The Slow Road
Two Women Wandering the World
The city of Auxerre in northern Burgundy was a major river port for centuries. Its wealth was reflected in the 13th-century cathedral of St. Etienne (left) and the 11th-century Abbey of St. Germain
A Sunday morning flea market in the old city
Looking very French
Auxerre's 15th-century clock tower
Chris's favorite style of old Burgundian house
The cathedral of St. Etienne
This 9th-century fresco is the only known painting of Christ on horseback
A 13th-century fresco in the St. Etienne cathedral
Like many of Burgundy's prettiest places, the village of Avallon has been officially designated a "ville fleurie" (flower town)
Avallon's 15th-century clock tower
A Romanesque door on the 12th-century church of St. Lazarus
A neat old house by the church
A group of folk dancers performing in a park to the music of a hurdy gurdy
These strange hats were once typical of northern Burgundy
As were these pretty embroidered linen caps
The dancers wore traditional wooden shoes called sabots
"A city that is set upon a hill cannot be hid": The tiny hilltop village of Vezelay, with its immense basilica of Ste. Madeleine, has been a magnet for pilgrims since the 9th century
This cross marks the spot where St. Bernard gave a speech in 1146 launching the Second Crusade
A riotous garden next to our hotel in Vezelay
This beige stone is typical of villages in northern Burgundy
An old well put to a new use
These pointed archways are typical of medieval Burgundy
Vezelay's basilica is thought to house the remains of Mary Magdelene
The great 12th-century carved doorway opening into the basilica
Round Romanesque arches in the front contrast with early Gothic pointed arches at the end
The basilica is famous for its carved capitals
A small mill grinding grain or grapes
David subduing a lion
The back of the basilica shows its simple beauty
The village of Saint Pere as seen from Vezelay
Gargoyles on the church of Saint Pere
The view from our hotel wndow at sunset
The Chateau de Bazoches near Vezelay, built in the 1100s and modified in the 1600s
The chateau's inner courtyard
The study of military engineer Marshal de Vauban, the chateau's most famous owner
A 17th century map of Paris dominates the drawing room
Painted ceiling of the chateau's tiny chapel
The grounds of the chateau are fortified with platforms for cannon
Marshal de Vauban is buried in this small church near the chateau
The old town of Semur-en-Auxois, which we drove through
This warm honey-colored stone is typical of many Burgundian villages
A gardener in the village of Flavigny, where we ate wonderful tomatoes and vegetables
Gateway to the pretty little village of Noyers-sur-Serein
Winegrowers hang grapes on this Madonna to ensure a good harvest
One of Noyers's many old half-timbered buildings
The village has some wonderful wood carvings
Dijon, the capital of Burgundy, is famous for its colored tile roofs
A courtyard in Dijon hides a carved wooden gallery . . .
. . . next to a twisting Gothic stone staircase
The Italian-style church of St. Michel in Dijon
This medieval house in Dijon was used in the French film "Cyreno de Bergerac"
