Tour Saint-Jean, Clock tower in Auxerre, France
Tour Saint-Jean is a clock tower in the historic center of Auxerre, in Burgundy. It rises above the surrounding rooftops with an octagonal stone spire and is the remaining part of the former church of Saint-Jean.
The tower was built in the 11th or 12th century, likely after a fire damaged an earlier structure on the site. Over the centuries, the rest of the church was torn down, leaving the tower as the only visible remnant.
The tower takes its name from the church it once belonged to, Saint-Jean. Locals pass by it regularly and look up at the stone spire as a natural part of their walk through the old center of Auxerre.
Tour Saint-Jean is easy to reach on foot from the center of Auxerre and clearly visible from the street. Since the interior is not open to visitors, a daytime visit works best to see the exterior and explore the surrounding old streets.
The clock mounted on the tower has not worked for a long time, yet its face is still visible on the facade. That silent dial is often the first thing passersby notice and is a quiet reminder of how long the tower has stood in the city.
The community of curious travelers
AroundUs brings together thousands of curated places, local tips, and hidden gems, enriched daily by 60,000 contributors worldwide.
