Pont-sur-Yonne is a town in Yonne, in the Bourgogne-Franche-Comté region, 12 km north-west of Sens.
As its name explicitly indicates, the locality is crossed by the course of the Yonne, a tributary of the Seine into which it flows a few kilometers downstream, and was equipped with a bridge from the 12th century.
The town has developed on the left bank, becoming a crossroads for both river and road communication, the "northern" gateway to Burgundy on the borders of Champagne and Île-de-France.
Dependent first of all on the parish of Villemanoche where a monastery was established, Pont-sur-Yonne was endowed with fortifications in the Middle Ages and the kings Philippe VI and Charles V granted it the right to organize a market in the 14th century. However, the first bridge built in 1175 had been at the expense of the Chapter of the cathedral of Sens, which shared with the king the seigneury of this land.
This geographical position is still one of the strengths of the city, which now has nearly 3,500 inhabitants, and is particularly specialized in the production of medical glassware (lenses).
Its heritage, its territory of nearly 14 km² where verdant openfield-type landscapes can still be observed and its cultural vitality make it a pleasant stopover.
Logically, it is through the remains of its centuries-old bridge that a discovery of the heritage of the city begins.
Admittedly, a modern bridge with a metallic structure of three spans allowing the RN6 to cross the river was inaugurated in 1942 (on piers based on compressed air caissons) but the Old Bridge, this is now how it is called, remains imposing. Built in 1684 at the will of Louis XIV, it was enlarged in 1840 and equipped with a new arch: enough to trace a towpath and build a port dedicated to shipping bricks and tiles to Paris. In 1941, it was amputated by three arches and in 1954, it was cut in the middle of the river and only served the Isle of Love, which fishermen liked. However, it will eventually be further reduced: now only the arches above the left bank remain, which are now protected as historical monuments. A testimony of the city's maritime and port past...
To see then, the tower located on the quai des Buttes, vestige of the fortifications of Pont-sur-Yonne and of course the Notre-Dame church. It was built from 1140 to 1185 in a primitive Gothic style then fortified in 1422 during the Hundred Years War (new vaults of the nave and the transept). Listed since 1907, the building has the shape of a Latin cross with a aisle nave, a projecting transept, and a choir which ends with a semicircular apse and two chapels. The bell tower was rebuilt in 1772 after a storm. A restoration campaign is in the works.
The station whose architecture is inspired by that of Deauville, inaugurated in 1849 and rebuilt in 2009 following a fire, and the well-named Vanne aqueduct built in 1868 to supply Paris with drinking water will complete this discovery of the small town at quaint charm.
The banks of the Yonne, the agricultural areas or the woods in the west of the territory will also give rise to pleasant hikes in the green and typical landscapes of the Sénonais. Maps and information on +33 3 86 65 19 49. It is also possible to join the outings of the local club: contact on +33 6 09 26 04 61.
Finally, the fishermen are obviously at the party: find out about the regulations on +33 3 86 51 03 44.
For three days, before July 14, musical festival dedicated to the violin.
The 3rd weekend of July, "hard and metal" festival.
August 15, garage sale, fun fair, and in the evening, torchlight retreat and fireworks fired on the quays.
The first or second weekend in September, wood festival with exhibitions and activities on the trades of the sector, fair exhibition, demonstration of chainsaw sculpture, country dances...
In mid-November, jazz festival.
The 2nd weekend of December, Christmas market.
Finally, on Wednesday and Sunday morning, the market is a great opportunity to appreciate the terroir of the region.
Concert
- On 4 may 2024
- Rue Pierre Banry, Salle polyvalente
- Pupils from Pont-sur-Yonne primary schools, accompanied by the Orchestre d'Harmonie de Pont-sur-Yonne OHPY, invite you to a musical interlude. - This musical event is the fruit of the pupils' labours, under the talented direction of Charlène Condaminet, a teacher at the Yonne Nord School of Music and Drama. - Admission free, subject to availability.
La Nuit du Jeu
- On 25 may 2024
- Rue Pierre Banry, Salle polyvalente
- The night of the game moves on the communes of the Sénonais basin. Come and discover or rediscover our board games during this long night of fun. - Open to children aged 2 and over. - Children under 13 must be accompanied. - Refreshments and snacks on site.
Les Choralympiades
- On 16 june 2024
- Eglise, Rue de l'Église
- Creation of a marathon of choirs from the Yonne, with the participation of the Orchestre d'harmonie de Pont-sur-Yonne. Throughout the day, choirs from across the region will meet, exchange ideas and work together to offer a host of surprises. Vocal interludes in the morning in the heart of the town, a concert with a varied repertoire by the choirs and tutti performances (subject to change), plus a whole host of surprises !
Ensemble Vers 2024
- On 6 july 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 !
