At the gates of the Morvan, the town of Avallon is surrounded by ramparts and overlooks the picturesque Cousin Valley. Perched on a granite rock spur, its historic quarter unfolds around the Collegiate Church of St. Lazarus, which dates back to the 8th century. This Romanesque building is characterised by its magnificent 12th-century portal decorated with remarkable arches and by its large pipe organ dating from 1850.
But the treasures of its town centre don't stop there! Be sure to go and admire the 49-metre high clock tower, built in 1456, and pay a visit to the Jean Després Museum of the Avallonnais, named after the famous Art Deco jewellery-maker. In addition to the exhibition of works by local artists, it presents rich and varied collections of paintings, sculptures, and gold and silverware from the 19th and 20th centuries.
Also not to be missed are the salt store, which belonged to the collegiate church in the 15th century, and the house of the Lords of Domecy, an elegant Burgundian residence listed as a historic monument and dating from the same period. The upper part of the door, which opens onto the forecourt of the Church of St. Lazarus, is decorated with a corbelled turret. Near Avallon town hall, on Rue Belgrand, a charming mansion houses the 12 rooms of the Costume Museum, which charts the history of clothing and fashion from the 18th century to the present day. The Carton sisters, who own and guide visitors around the museum, are passionate about their work.
Then head for the town ramparts for a little walk along the charming Promenade de la Petite Porte, where you can enjoy a scenic view of the valley. The terrace gardens surrounding the upper town are another place of peace and relaxation to appreciate as you stroll along...
The city of Avallon, "ABALLO" in the Celtic world, is located in the heart of Burgundy. Perched on its granite spur, it dominates the Cousin valley from its terraced gardens. The Clock Tower (XVth century) opens the doors to the historic district of the city, with its old houses, towers, bastions, watchtowers... and the collegiate church of Saint-Lazare, a witness to the architecture of the twelfth century, its two Romanesque doorways and wavy and fluted spiral columns.
Scenic belt of the city, the Cousin Valley and its multitude of trails clinging to the slope of the valley offer an infinity of different points of view on the Morvan. This valley was also the industrial and commercial heart of the city until the early twentieth century. Many mills and tanneries, now converted, bear witness to this past.
The city of Avallon is located in the Morvan Regional Nature Park and is labeled Green Station.
The city of Avallon has several religious buildings including the Cathedral Saint-Lazare built in the eighth century, rebuilt and enlarged in the twelfth century, and the church Saint Martin of the seventeenth century. In its historic heart, the House of Lords Domecy and the Office of Tourism reflect the Burgundian fifteenth century architecture. Another witness of this period, the Clock Tower, a former belfry 49 meters built between 1456 and 1459. By chance a walk in town, you can admire the statue of Vauban, the sculptor Bartholdi, author of the statue of Liberty in New York or the Lion of Belfort, which was inaugurated in 1873, but also the Memorial sculptured by Avallon Peter Hale, one of the few in France to have no warlike aspect. Finally reflects the architecture of the seventeenth century, the Municipal Museum of Avallon, the former college, and Costume Museum, a beautiful mansion of the seventeenth and eighteenth centuries, built before the Hotel de Conde, and Grenier a Sel, a warehouse for Gabelle the seventeenth century. Not to mention the small streets of the old Avallon, towers, bastions and turrets, to explore on foot by walking along the city walls. Le Grenier à Sel, former cider press Chapître: At its construction in the fifteenth, it houses the equipment needed to produce the wine. To the right of the front door hanger off the corner niche housed a statue of St. Vincent, patron saint of winegrowers. In the seventeenth, he would have used to store the salt from the salt tax, up to 980 cubic meters tell Archives.
A arrowed in the heart of the historic district gives free Avallon and discover all listed monuments. An explanatory booklet (2 €) is available at the reception of the tourist office Avallon.
Avallon also benefits from a green between its shaded walks (Les Terreaux Vauban, the Promenade des Capuchins, or the Soils of Small Gate) and its gardens as Houdaille Square, that of Jacques Schiever (behind the Museum of 'Avallonnais) without forgetting its terraced gardens so special.
Avallon offers various leisure activities, swimming pool, tennis covered and uncovered, municipal libraries, cinema, adventure course in the trees.
- Le Carnavallon (Carnival of Avallon) at the end of April at the beginning of May.
- The festival of the 3 Muses of the Municipal Conservatory of Music, Theater and Dance Jorge Ferreira d'Avallon in June.
- The party of Avallon the 3rd weekend of August.
- Avallon also offers a rich and varied cultural season in events from March to December: classical and lyrical concerts, theater, exhibitions in particular of contemporary art, sporting and festive events.
