--- title: "Auxerre Cathedral (Saint-Étienne): What to See and the Crypt" description: "A Gothic cathedral with 13th-century glass and a crypt painting of Christ on horseback. Free entry, crypt paid, 1 to 1.5 hours, driver from Beaune." url: https://www.cote-privee.com/things-to-do/cathedrale-saint-etienne-auxerre lang: en updated: 2026-09-30 generated: 2026-10-08 image: https://www.cote-privee.com/og/things-to-do/cathedrale-saint-etienne-auxerre.png --- # Saint-Étienne Cathedral, Auxerre (Cathédrale Saint-Étienne d’Auxerre) > Saint-Étienne Cathedral, Auxerre: a Gothic cathedral above the Yonne, with 13th-century glass and a rare painting of Christ on horseback. Saint-Étienne Cathedral, Auxerre is in Auxerre (Yonne), 1 h 51 by road (167 km) from Beaune. Allow 1 to 1.5 hours · Private driver from Beaune: €415 one way for the whole car, up to 4 guests. The cathedral of Saint-Étienne dominates the old town of Auxerre and its reflection in the river Yonne. Its Gothic choir, carved portals and medieval stained glass make it one of the great churches of Burgundy. Below the choir lies an 11th-century crypt, with a rare Romanesque painting of Christ riding a white horse. ## Key facts - Type: Abbeys & churches - Where: Auxerre · Yonne - Location: 130 km north-west of Beaune · Yonne - Coordinates: 47.7978, 3.5728 - 1 h 51 from Beaune - Allow 1 to 1.5 hours - Auxerre - Nearby: [Saint-Bris](https://www.cote-privee.com/villages/saint-bris) - Official website: [ot-auxerre.com](https://www.ot-auxerre.com/destination-lauxerrois/destination-history/must-see-monuments/saint-etienne-cathedral/) - From Beaune: ≈ 1 h 51 · 167 km - €415 one way from Beaune with a [private driver](https://www.cote-privee.com/private-driver) - Or add it to our [long-day wine tour, €880](https://www.cote-privee.com/wine-tours/long-day). ## Getting there - [Private driver from Beaune](https://www.cote-privee.com/private-driver): 1 h 51 by road (167 km), €415 one way for the whole car. Coming by train or plane? [Transfers from stations and airports](https://www.cote-privee.com/transfers) Estimates per vehicle for up to 4 guests, tolls included. Your price is confirmed when you book. ## History Several cathedrals stood here before the present one. After a fire in 1023, a Romanesque cathedral was built and consecrated in 1057, and its crypt still survives. Bishop Guillaume de Seignelay began the Gothic cathedral in 1215. The choir was structurally complete by 1235, and the ambulatory windows were glazed by about 1250. Work on the nave and façade then went on slowly for almost three centuries. The north tower was only finished in the 1540s, and the south tower was never built. In 1567 Protestant troops sacked Auxerre and damaged the cathedral, and the Revolution turned it into a Temple of Reason. The cathedral was listed as a historic monument in 1840, and Viollet-le-Duc restored the crypt from 1844 to 1848. In 1870 Prussian cannonballs shattered one of the 13th-century windows. ## What you will see Start outside with the west portals, carved in the 13th century with the Last Judgement, the life of John the Baptist and scenes of the Creation. Inside, walk round the ambulatory to see its 13th-century stained glass, then look up at the soaring choir. Downstairs, the crypt holds the fresco of Christ on a white horse, surrounded by four angels on horseback. The treasury shows illuminated manuscripts, ivories and enamelled reliquaries from Limoges. ## Planning your visit Allow an hour to an hour and a half. The cathedral itself is free to enter, while the crypt and treasury have a separate paid visit. Auxerre is about 1 hour 45 minutes from Beaune and about 25 minutes from Chablis, so it fits well into a Chablis day. For the classic view, cross the Yonne to the right bank. Please check the official website for opening times. ## Did you know? The finished north tower rises to 68 metres, only a metre short of the towers of Notre-Dame de Paris. Its twin to the south was never built, which gives the façade its lopsided look. ## Around Saint-Étienne Cathedral, Auxerre What to combine with Saint-Étienne Cathedral, Auxerre on the