A little bit of tourism
The Saint-Florentin region has varied landscapes, harmoniously combining sandy, clayey and silty soils, wooded areas and valleys crossed by rivers.
Lying on the edge of the large Othe and Pontigny forests, it offers the perfect natural setting in which to relax and recharge your batteries, in the midst- of tree nurseries and fields of cereals and asparagus, - of cattle grazing peacefully in lush meadows, - of the many rivers and streams, perfect for anglers and birds, - of wooded and chalky hills for those who like gentle slopes, Saint-Florentin lies in the heart of this rural setting, and has preserved its rich architectural heritage.
Rivers and waterways in the Saint-Florentin region
With the Armance, Armançon and Créanton rivers, the Saunière man-made lake and the Burgundy Canal, the Saint-Florentin region is perfect for fishing for carnivorous fish, carp, trout, cyprinid and small fish. For those in a hurry, or for family fun, you can be sure to catch something at the nearby fish farms, which are surrounded by greenery.
For bird watchers, numerous species of birds can be observed in their natural environment at the Bas-Rebourseaux bird sanctuary, through which the Armançan rivers flows. Depending on the season, hundreds of birds migrate, rest, feed and reproduce at this lake surrounded by rivers, with its sandy banks and slopes, ponds and oxbows, meadows, cultivated land, waste land and groves. In the spring, when the white storks return to the region, a family of storks will settle in the nest installed on a platform in the Saint-Florentin stadium.
The Burgundy canal that crosses the Saint Florentin region is the perfect place for a peaceful cruise in the fresh air, punctuated by crossing the locks. The Saint-Florentin marina is ideally located to discover the heritage of the region, aboard a small barge.
Specialities of the Saint-Florentin region
Two delicious cow's milk cheeses are made here using traditional methods: saint-florentin, made from dried and slightly salted fromage frais, and soumaintrain, a washed-rind matured cheese made from unpasteurized milk. The Saint-Florentin region offers a multitude of flavours, with its asparagus, foie gras, honey, trout, snails, and cider from the regions of Othe and Champagne Humide, made with Avrolles apples.Very nearby, the prestigious Chablis vineyard offers golden green wines with a sophisticated bouquet.
The Saint-Florentin region,
a host of activities on land and in the air
The Saint-Florentin region offers endless possibilities for outdoor activities in a natural setting, throughout the year: walking, mountain-biking, horse-riding or travelling in a horse-drawn carriage, along its paths, towpath or quiet country lanes.The airfield, in the heart of the countryside, is great for those who love recreational flying, gliding, parachuting and microlighting. It also offers the possibility to discover our heritage and multicoloured scenery from the air.
With its heated swimming pool, mini-golf course, tennis courts and riding schools, the Saint-Florentin region offers a range of sports and recreational activities for all tastes.
SAINT-FLORENTIN
A journey through history.
From a Roman castrum to a small town with character
Castrum Florentinium, a Roman defensive position at the meeting place of major roads, was a busy crossing point in antiquity. Perched on a narrow hill, it later became Château Florentin. It acquired its current name in 833, when two sisters, returning from a pilgrimage, brought back the relics of Florentin, a noble knight from Champagne martyred by a Vandal chief in the 5th century. After a period of prosperity under the Romans, the fortress town, with its highly-coveted position at the intersection of the valleys, underwent numerous battles, fires and pillage from the time of the Visigoths up to the Second World War. Fortunately, short periods of peace made it possible to rebuild the town, and construct the current church, which was never completed.At the beginning of the 20th century, this small country town, which until then had lived solely from the activity of its craftsmen, and from trade at its famous markets and fairs, opened itself up to industry, without sacrificing any of its picturesque appeal. Its population, stable until then, increased from 2,900 inhabitants in 1945 to over 5,000 today.
Scenic stroll through Saint-Florentin
The church
The Church of Saint-Florentin is imposing compared to the size of the old town. It was built in different sections, from the beginning of the 16th century, on the foundations of the previous building. Inside, you can admire the exceptional stained glass windows dating from the 16th century, numerous statues and one of the few remaining rood screens in France. It is one of the main attractions in the town. Visitors can borrow the key from the Tourist Information Office.
The fountain
The fountain was rebuilt in 1979 in a Gothic and Renaissance style, using the three bronze dragons from the original fountain demolished in 1859. It pays homage to saints venerated in the region, such as Saint Florentin, Saint Martin, Saint Beatus and Saint Barbe.
Saint-Florentin Regional Museum
The museum of the Yonne district offers a chronological display starting with the remains of the Roman presence, and ending with the typical trades of the Saint-Florentin region that disappeared at the beginning of the 20th century: http://stflorentinmusee.fluo.net
The corn exchange
The corn exchange was built between 1842 and 1844, during the reign of King Louis-Philippe. It now houses a food market on Monday and Saturday mornings, where local producers and market gardeners sell their produce.
Panorama from the priory
Although the priory was demolished during the Revolution, the public footpath and the pavilion offer superb views of the old town, with the bell tower, part of the 12th century fortifications, standing proudly in the foreground. This small hill also offers a panorama of the Armançon and Armance valleys, and on a clear day it is possible to see several different villages.
The park
This peaceful park lies at the entrance to the old town and the former tanners' quarter. Situated between two branches of the Armance river, it is lined with houses and has tall trees and an open-air theatre.
The marina
This pleasant marina, surrounded by greenery, lies on the Burgundy canal, very near to the park and the canal bridge, and is the perfect place for a gastronomic and cultural visit to Saint-Florentin. It is also the perfect starting place for a weekend or a holiday on the regions waterways, on a small barge that does not require a boating licence.
The canal bridge
This five arch Vauban-style stone bridge enables the Burgundy Canal to cross the Armance river. A short distance away, the towpath and the road that runs alongside the canal leads to the Maladrerie, the former leper-house, of which the remains of the chapel can be seen outside.
The villages of the Saint-Florentin region
Avrolles is a small town that has been attached to Saint-Florentin since 1971. It lies at the intersection of two Roman roads and was built at the foot of the Roman hill-fort Eburobriga, of which a large rampart remains. Thanks to its position, it grew considerably, but it has also been burned down, sacked and reduced to rubble over the centuries. Today, Avrolles is a peaceful village that is merged with Saint-Florentin, at the foot of a small chalky hill which was originally part of the Othe hills. Its 15th century church is very striking, with a fortified tower separated from the nave by a path lined with lime trees.
As regards local products, Avrolles apples are a variety of red apple originating from the village, traditionally used to make cider.
Outside the village, overlooking the Armançon valley, are two farms that are several hundred years old. The Duchy fortified farm, built in the military style of the 14th and 15th centuries, has square wall towers that can be seen from the road. A little further on, the Crécy farm, bought in 1138 by the monks of Pontigny Abbey, has been in operation ever since. The association Cîteaux à Crécy organizes visits and occasional activities in the Cistercian barn and the chapel.
After the Cistercian barn of Crécy, the D78 road leads to Bouilly, a farming village on the side of a narrow valley. The houses are scattered, and many date from the 19th century, built of sandstone and white stone, edged with bricks. On a small hill to the west of the village lies the Church of Saint-Pierre-es-Liens, with its square tower above the porch. Thanks to its soil and extensive cattle breeding, Bouilly lies in the area of production of two farm cheeses made with unpasteurized milk, soumaintrain and saint-florentin, which can be bought directly from the farm.
The road then goes to Rebourseaux on the other side and at the end of a small valley, where the houses are also scattered around the undulating countryside. The village is divided into two parts: Bas-Rebourseaux, in the gravelly plain of the Armançon river, and Haut-Rebourseaux, on the edge of Pontigny Forest. The favourable geological conditions have allowed a wide variety of flora and fauna to develop, and made it possible to create a bird sanctuary in Bas-Rebourseaux, open to visitors all year round..
Vergigny is a larger village which was merged with Bouilly and Rebourseaux in 1972. It lies in the Armançon valley between two rivers, the Armançon and the Serein, and next to Pontigny Forest, which has many footpaths. It grew around a permanent spring, the Saint-Gervais fountain, a place of pilgrimage for sick children until the end of the 18th century. The Saint-Gervais-et-Saint-Portais Church, designed in the shape of a cross, is located on the village square. It has been continually modified, from the time that it was built at the end of the 12th century until the 20th century, when modern stained-glass windows were fitted. Visitors to the village can also see a few dovecotes on private estates, one of which, visible outside the château, dates from the 15th century.
The sandy soil in Vergigny is ideal for growing asparagus, which was extensively produced until 1960. Most of the produce was transported by rail to the major towns from the station in the village. Due to competition and a decline in farming, Vergigny asparagus is now a highly-prized speciality, sold directly by the producers and at the local markets.
Chéu lies on the other side of the N77 road, on the edge and the slopes of a small plateau. After a devastating fire in 1829, this fortified village was rebuilt along wide streets leading to a large square. The oldest part of the Church of Saint Martin dates from the 12th century and it still has its Romanesque gate. A short distance away, the impluvium washing place built in 1864 is supplied by an underground spring. According to folklore, since its foundation, Chéu was the home of the wickedest witches in France. Quarrels between farmers resulted in evil spells being cast on each other's homes, with some villagers even asking for a public ruling to prove their innocence. In spite of intervention by the French church and the Parliament in Paris, the accusations of witchcraft only ended after the massive fire in the 19th century, which cleansed this devilish village once and for all.
The witches have now left the sky free for planes, gliders and parachutists. From spring onwards, they take off from the Saint-Florentin airfield situated here, and fly over the surrounding countryside.
Local products include asparagus and trees that are grown on the sandy soils, but the real speciality of the region is the Chéu "coco", a round bean with red flesh, that remains firm when cooked.
Jaulges, a rural village nestling in the midst of fields and forests, lies alongside the Armançon River and the Burgundy Canal. A large white stone gothic cross dating from the 15th century and comprising the statues of several saints, stands proudly at the crossroads. Near the village square, the 13th century church which has been modified over the centuries, is dedicated to Saint Martin, like the church of Chéu. On the way out of the village, nestled in a green setting, is the 19th century stone washing place that takes its water from the Armançon Rivers.
This quiet village was one of the biggest centres for pottery production in Gaul during the late Roman Empire. The presence of forests, water, plentiful supplies of clay along the Roman road from Sens to Alise, and of the Armançon River, which was navigable at that time, enabled the pottery workshops to export their ceramics, jars, statuettes, tiles and bricks throughout most of Gaul, until the site was abandoned at the start of the 5th century. The main activities in Jaulges today are cereal production and tree nurseries, but cattle breeding is also carried out, with manufacture of milk products with an authentic appearance and smell, including the famous saint-florentin and soumaintrain cheeses, sold directly from the farm.
Every July, the village hosts the biggest bric-a-brac sale in the Saint-Florentin region, one of the best-known sales in the region.
The village of Germigny is a popular destination for anglers, thanks to its pleasant location between the Armance and Armançon rivers, and to the Burgundy Canal, which crosses it from end to end. In spite of its favourable location, there are few signs of occupation during prehistoric and Gallo-Roman times. According to one local legend, the armies of the fearsome queens Frédégonde and Brunehaut did battle here, in a hamlet in Germigny, at the end of the 6th century.
There are no remains from the middle ages or Renaissance, apart from the church which dates from the 15th and 16th centuries, which is the largest in the villages of the Saint-Florentin region. This imposing church is dedicated to Saint Peter and Saint Paul, and is located on the village square. It boasts a superb Renaissance vaulted chancel, stone statues by the Troyes school, fragments of grisaille stained-glass windows, and an outstanding carved wood tabernacle. Here and there in the village and its hamlets, you will find a few attractive farm buildings dating from the 19th century. Their canted roofs, iron gates and round brick pillars are reminiscent of the rural architecture of the Champagne Humide region. Water is omnipresent in Germigny, from the dam upstream on the Armançon River which supplies the double lock on the Burgundy Canal, to the washing places just outside the village.
For those with a sweet tooth, the beekeepers of Vieux-Champs, a hamlet surrounded by meadows, produce specialities using traditional methods, including delicate or amber-coloured honeys depending on the time of year.
In the Armance Valley, at the entrance to the Saint-Florentin region, Beugnon and Soumaintrain offer gourmet delights, including a range of delicious dairy and cheese specialities, sold by farms built in the typical style of the region. Both villages are located on the "Ronde des Fromages et du Foie Gras" (cheese and foie gras trail), and produce soumaintrain, saint-florentin, petit beugnon, tomme and faisselle cheese, and other dairy products from cow's milk. In Beugnon, ducks are reared and cooked using traditional methods, and the specialities include foie gras and sausage, as well as boiled duck with vegetables and duck cooked in cider, which are authentic local dishes. Nearby, to the west, lies Sormery, surrounded by its many hamlets, in a preserved rural environment, in the heart of the forest. This is already the region of Othe, where the Cider Trail criss-crosses through large wooded areas and small green valleys scattered with apple trees..