Concours Photo Tous Porteurs de Flamme
- From 5 march to 10 may 2024
- The year 2024 marks the Olympic Games in Paris, a historic moment ! The Olympic Flame will light up Avallon on 11 July. - Turn yourself into a torchbearer ! Create your own flame out of wood, paper, or even a rolling pin symbolising your passion. Be creative and capture yourself with it ! - Send your photos to concoursphoto@ville-avallon.fr or take part in the free workshops organised by the Musée de l'Avallonnais Jean Després and the Mediatheque Avallon. - 3 and 24 April at the museum - - 10 and 17 April at the media library - The best photos will be exhibited during the torch relay and in the town. Competition open to all, one photo per person. - Together, let's make your flames shine on the route !
Lato - L'Instinct du Rêve
- From 6 april to 5 may 2024
- Grenier à Sel
- An instinctive and discreet artist, my work sums up my vision of the world. From street art to exhibition rooms, my creations are an invitation to share my world of dreams and personal escapism. - You can take part in creative workshops on 10,17 and 24 April, booking by email to the cultural department (serviceculture@ville-avallon.fr) or at the exhibition.
Odile Ballot - Intemporelle
- From 12 april to 12 may 2024
- Maison des Sires de Domecy
- While the apparent simplicity of her brushstrokes and the tranquility of her subjects may at first appear naive, it is above all the artist's perspicacity in capturing the soul of the child or the essence of the landscape she is painting that shines through in all her works. Perhaps it is because she has always been able to preserve her childlike soul that she succeeds in capturing on canvas a moment of childhood that is by its very nature ephemeral. Perhaps that's why her landscapes seem to defy time, preserved forever.
Exposition de Pascal Caron, Artiste Avallonnais
- From 20 april to 20 may 2024
- 6 Rue de la Halle, Caves de la Halle
- Exhibition in the cellars of the Halle, from 20 April to 20 May 2024 - Opening saturday 20 april at noon
Mercredi JVQ : Child of Light
- On 24 april 2024
- 2 bis rue du Général Leclerc, Médiathèque Le Polygone
- Every month, our librarians select and highlight a little-known video game from our collection.
Joëlle Dollé - Natures Vivantes
- From 17 may to 16 june 2024
- Saint-Pierre et la Fabrique
- Joëlle Dollé has lived and worked in Burgundy since 2020, having previously lived in Paris. An art director in advertising agencies for ten years, in 1995 she decided to devote herself entirely to her passion, photography. She takes a different look at life through the eyes of people, flowers and animals. She uses her portraits to address societal issues, working on the relationship with oneself, with others and with nature with humour and poetry.
Le Grand Huit : Avallon Vézelay Morvan
- From 18 to 19 may 2024
- Place des Odebert et Place de la Mairie
- The Grand Huit Avallon-Vézelay-Morvan is a sports and solidarity event where teams of 4 to 8 people cover 135 km ( + /- 4 km) in less than 35 hours in two loops of around 65 km and 70 km. - - This is a sportive walk with possible relays (changeovers take place at the 12 checkpoints) and with a minimum of 3 walkers, together, at any time on the course. - - Most of the route is on forest tracks. A few road sections are unavoidable. - - Solidarity walk : each team collects funds from friends and family (€100/team in addition to the registration fee of €50/team to cover race costs), which will be donated to charities in the Avallonais area. - - It's an opportunity to discover a magnificent region and to experience a sporting, collective and supportive adventure.
De la Ville à la Nature - Didier Boisseaux
- From 1 to 23 june 2024
- Maison des Sires de Domecy
- Winner of Printemps des Artistes 2023. People say that watercolour is difficult, but I love this medium, which is perfectly suited to my temperament and my energy. I like the definitive aspect of the brushstroke, which leaves little room for error. The result is a fresh, spontaneous "Alla Prima" style of painting. The countryside and towns are among my favourite themes. The activity that reigns there is an inexhaustible source of inspiration for me.
Ensemble Vers 2024
- On 22 june 2024
- The "Together towards 2024" days organised by the 14 intercommunal bodies in the Yonne, the Comité Départemental Olympique et Sportif de l'Yonne and the Conseil Départemental de l'Yonne are an opportunity to showcase the associative, sporting and economic fabric of our regions. They will also be an opportunity to bring together large numbers of people around the values of sport and Olympism, and to discover new disciplines through a wide range of introductory courses. Last but not least, these events will be free of charge and will enable everyone to share a convivial moment in a festive atmosphere in the run-up to the Paris 2024 Olympic Games !
Monochromie et Couleurs de vie - Titus Titos
- From 28 june to 28 july 2024
- Maison des Sires de Domecy
- Mixed and varied techniques, adjustment of the reflection : balance of the sculptures, ink on paper, acrylic on canvas and materials to think about ; movements in the forms, fundamental composition and "in itself, an oxymoron combining opposites".