint-Etienne** either, its **Jardin de l'Orangerie** and the **Marché Couvert** facing it. > **Our tip** > > we had parked in the free car park on boulevard Maupéou, a few steps from the [Tourist Office](https://www.tourisme-sens.com/) and the town hall. ![Clock and ironwork on the facade of the market hall of Sens](https://voyagesurlacomete.fr/photos/2026/roadtrip-dans-yonne-03-f688a66d.webp) ## Joigny We carried on along the Yonne as far as **Joigny** (35 kilometres from Sens), a small Burgundian town where you can spend an hour or two to see the essentials. We found this town far less well kept than Sens, falling into ruin in some streets... The best thing is to park in the big free car park by the Yonne, near the covered market, then walk up into the old town. Then take the **bridge** for a nice overall view of the town and its slopes. Not to be missed during the visit: the three **churches** (Saint-André, Saint-Jean, Saint-Thibaut), the half-timbered **maison du Bailli** or the **Porte du bois** which closes the town to the north. ![Half-timbered house on a street corner in Joigny](https://voyagesurlacomete.fr/photos/2026/roadtrip-dans-yonne-06-a8fb30c3.webp) ## Auxerre **Auxerre** is an unmissable stop on a road trip in the Yonne: we chose to sleep there so we could visit the town and explore the surrounding area by car. You can easily devote a whole day, or even two, to it. The town centre is full of historic monuments such as the **Eglise Saint Pierre**, the **cathedral of Saint Etienne d'Auxerre**, the **abbey of Saint Germain d'Auxerre** or the **Tour de l'Horloge**. Take the **passerelle de la Liberté**, it gives a lovely viewpoint over the town and its many bell towers as well as over the Yonne. As we had time ahead of us, we also carried on to the **parc de l'Arbre sec** which offers a fine view over Auxerre. ![Ornate street lamp in front of half-timbered houses in Auxerre](https://voyagesurlacomete.fr/photos/2026/roadtrip-dans-yonne-12-8c4c7696.webp) ## Noyers About forty kilometres south east of Auxerre, we discovered **Noyers**, which really won us over. A peaceful and bucolic atmosphere reigns in this village on the banks of the Serein, which is aptly named. Listed among the Most Beautiful Villages of France, this medieval stone town is magnificently well preserved: you understand why it has served as a film set. A lovely discovery that we recommend if you are passing through the region! What's more, in autumn the facades take on pretty colours thanks to the ivy running over the houses. ![House covered with red Virginia creeper in Noyers](https://voyagesurlacomete.fr/photos/2026/roadtrip-dans-yonne-18-32aa0bad.webp) ![Old houses reflected in the tree-lined river](https://voyagesurlacomete.fr/photos/2026/roadtrip-dans-yonne-19-531c13cc.webp) ![Fortified gate and clock tower at the entrance to the village](https://voyagesurlacomete.fr/photos/2026/roadtrip-dans-yonne-20-9cf257c3.webp) ![Window with blue shutters wrapped in Virginia creeper](https://voyagesurlacomete.fr/photos/2026/roadtrip-dans-yonne-21-d563d7e9.webp) ![Cobbled lane lined with half-timbered houses](https://voyagesurlacomete.fr/photos/2026/roadtrip-dans-yonne-22-67e754e3.webp) ![Red and white half-timbered house on the corner of a square](https://voyagesurlacomete.fr/photos/2026/roadtrip-dans-yonne-23-32e7e223.webp) ## Vézelay At the gateway to the **Morvan Regional Nature Park**, we discovered one of the most beautiful villages in France and a major pilgrimage site on the way to Santiago de Compostela: **Vézelay**. The view from the top of the **basilica** is truly breathtaking because the belvedere overlooks the whole region. Don't hesitate to get lost in the little streets to discover craft shops. ![Lane in Vézelay climbing towards the basilica](https://voyagesurlacomete.fr/photos/2026/roadtrip-dans-yonne-24-804bb8dc.webp) As we set off back to Auxerre, on the way out of Vézelay, we also stopped at the **Église Saint-Jacques d'Asquins**, which offers a nice view over the surroundings. ![Country road running towards the hill of Vézelay](https://voyagesurlacomete.fr/photos/2026/roadtrip-dans-yonne-30-c9e65868.webp) ![Small Romanesque church standing alone in a meadow](https://voyagesurlacomete.fr/photos/2026/roadtrip-dans-yonne-31-fc27a54b.webp) ![Wooded autumn hillside and village rooftops down below](https://voyagesurlacomete.fr/photos/2026/roadtrip-dans-yonne-32-4fa3c5d9.webp) ## Around the Yonne Here are a few more **ideas of places to discover** that we will no doubt go and visit on a future trip to the region: - Abbaye de Pontigny - Chablis - Château de Tanlay - Abbaye de Notre-Dame de Quincy - Château d'Ancy le Franc - Grottes d'Arcy-sur-Cure ## Our accommodation in Auxerre We fell in love with a room rented on **[Airbnb](https://www.airbnb.fr/rooms/29210960)**, for under **60€** a night, located right in the historic centre of Auxerre. Set in a superb private mansion with grounds and an outdoor pool, the guest room is run by a charming couple who welcomed us warmly and served us a delicious breakfast (10€ per person at the weekend): we recommend it 100%! Check out [their website](https://hotelparticuliersainteusebe.wordpress.com/) to book directly. ## Our favourite spots in Auxerre - **[Olivier Vidal](https://www.google.com/maps/place/Olivier+Vidal/@47.7950971,3.5696048,15z/data=!4m5!3m4!1s0x0:0x6cfd455ae4484e2b!8m2!3d47.7950971!4d3.5696048)**: very good chocolate shop and patisserie in Sens and in Auxerre - **[L'Hermine](https://www.google.com/maps/place/L%E2%80%99Hermine/@47.7965303,3.5670835,17z/data=!3m1!4b1!4m5!3m4!1s0x47ee4f308fcb4bc9:0x63b8905aa6c3e5be!8m2!3d47.7965255!4d3.5692744)**: perfectly decent creperie in the centre of Auxerre that saves the day when every restaurant in town is full on a Saturday night (_which is what happened to us!_) - A place we haven't tried but which comes warmly recommended: **[La P'tite Beursaude](https://www.google.com/maps/place/La+P'tite+Beursaude/@47.7949063,3.5717121,17z/data=!3m1!4b1!4m5!3m4!1s0x47ee4f370017e90d:0xe7e2356fd96f6271!8m2!3d47.794881!4d3.573838)** ## What we thought of the Yonne This department is worth the detour, so rich is it in heritage and in varied landscapes, between waterways, countryside and vineyards. It lends itself well to a road trip of a few days, which lets you go from village to village and take the time to stop wherever you like along the way. **We recommend the Yonne as an idea for a long weekend just two hours from Paris, and all the more so in autumn with all the beautiful colours nature offers!** Need ideas for your weekends and holidays in France? Read [our articles about our beautiful country](https://voyagesurlacomete.fr/en/destinations/france/)! ![Couple leaning against the carved portal of the basilica](https://voyagesurlacomete.fr/photos/2026/roadtrip-dans-yonne-33-3070d908.webp)