AUXERRE, central France, capital of the department of Yonne, 38m. S.S.E. of Sens on the P. L. M. railway, between Laroche and Nevers. Pop. (1931) 18,988. It stands on the left bank of the Yonne, which is crossed by bridges leading to suburbs.
Auxerre (Autessiodurum) became the seat of a bishop and a "civitas" in the 3rd century. Founded under the Merovingians, the abbey of St. Germain in the 9th century had become a seat of learning. The bishopric was suppressed in 17 9o. The count ship of Auxerre was granted by King Robert I. to his son-in-law Renaud, count of Nevers. It passed by marriage to the house of Courtenay and thence to the families of Donzy, Chatillon, Bour bon and Burgundy. John IV. sold his countship to King Charles V. in 13 7o.
The town is irregularly built and the streets steep and narrow; its ancient fortifications have been replaced by boulevards. The former cathedral of St. Etienne, a majestic Gothic building (13th to 16th centuries) has three richly sculptured portals and a rose window, and a massive north-west tower; the south-west tower is unfinished. Beneath the choir (fine early Gothic) extends a crypt of the nth th century with I 2th century mural decorations. The church has fine stained glass and many pictures. The ancient episcopal palace, now a prefecture, preserves a Romanesque gal lery (I2th century). The church of St. Eusebe belongs to the 12th, 13th and 16th centuries. Of the abbey church of St` Ger main (13th and 14th centuries) most of the nave has disappeared, so that its imposing Romanesque tower stands apart. Crypts of the 9th century contain the tombs of bishops of Auxerre. The abbey was once fortified and a high wall and cylindrical tower remain. The church of St. Pierre (16th and 17th centuries) has an elaborately ornamented west façade. The old law-court con tains the museum and a library. The middle of the town has a gateway and belfry (15th century). Manufactures of ochre, from local quarries, and of iron goods are carried on. The canal of Nivernais reaches Auxerre. which has a busy port and carries on boat-building. Trade is principally in the choice wine of the sur rounding vineyards, and in ochre, metal goods, tanners' bark and coal. The town is the seat of a court of assizes, and has tribu nals of first instance and of commerce.