Autun

Understand

right|thumb|View of the city Steeped in Roman history, complete with a spectacular Romanesque spire standing proud against the Morvan hills, Autun, formerly Augustodunum, was a garrison town during the Roman Empire.

Although the lower parts of this city are fairly modern with bowling alleys, McDonald's and lots of students milling around, stroll further into the heart of the centre and you find yourself wandering through numerous winding streets lined with fantastic architecture, quaint shops, cafes and restaurants before reaching the rather impressive cathedral.

It’s small enough to access everything on foot, but large enough to hold your interest for quite some time. It also has a beautiful French atmosphere that is just waiting for you to soak up!

Get in

thumb|Cathédrale Saint-Lazare d'Autun Autun is accessible by bus or car, via secondary roads.

You can fly to Lyon, about 2 hours away by car.

Get around

It's best to walk through the walled city centre.

See

thumb|Porte Saint-André, an ancient Roman gate The very well-preserved Roman walls which still surround most of the city.

Do

The countryside in this area is truly breathtaking, from the Parc Regional du Morvan with its forest-clad hills and cascading streams to authentic French villages where you can sit by the river with a freshly-made croissant and simply soak up the atmosphere.

Buy

thumb|Tour des Ursulines There are numerous shops to peruse in Autun, but most alluring are the chocolate shops and patisseries.

Sleep

Try something other than a hotel: there are a few maison d'hotes/chambres d'hotes (bed and breakfasts) in or near the town.