same day, nearest first. ### Villages - [Saint-Bris](https://www.cote-privee.com/villages/saint-bris) (8 km away): Burgundy's Sauvignon village, built over a maze of medieval cellars. - [Irancy](https://www.cote-privee.com/villages/irancy) (12 km away): The red wine village of the Yonne, set in a bowl of vines and cherry trees. - [Chablis](https://www.cote-privee.com/villages/chablis) (17 km away): Burgundy's northern outpost, where Chardonnay grows on fossil-rich limestone above the river Serein. ### Châteaux - [Château de Maligny](https://www.cote-privee.com/chateaux/chateau-de-maligny) (16 km away): A castle above the Serein north of Chablis, whose name lives on in the Durup family's wines. - [Château Long-Depaquit](https://www.cote-privee.com/chateaux/chateau-long-depaquit) (17 km away): An 18th-century château in the heart of Chablis, home of the grand cru La Moutonne. - [Château de Béru](https://www.cote-privee.com/chateaux/chateau-de-beru) (24 km away): A family château above the Chablis vineyards, with a rare sundial and moon dial, and biodynamic wines. ### Things to do - [Auxerre Old Town and Clock Tower (Auxerre, tour de l’Horloge et vieille ville)](https://www.cote-privee.com/things-to-do/auxerre-old-town), 1 km away: Half-timbered streets, a medieval clock that tracks the moon, and church spires above the river Yonne. - [Saint-Germain Abbey, Auxerre (Abbaye Saint-Germain d’Auxerre)](https://www.cote-privee.com/things-to-do/abbaye-saint-germain-auxerre), 1 km away: A great Carolingian abbey whose crypts hold the oldest known wall paintings in France. - [Église Saint-Pierre d’Auxerre](https://www.cote-privee.com/things-to-do/eglise-saint-pierre-auxerre) (1 km away): The winegrowers' church of Auxerre, with a flamboyant tower, a classical façade and a Renaissance gateway inspired by Naples. ### Events - **The weekend before Christmas.** · [Marché du Réveillon](https://www.cote-privee.com/events/marche-du-reveillon-saint-bris-le-vineux): A Christmas food market held in the medieval cellars beneath Saint-Bris-le-Vineux. (Christmas · Saint-Bris-le-Vineux) - **A weekend in January, close to the feast of Saint Vincent on 22 January.** · [Saint-Vincent de Chitry](https://www.cote-privee.com/events/saint-vincent-de-chitry): Chitry honours Saint Vincent with a parade, mulled wine for all and a Sunday of tastings. (Tradition · Chitry) - **Saturday 29 – Sunday 30 May 2027 (Confirmed by the organiser)** · [Fleurs de Vigne](https://www.cote-privee.com/events/fleurs-de-vigne-auxerre): The wine festival of the Yonne, held on the Auxerre quays as the vines come into flower. (Wine festival · Auxerre) - **A long weekend in late August.** · [Rues Barrées](https://www.cote-privee.com/events/rues-barrees-auxerre): Three days of free street theatre, circus and dance in the old streets of Auxerre. (Culture · Auxerre) ### Guides about Saint-Étienne Cathedral, Auxerre - [A Chablis day trip from Beaune](https://www.cote-privee.com/guides/chablis-day-trip-from-beaune) ## Questions about Saint-Étienne Cathedral, Auxerre ### How far is Saint-Étienne Cathedral, Auxerre from Beaune? Saint-Étienne Cathedral, Auxerre is about 1 h 51 from Beaune by road (167 km). With a private driver, the trip from Beaune starts at €415 for the whole car, up to 4 guests. ### How long does a visit to Saint-Étienne Cathedral, Auxerre take? For the visit, allow 1 to 1.5 hours. ### When is Saint-Étienne Cathedral, Auxerre open? Opening days and times change during the year, so check the official website (ot-auxerre.com) before you go. Your driver can plan the day around them. ### Can a private driver take us to Saint-Étienne Cathedral, Auxerre? Yes. Your driver collects you in Beaune or at your hotel in an electric Polestar 2 (up to 4 guests), waits while you visit and plans the rest of the day with you. The driver speaks English, French, Mandarin Chinese and Arabic. → [Long-day wine tour, €880](https://www.cote-privee.com/wine-tours/long-day) ## Book - [Book a driver here](https://www.cote-privee.com/book?service=driver&place=sight:auxerre): €415 one way from Beaune · up to 4 guests ## Sources - - --- Canonical page: