MUSÉE - ABBAYE SAINT-GERMAIN

Along with the Cathédrale Saint-Étienne and the Tour de l'Horloge, this is the other great jewel of Auxerre's heritage. A marvel whose origins date back to the^5th century, when the remains of Bishop Saint Germain (who died in Ravenna in 448) were brought back to his diocese of Auxerre. Legend has it that when he passed through, nature bloomed anew everywhere. In the ^6th century, Queen Clotilde (Clovis' wife) had a basilica built on the oratory where the saint was buried. Enlarged in the ^9th century, the former Carolingian and Romanesque abbey was partly rebuilt between the ^13th and ^15th centuries. Don't leave without visiting the impressive crypt: built from 841 onwards, it housed the tomb of Saint Germain and today houses the oldest Carolingian wall paintings in France.

The museum is also a must-see. On three levels, it presents exceptional evidence of the town's and the region's past, from prehistory to the end of the Middle Ages, as well as temporary exhibitions. In recent years, these have included prestigious collaborations with the Centre Pompidou.

What's more, the abbey has recently undergone a profound transformation. While it hosts concerts, exhibitions, festivals, events and conferences throughout the year, major renovation work is underway. The superb Moorish cloister, for example, recently saw the end of its renovation work, which preceded that on the roof of the abbey church. Above all, the local and regional authorities intend to make the abbey a major cultural and economic hub for the region. A major "locomotive" for tourism, as it were. As the first chapter in this ambitious project, the building has already become a "City of Speech and Sound", and offers numerous events on these subjects (concerts and a festival, in particular). But this is only the first step. Over the next few years, the abbey is set to expand, annexing the adjacent Lycée Saint-Germain. The aim? To turn this eminently historic and cultural site into a vast hybrid venue that will also house a seminar and conference center, as well as accommodation and catering facilities. For the time being, Saint-Germain d'Auxerre Abbey is one of the five most visited sites in the department. An absolute must-see.