--- title: "Noyers-sur-Serein: What to See in the Medieval Village" description: "A walled village in a loop of the Serein with timber-framed houses, one of the Plus Beaux Villages de France. Allow 1.5 to 2 hours, driver from Beaune." url: https://www.cote-privee.com/things-to-do/noyers-sur-serein lang: en updated: 2026-09-29 generated: 2026-10-08 image: https://www.cote-privee.com/og/things-to-do/noyers-sur-serein.png --- # Noyers-sur-Serein > Noyers-sur-Serein: a walled medieval village in a loop of the Serein, with timber-framed squares and fortified gates. Noyers-sur-Serein is in Noyers (Yonne), 1 h 30 by road (128 km) from Beaune. Allow 1.5 to 2 hours · Private driver from Beaune: €330 one way for the whole car, up to 4 guests. Noyers sits in a tight loop of the river Serein, enclosed by walls and towers, about half an hour south of Chablis. It is one of the Plus Beaux Villages de France. Its cobbled squares are lined with half-timbered and stone houses, most of them from the 15th century and little changed since. ## Key facts - Type: Heritage - Where: Noyers · Yonne - Location: 100 km north-west of Beaune · Yonne - Coordinates: 47.6975, 3.9947 - 1 h 30 from Beaune - Allow 1.5 to 2 hours - Noyers - Nearby: [Chablis](https://www.cote-privee.com/villages/chablis) - From Beaune: ≈ 1 h 30 · 128 km - €330 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 30 by road (128 km), €330 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 In the Middle Ages Noyers belonged to a powerful family of lords. Guy de Noyers, archbishop of Sens, crowned Philip Augustus in 1180. At the end of the 12th century Hugues de Noyers, bishop of Auxerre, turned the castle into a fortress with three walls and built ramparts round the town. In 1217 it resisted a siege. Miles X de Noyers became Marshal of France in 1303 and fought at Courtrai and Crécy. In 1419 the lordship was sold to the Duchess of Burgundy. It later passed to Louis, Prince of Condé, who took refuge here in 1568 during the Wars of Religion before fleeing the royal armies. After the castle became a base for a looting baron, Henri IV ordered it demolished in 1599. Away from main roads and industry, the town then kept its medieval shape. ## What you will see Enter through the Porte Peinte and wander from square to square. The names tell the old trades: Place du Marché-au-Blé, Place de la Petite-Étape-aux-Vins, Place du Grenier-à-Sel. Timber-framed and stone houses lean over the cobbles, and the church of Notre-Dame rises above the roofs. The Serein loops around the old town. Climb to the site of the vanished castle for a view over the village and the river. ## Planning your visit Allow one and a half to two hours. Noyers is about 1 hour 30 minutes from Beaune and about 25 minutes from Chablis, so it pairs well with a tasting day there. Cobbles and slopes call for comfortable shoes. The village is quiet and best enjoyed at a slow pace. Check with the local tourist office for opening times of local sights. ## Did you know? Timber-framed and stone houses from the late Middle Ages and the Renaissance still line its streets and small squares. In 2014 it was voted seventh in a national television poll of France's favourite villages. ## Around Noyers-sur-Serein What to combine with Noyers-sur-Serein on the same day, nearest first. ### Villages - [Chablis](https://www.cote-privee.com/villages/chablis) (19 km away): Burgundy's northern outpost, where Chardonnay grows on fossil-rich limestone above the river Serein. - [Irancy](https://www.cote-privee.com/villages/irancy) (25 km away): The red wine village of the Yonne, set in a bowl of vines and cherry trees. - [Saint-Bris](https://www.cote-privee.com/villages/saint-bris) (26 km away): Burgundy's Sauvignon village, built over a maze of medieval cellars. ### Châteaux - [Château de Viviers](https://www.cote-privee.com/chateaux/chateau-de-viviers) (13 km away): A 17th-century wine château on the high slopes east of Chablis, now farmed organically, with guest rooms. - [Château de Béru](https://www.cote-privee.com/chateaux/chateau-de-beru) (14 km away): A family château above the Chablis vineyards, with a rare sundial and moon dial, and biodynamic wines. - [Château d’Ancy-le-Franc](https://www.cote-privee.com/chateaux/chateau-d-ancy-le-franc) (15 km away): An Italian Renaissance palace in northern Burgundy, designed by Serlio and lined with painted rooms. ### Things to do - [Musée des Arts Naïfs et Populaires de Noyers](https://www.cote-privee.com/things-to-do/musee-des-arts-naifs-et-populaires-noyers) (1 km away): Naive paintings, ex-votos, tin toys and Hokusai albums on three floors of an old school in the village of Noyers. - [Vieux Château de Noyers](https://www.cote-privee.com/things-to-do/vieux-chateau-de-noyers) (1 km away): The overgrown ruins of one of Burgundy's great medieval fortresses, on a spur above the Serein, brought back to life by volunteers. - [Collégiale Notre-Dame de Montréal](https://www.cote-privee.com/things-to-do/collegiale-notre-dame-montreal) (17 km away): A small 12th-century church on a hilltop village, with one of the oldest rose windows in France and richly carved Renaissance stalls. ### Events - **An autumn Sunday, usually in late October, sometimes followed by a second market in November.