Semur-En-Auxois: Culture and Walking Routes

Semur-En-Auxois was built on a remarkable, enclosed rocky spur in a meander of the Armançon. The Site Patrimonial Remarquable de Semur-En-Auxois brings together medieval-style buildings and the remarkable landscape of the rocky spur. Buildings and collections explore a range of historical and cultural themes; walking routes vary in their surroundings and length.

Historic Buildings and Traces of Their Past

Porte Guillier is a 14th-century town gate and was classified as a historic monument on 7 December 1923. The Collégiale Notre-Dame has a long building history: construction began in the 1220s with the apse and was completed in the 1470s with the portal’s flamboyant decorations. These dates serve different purposes: for Porte Guillier, they refer to its construction and monument classification; for the Collégiale, they mark the beginning and late completion of construction. Inside, the chapels and triforium contain stained-glass windows, furnishings and sculptures. The church therefore offers a chance to explore both its long construction history and the different areas of its interior fittings.

Collections Spanning Geology and Art

The Musée de Semur-en-Auxois displays natural history, geological and archaeological collections, as well as works of fine art, across three levels and eight rooms. It holds more than 10,000 geological specimens. The museum also presents the Sinémurien, a geological stage named after Semur-En-Auxois. The name of the stage directly links geological history with the town’s name. The Donjon, with the Tour de l'Orle d'Or, displays collections gathered over time across four levels. The two collection venues differ in their themes and layout: the museum brings together several subject areas across three levels and eight rooms, while the Donjon displays collections assembled over time across four levels.

Routes Along the Meander and Through the Lanes

The Chaumes have a signposted network of paths that runs around the town, offers viewpoints and provides a variety of walks from one Chaume to the next. The « Regards d’artistes » route offers two circular walks: one approximately 3 kilometres long along the meander loop of the Armançon, and a 1-kilometre route through the cobbled lanes of the town centre. The circular routes differ both in length and surroundings: the longer one follows the river meander, while the shorter one passes through cobbled lanes in the town centre. You can choose between a route along the river loop and a walk through the lanes.

Tour of the Bon-Vivant Factory

During a tour of the Bon-Vivant factory, you can learn about the different stages of biscuit production. For 2026, the tour is scheduled to run from 11 February to 9 December. Check the specific tour dates before making plans. If you are planning a trip for a later year, check again to see whether tours are being offered.

Discover more destinations: Fénay, Bessey-Lès-Cîteaux, Daix, Grésigny-Sainte-Reine, Saulieu, Fauverney, Quincey, Montliot-Et-Courcelles

See the regional travel overview: Cote-Dor.