154km (96 miles) SE of Paris; 148km (92 miles) NW of Dijon
Auxerre was founded by the Gauls and enlarged by the Romans. On a hill overlooking the Yonne River, it's the capital of Lower Burgundy and home to many vineyards, some of which produce Chablis. Joan of Arc spent several days here in 1429. Napoleon met Maréchal Ney here in 1815, on the former emperor's return from Elba. Louis XVIII had sent Ney to stop Napoleon, but Ney embraced him and turned his army against the king. For that, Ney was later shot.
This city is a sleepy place. Its 42,000 residents will admit that not a lot happens around here -- and that's how they like it.
