Chablis old gate

Chablis – Introduction

Chablis is a town located in the northern part of Burgundy, France. It is known for its world-renowned white wines made from Chardonnay grapes grown in the surrounding vineyards.

The town of Chablis is small, with a population of around 2,500 people. It is situated in a picturesque setting surrounded by rolling hills and vineyards, and the Serein River runs through the town.

The Streets

The town itself is known for its quaint medieval architecture, with narrow streets lined with half-timbered houses and shops selling local products such as cheese, honey, and of course, wine.

ArchNarrowTypicalArch
Arch connecting two Chablis streetsArch connecting two Chablis streets
Narrow streets of Chablis, BurgundyNarrow streets of Chablis, Burgundy
Typical street of Chablis, BurgundyTypical street of Chablis, Burgundy
Arch between streets in Chablis, BurgundyArch between streets in Chablis, Burgundy

On a walk through the town, most parts are narrow, but pleasant. On one side of the town is the Serein river:

Serein river flowing through Chablis
Serein river flowing through Chablis

There are three bridges that cross the Serein river in Chablis, but this one is the main bridge (the others are on the outskirts of the town):

Main bridge over the Serein river in Chablis
Main bridge over the Serein river in Chablis

The Buildings

The town center is charming, with narrow streets lined with old stone buildings. The town is also home to a few small museums, including the Maison des Vins de Chablis, which showcases the history and production of Chablis wine.

TowerHotelAntiquitiesMairieCafeSchoolMap
Part of the town fortified walls, the gate towers of ChablisPart of the town fortified walls, the gate towers of Chablis
Hotel : Residence Hoteliere du domaineHotel : Residence Hoteliere du domaine
Antiquities shop in Chablis, BurgundyAntiquities shop in Chablis, Burgundy
Mairie (town hall) of Chablis, BurgundyMairie (town hall) of Chablis, Burgundy
Cafe/Bar alongside the Serein river in ChablisCafe/Bar alongside the Serein river in Chablis
School in Chablis, BurgundySchool in Chablis, Burgundy

Saint-Martin Church

One of the most notable landmarks in Chablis is the 13th-century Church of Saint-Martin, which features beautiful stained glass windows and a 16th-century organ.

Collegiate Church of Saint-Martin in Chablis
Collegiate Church of Saint-Martin in Chablis
Collegiate Church of Saint-Martin in Chablis
Collegiate Church of Saint-Martin in Chablis

Synagogue

One of the more notable religious buildings can be found in a very narrow street called “street of the jews”:

A street called The Jews" in Chablis
A street called “Street of the Jews” in Chablis

A small statue of a person dressed in the way they dressed in the Middle East 2000 years ago can be found above the street name. A few meters further you will find this:

SynagogueSynagogueSynagogueLowMap
Synagogue of ChablisSynagogue of Chablis
Synagogue of ChablisSynagogue of Chablis
Synagogue of ChablisLow door of the Synagogue of Chablis
Low door of the Synagogue of ChablisLow door of the Synagogue of Chablis

The Shops

Basically, there is one main shopping street. There are several restaurants and cafes, many of which offer tastings of the local wines.

ShopShopStreetBar
Wine (tasting) shop in ChablisWine (tasting) shop in Chablis
Wine (tasting) shop in ChablisWine (tasting) shop in Chablis
Shopping main street in ChablisShopping main street in Chablis
Bar in ChablisBar in Chablis

Windows and Doors

Here are a few of the windows and doors you can encounter when walking through the town of Chablis:

WindowDoorDoorCastle Door
Old window in ChablisOld window in Chablis
Old door in ChablisOld door in Chablis
Old door in ChablisOld door in Chablis
Old castle door in ChablisOld castle door in Chablis

Chateau

There is one main castle (Chateau) in town, belonging obviously to one of the Chablis wineries. The wine brand is “Domaine Laroche – L’Obediencerie“. The castle lies next to the Saint-martin church, and it can be visited as part of a tour (more on that below):

CastleCourtyardEntranceMap
The Domaine Laroche castle in ChablisThe Domaine Laroche castle in Chablis
The Domaine Laroche castle courtyard in ChablisThe Domaine Laroche castle courtyard in Chablis
The Domaine Laroche castle main entrance in ChablisThe Domaine Laroche castle main entrance in Chablis

To visit the chateau, you need to go to their wine tasting shop in the Chablis main street. There, they start the tour with some wine history and production details, and some wine tasting. From there, you walk to the castle (3 minutes walk), and tour the castle.

The Domaine Laroche wine tasting shop
The Domaine Laroche wine tasting shop

Outside of the town, visitors can explore the surrounding vineyards, which produce some of the most highly-regarded white wines in the world. There are several wine estates in the area that offer tastings and tours.

Conclusion

Overall, Chablis is a beautiful and tranquil destination that is perfect for wine lovers and those seeking a peaceful retreat in the French countryside. It’s a really nice place, worthy of a slight detour to walk the old city, take in a few wine tasting, visit a castle and even have a nice meal here.

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