--- title: "Église Saint-Eusèbe d’Auxerre: How to Visit and What to See" description: "The church of Saint-Eusèbe stands in the centre of Auxerre, a short walk from the cathedral." url: https://www.cote-privee.com/things-to-do/eglise-saint-eusebe-auxerre lang: en updated: 2026-10-08 generated: 2026-10-08 image: https://www.cote-privee.com/og/things-to-do/eglise-saint-eusebe-auxerre.png --- # Église Saint-Eusèbe d’Auxerre > Église Saint-Eusèbe d’Auxerre: a church on the site of a 7th-century monastery, with a Romanesque bell tower and a bright Renaissance choir of stained glass. Église Saint-Eusèbe d’Auxerre is in Auxerre (Yonne), 1 h 51 by road (167 km) from Beaune. Allow 30 minutes · Private driver from Beaune: €415 one way for the whole car, up to 4 guests. The church of Saint-Eusèbe stands in the centre of Auxerre, a short walk from the cathedral. It rises on the site of a monastery founded in the 7th century, and was built between the 12th and the 16th century. Its Romanesque bell tower, its nave of the 13th to 15th centuries and its taller Renaissance choir, with windows of the 1530s, show four centuries of building in one walk. ## Key facts - Type: Abbeys & churches - Where: Auxerre · Yonne - Location: 130 km north-west of Beaune · Yonne - Coordinates: 47.7943, 3.5682 - 1 h 51 from Beaune - Allow 30 minutes - Auxerre - Nearby: [Saint-Bris](https://www.cote-privee.com/villages/saint-bris) - Official website: [auxerre.fr](https://www.auxerre.fr/leglise-saint-eusebe) - 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 Around 640, Saint Pallade, bishop of Auxerre, founded a monastery outside the town walls to receive the tombs of the bishops, and dedicated it to Saint Eusebius of Vercelli, known for fighting the Arian heresy. Around 1100 Bishop Humbaud placed it in the hands of regular canons from Saint-Laurent near Cosne, and it became a priory and soon the parish church of a growing district. The church was partly burnt in 1216 and only dedicated in 1384. In 1523 the old choir collapsed, and from 1530 it was rebuilt, higher than the nave, in the Renaissance style, with new stained glass. The west doorway dates from 1633. During the Revolution the priory disappeared and the church served as a prison until 1798, then for three years as the centre of the republican cult in Auxerre, before it became a parish church again in 1801. It has been a listed historic monument since 1862. ## What you will see Look first at the 12th-century Romanesque bell tower, close in style to that of the abbey of Saint-Germain. The doorway of 1633 carries panels of Saint Eusebius and Saint Lawrence, who also stand as statues at the entrance to the axial chapel. Inside, the nave mixes Romanesque and Gothic forms, then opens onto the lofty Renaissance choir. Several windows of the 1530s survive there, among them one telling the story of Joseph, alongside 17th-century paintings and 18th-century choir panelling. The church also keeps a 9th-century Byzantine silk known as the shroud of Saint Germain. ## Planning your visit Allow about 30 minutes. Saint-Eusèbe is on rue Saint-Eusèbe in the centre of Auxerre, about 1 hour 45 minutes from Beaune, a few minutes' walk from the cathedral of Saint-Étienne, the abbey of Saint-Germain and the clock tower. It is a parish church, so please be discreet during services. Ask the Auxerre tourist office for opening times and guided walks of the town. ## Did you know? Saint-Eusèbe was built outside the town's 3rd-century walls, and only came inside the town when a new wall was raised in the 1190s. ## Around Église Saint-Eusèbe d’Auxerre What to combine with Église Saint-Eusèbe d’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) (17 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. - [Muséum d’histoire naturelle d’Auxerre](https://www.cote-privee.com/things-to-do/museum-histoire-naturelle-auxerre) (1 km away): Auxerre's free natural history museum, in a 19th-century house with a formal garden, with changing exhibitions on nature and science. - [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) ## Questions about Église Saint-Eusèbe d’Auxerre ### How far is Église Saint-Eusèbe d’Auxerre from Beaune? Église Saint-Eusèbe d’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 Église Saint-Eusèbe d’Auxerre take? For the visit, allow 30 minutes. ### When is Église Saint-Eusèbe d’Auxerre open? Opening days and times change during the year, so check the official website (auxerre.fr) before you go. Your driver can plan the day around them. ### Can a private driver take us to Église Saint-Eusèbe d’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:steusebeauxerre): €415 one way from Beaune · up to 4 guests ## Sources - - --- Canonical page: