Pont-sur-Yonne

Historic gateway to Burgundy for travellers coming from the north, Pont-sur-Yonne is a small medieval town with a precious heritage located on the Yonne a few kilometres downstream from Sens. Discover its history and its atmosphere during your stay at the camping l'Île d'Amouron the banks of the river facing the heart of the town of Pont-sur-Yonne!

Pont-sur-Yonne, crossroads city

Crossroads city since the Middle Ages, Pont-sur-Yonne occupies a strategic position on the left bank of the Yonne River, 12 km north of Sens. From your campsite l'Île d'Amour on the right bank of the Yonne River, you will have plenty of time to admire the picturesque scenery offered by this small town with steep streets and alleys, dominated by the imposing silhouette of its Gothic church. Already crossed by a ferryboat before the 12th century at Pont-sur-Yonne, the river was crossed by a wooden bridge as early as 1175. The structure was replaced by a stone bridge in the 17th century. The river activity of the city is at its peak in the 19th century, when the port and the towpath are developed. The vocation of Pont-sur-Yonne in the river transport of stones and tiles from Burgundy to Paris allows the holidaymakers of the campsite to enjoy many water sports today. Less than 40 km from the Gâtinais Français Regional Natural Park, the town of Pont-sur-Yonne has preserved several sites of interest to discover during your stay on the Ile d'Amour. A tour of the town will take you through the Notre-Dame Gothic church, an old fortification tower, a 19th century aqueduct, a train station with neo-Norman architecture, and the remains of the old stone bridge.

The church of Notre-Dame de Pont-sur-Yonne, the first Gothic church in France

The Notre-Dame de Pont-sur-Yonne church was built at the same time as the Saint-Etienne cathedral in Sens, during the 12th century. Its architectural style is also of early Gothic: it is therefore one of the oldest Gothic churches in France, consecrated under Louis VII, in the presence of the Queen of the Franks Adelaide of Champagne. The building has been remodelled several times, notably during the Middle Ages, and is an interesting architectural testimony. The most recent part of the present building is the bell tower, rebuilt in the 18th century after the destruction of the spire by a storm. With its Notre-Dame church, Pont-sur-Yonne is thus rich in a heritage of more than 900 years, not to be missed during your stay on the Île d'Amour. The gothic church is located 650 meters from the campsite: you can visit it during a walk of less than 10 minutes. Inside, you can admire a fresco of the Last Judgement dating from the 15th century, a statue of the Virgin Mary dating from the 13th century, and two paintings by J. Parrocel. The visit of the oldest Gothic cathedral in France, Saint-Etienne de Sens, 10 km away, is also one of the must-sees of the tourism in the Yonne and allows you to notice many artistic and architectural similarities between the two buildings: a fun observation game for the whole family during your stay at Camping Île d'Amour!