Avallon

Click for town centre map

The clock tower, Avallon

Placed centrally in Burgundy, Avallon has been important strategically in history. This fortified town lies between two ravines and from the ramparts you can look across the rooftops to the Valley of the Cousin. It is a quiet market town now, but it is ideally situated for forays into the Morvan Forest and exploring the centre of region.

Avallon really comes alive on Saturday morning when the market comes to town in the Place Géneral-de-Gaulle. Morvan honey, local cheeses such as the Abbaye de la Pierre-qui-Vire and wine from the Auxois are specialities to look out for. There are several excellent suppliers in the town such as butcher-charcuterie Viandes et Terroirs in Grande-Rue-Aristide-Briand. For a good value lunch head to Bar le Relax on Rue Lyon. This unimposing café is frequented by local businessmen and is always full.

Continuing from the Place Géneral-de-Gaulle into the old quarter of town, the clock tower leads through to the ramparts and the Promenade de la Petite Porte.

The Valley of the Cousin should not be missed. This verdant river valley, popular with trout fishermen, has several hotels along it. What a location for a romantic sojourn.

See: Touring Routes

Tourist Office, Avallon

Market day

Saturday morning

burgundy holiday homes direct from owner

• Agrippa Cottage, Sermizelles, Sleeps 2-4
• Rouvray, sleeps 10, ref: 676396a
• Corsaint, sleeps 2, ref; 99874
• Jeux les Bard, sleeps 4, ref; 461517

hotels

• Château de Vault de Lugny****
• Hostellerie de la Poste,**** centre of town
• Le Relais Fleuri, *** a Logis de France on the N6
• Moulin des Ruats *** beautiful location in Cousin Valley
  
• Campanile, Sauvigny-Le-Bois **  N6
• Les Fleurs, ** Pontaubert
  

Places to visit

• Vézelay
• L’Abbaye de la Pierre-qui-Vire
• Morvan Forest

Property

English-speaking estate agent with 7 offices in Burgundy www.burgundy4u.eu

TOURIST OFFICE

Avallon's Tourist Office is alongside the clock tower in the old part of town. Visit their site: www.avallonnais-tourisme.com for all local information.

car hire

Competitive, comparative prices, and you can book online with Auto Europe

Hospital

Centre Hospitalier, 1 Rue Hôpital, 89200 Avallon tel: 0033(0)3 86 34 66 00

see also
King Arthur's French Odyssey

Getting to and from Avallon
Avallon is 225 km from Paris, the nearest airport.
By train:
TER regional services
A bus connection from Avallon station to the TGV station Montbard.
By bus:
Travel by bus