09/10/2026
There’s more than wine in wine country. 🍷
On a past trip through Bourgogne, we spent some time exploring Auxerre, and it was one of those places that reminded me how much there is to experience between winery visits.
Set along the Yonne River, Auxerre has a beautiful historic center filled with half-timbered houses and winding streets. The skyline is dominated by the Gothic Saint-Étienne Cathedral, and one of my favorite sights was the 15th-century Tour de l’Horloge, with its unusual astronomical clock that tracks both the movement of the sun and the phases of the moon.
We spent some time wandering through the old town before lunch at Le Maison Fort, near the cathedral. The cooking is what the French do so well - local, seasonal ingredients turned into beautifully prepared, creative dishes without making the experience feel overly formal.
And then there was dessert. A Paris-Brest - the classic French pastry created for the Paris–Brest–Paris bicycle race, with its round shape inspired by a bicycle wheel.
It was also, no exaggeration, one of the best desserts I’ve ever eaten.
This is one of my favorite things about traveling through wine country. The wine may be what brings you there, but the towns, the food and the unexpected discoveries make the experience that much more memorable.
There’s more than wine in wine country. 🍷🇫🇷
