The eclectic heritage of the town of Tonnerre, located on the border of Champagne and Burgundy, has plenty to win over visitors. Its nickname of "Burgundy's Little Venice" is due to its charming features: the Burgundy Canal, an inviting place to go walking or boating, and the River Armançon with its mill race.
Yet the main attraction is the astounding circular basin of the Fosse Dionne, a karst spring with dreamy turquoise water... This mysterious spring, which has inspired many legends over the centuries, excites the curiosity of all generations. Built downhill from the Church of St. Peter, this charming site was turned into a picturesque washhouse in the 18th century. Then head to the Gothic and Renaissance church, which you can reach by taking the steps. Perched on a hill, it offers a beautiful view of the old town rooftops and surrounding green landscapes from its terrace.
A certified Small Town of Character, the birthplace of the famous knight of Éon, a diplomat and spy to Louis XV, makes a pleasant place for a walk. Keen botanists can admire the gardens at the Our Lady of Fontenilles Hospital (Hôtel-Dieu Notre-Dame des Fontenilles), which feature aromatic and medicinal plants alongside flowers and fruit trees. Considered to be the longest medieval hospital in Europe and the oldest in Burgundy, the Hospital, founded in 1293, still has its remarkable 90-metre long patients' ward. It also houses a museum with several themed rooms, including a reconstruction of an operating theatre from the early 20th century.