Auxerre

Auxerre (anc. Autissiodorum), the chief town of the French department of Yonne, stands on the river Yonne, 109 miles SE. of Paris by rail, in a rich district abounding in vineyards. It is poorly built, but presents an imposing aspect from a distance, the most prominent feature being the noble Gothic cathedral, which dates from 1215, but was not completed till the 16th century. There are two other interesting churches, a museum, a large library, statues of Fourier and Davout, &c. Auxerre was a flourishing town before the Roman invasion of Gaul. It was destroyed by the Huns in 451, and in 486 was wrested by Clovis from the Romans. The county of Auxerrois came finally in 1477 to the kingdom of France. The principal manufactures are wine (a light Burgundy), candles, chemicals and hosiery. Pop. (1891) 17,668.