Noyers-sur-Serein
A walled medieval village in a loop of the Serein, with timber-framed squares and fortified gates.
- Heritage site
- 1 h 30 from Beaune
- Allow 1.5 to 2 hours
- Noyers
€330one way from Beaune with a private driver
At a glance
- Nearby
- Chablis
Getting there
Private driver from Beaune: 1 h 30 by road (128 km), €330 one way for the whole car.
Or add it to our long-day wine tour, €880.
Coming by train or plane? Transfers from stations and airports →
About the place
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.
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.
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.
Planning your visit
Tips for 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.
Around here
What to combine with Noyers-sur-Serein on the same day, nearest first.
Chablis
19 km awayIrancy
25 km awaySaint-Bris
26 km away
- Food & markets
Marché aux truffes de Noyers
An autumn Sunday, usually in late October, sometimes followed by a second market in NovemberNoyers
Guides about Noyers-sur-Serein
Questions
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.
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.
Sources
Noyers-sur-Serein with a private driver
€330 one way from Beaune · up to 4 guests