The quays of Auxerre, Riverside quay in Auxerre, France
Les Quais d'Auxerre are a riverside promenade along the Yonne river in the heart of Auxerre, in the Burgundy region of France. Tree-lined paved paths run between old stone buildings and warehouses on one side and the open water on the other, with views across to the old town and its towers.
For centuries, these quays were the working heart of Auxerre, where goods like wine, salt, and stone were loaded onto boats traveling the Yonne. When the railway arrived, river trade declined and the area gradually shifted from a place of work to a place of leisure.
The quays are a gathering spot where locals come to walk, sit on benches, or watch boats pass on the Yonne. A moored barge along the bank serves as a venue for small concerts and seasonal markets throughout the year.
The quays are easy to reach on foot from the center of Auxerre and are well suited for a walk along the water. In good weather, mornings and late afternoons tend to be the calmest times to visit, though the area stays accessible throughout the day.
On the Place Saint-Nicolas stands an 18th-century statue of Saint Nicholas, the patron of river sailors, which is still in place today as a reminder of the working life that once filled these banks. The paved path along the water follows the old towpath, where horses once pulled boats upstream against the current of the Yonne.
The community of curious travelers
AroundUs brings together thousands of curated places, local tips, and hidden gems, enriched daily by 60,000 contributors worldwide.