** · [Marché aux truffes de Noyers](https://www.cote-privee.com/events/marche-aux-truffes-de-noyers): Burgundy truffles, a giant omelette and a clanging bell in the medieval squares of Noyers. (Food & markets · Noyers) - **Most of July.** · [Rencontres musicales de Noyers](https://www.cote-privee.com/events/rencontres-musicales-de-noyers): Chamber music and masterclasses in a walled medieval village, with local wines poured after the concerts. (Music · Noyers) - **A three-day weekend at the end of July.** · [Gargouillosium](https://www.cote-privee.com/events/gargouillosium-noyers): Twenty stone carvers, three days and a crop of new gargoyles at the old castle of Noyers. (Culture · Noyers) - **Saturday 24 – Sunday 25 October 2026 (Confirmed by the organiser)** · [Fête des Vins de Chablis](https://www.cote-privee.com/events/fete-des-vins-de-chablis): Chablis celebrates its new vintage every year on the fourth weekend of October. (Wine festival · Chablis) - **Saturday, 24 October 2026 (Confirmed by the organiser)** · [Marathon de Chablis](https://www.cote-privee.com/events/marathon-de-chablis): A festive marathon through the Chablis vineyards, run in costume on the Saturday of the wine festival. (Sport · Chablis) - **A weekend in early December.** · [Marché de Noël de La Chablisienne](https://www.cote-privee.com/events/marche-de-noel-de-la-chablisienne): A weekend of local crafts and festive wines at the cooperative cellar of Chablis before Christmas. (Christmas · Chablis) - **Sunday, 24 January 2027 (Confirmed by the organiser)** · [Saint-Vincent tournante du Tonnerrois](https://www.cote-privee.com/events/saint-vincent-tournante-du-tonnerrois): The winter wine festival of the Tonnerre growers, hosted by a different village each year. (Tradition · Vézinnes, 2027 host) - **Saturday 6 – Sunday 7 February 2027 (Confirmed by the organiser)** · [Saint-Vincent tournante du Chablisien](https://www.cote-privee.com/events/saint-vincent-tournante-du-chablisien): The winter wine festival of the Chablis vineyard, hosted by a different village each year. (Tradition · Maligny, 2027 host) - **A weekend in early April.** · [Les Vinées Tonnerroises](https://www.cote-privee.com/events/vinees-tonnerroises): The wine fair of the Tonnerrois, held inside a vast 13th-century hospital. (Wine festival · Tonnerre) - **The last Sunday of April.** · [Balade gourmande du Chablisien](https://www.cote-privee.com/events/balade-gourmande-du-chablisien): A spring walk of about ten kilometres through the Chablis vines, with food and wine stands along the way. (Food & markets · Chablis, route changes each year) - **A few evenings in July.** · [Festival du Chablisien](https://www.cote-privee.com/events/festival-du-chablisien): Summer evening concerts in the churches and barns of the Chablis vineyard. (Music · Chablis and nearby villages) - **Thursday 26 – Saturday 28 August 2027 (Confirmed by the organiser)** · [Musiques en Tonnerrois](https://www.cote-privee.com/events/musiques-en-tonnerrois): A roving festival of chamber music and new works in Tonnerre, a Renaissance château and village churches. (Music · Tonnerre and nearby villages) ### Guides about Noyers-sur-Serein - [A Chablis day trip from Beaune](https://www.cote-privee.com/guides/chablis-day-trip-from-beaune) - [Harvest and truffle season in Burgundy](https://www.cote-privee.com/guides/burgundy-harvest-and-truffle-season) - [Wine tour itineraries from Beaune](https://www.cote-privee.com/guides/burgundy-wine-tour-itineraries) ## Questions about Noyers-sur-Serein ### How far is Noyers-sur-Serein from Beaune? Noyers-sur-Serein is about 1 h 30 from Beaune by road (128 km). With a private driver, the trip from Beaune starts at €330 for the whole car, up to 4 guests. ### How long does a visit to Noyers-sur-Serein take? For the visit, allow 1.5 to 2 hours. ### Can a private driver take us to Noyers-sur-Serein? 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:noyers): €330 one way from Beaune · up to 4 guests ## Sources - --- Canonical page: