Chablis area information

The Tonnerrois is a rural area, easily accessible and full of nice surprises amongst Renaissance castles, the Burgundy Canal and the beautiful white stone buildings from the local quarries.

The town of Tonnerre has a quaint charm. Tourists may visit the anciant hospital 'l'Ancien Hôpital'Ton, built by Marguerite de Bourgogne in 1293, and the Fosse Dionne, a bubbling spring, once used as a wash-house with dark legends surrounding it. A few kilometres from Tonnerre is the little town of Tanlay, dominated by the magnificent moated Renaissance château famous for its exceptional trompe l’oeil gallery. Within the grounds there is a nine hole golf course, the club being a member of the Fédération Française de Golf.

Along the river Armançon and Canal de Bourgogne which parallels it, you have some of the most desirable of villages – Perrigny-sur-Armançon, Cry and Fulvy. Ancy-le-Franc has the most splendid château in northern Burgundy and offers monthly concerts, art exhibitions and events. This Renaissance château is gradually being renovated to a very high standard and has a great feeling of renewal and energy.

The  Burgundy Canal with its locks and lock-keepers’ houses becomes active from spring through to autumn with canal cruisers and the hotel-barges. There is gentle activity on the water and on the tow paths as cyclists and walkers enjoy the canal side.

By road, the A6-E15 road axis through Burgundy makes the Tonnerrois easily accessible. It takes about 5hrs from the channel ports either via Paris or Troyes, and 7hrs from the Netherlands. By air, Paris Charles de Gaulle airport is about 2hrs away and Paris Orly 1hr 30 by car. By train, this area is served by the TGV into Montbard via Paris Gare de Lyon or Lille. Both link into Eurostar but the connection is more straight forward via Lille - you can leave Montbard at 07.00 and be in London at 11.00, making weekly commuting a possibility. Trains also connect from the train station at airport Paris Charles de Gaulle to Montbard.