Auxonne is on the banks of the River Saône, with a smart new marina offering self-skippered or crewed boat hire, or even hotel barge tours. The town has two handsome fortified gates; a château dating from the time of Louis XI, which houses a Museum dedicated to Napoleon Bonaparte, who trained as a gunner here; and an arsenal built by Vauban, now serving as the covered market. The church of Notre-Dame is a fine example of the Gothic style, and dates from the 13th–15th centuries. You can ascend the tower (169 steps) for a panoramic view over the town and surrounding countryside.

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