Tannay lies on a hillside overlooking the Yonne Valley. Several specific themes offer ways to explore the town: the architectural history of the Collégiale Saint-Léger, traces of the former tanning industry, walking and cycling routes, and the origins of the wine. You can focus on architecture and local history, a stage of a pilgrimage, a cycling route, or winegrowing.
The architectural history of the Collégiale Saint-Léger
The Collégiale Saint-Léger is located on Place de l'Église in Tannay. Its architectural history can be seen in the various works carried out: the choir, chapels and transept were restored in the 15th century, while the nave was rebuilt. The nave is the long, central part of a church, while the choir, transept and chapels refer to other parts of the building. This distinction helps clarify the details: restoration and rebuilding affected different parts of the structure. For architecture enthusiasts, the nature of the work is as important as its period in understanding the history of the Collégiale.
Traces of the tanning industry
The former tanning industry is also part of the town's history. Rue des Tanneries and the village of Tanneau preserve traces of this past. Both offer concrete starting points for exploring Tannay's economic history, alongside the architectural history of the Collégiale. If you would like to discover the town through its historical themes, you can look at its religious architecture and tanning industry as two distinct perspectives.
On foot, by bike or as a pilgrimage stage
The Camino de Santiago routes pass through Tannay. Pilgrims can stop here for a stage and continue their journey towards La Charité-sur-Loire and Bourges. If you are planning a longer pilgrimage, Tannay can be included as a stop along the way; these destinations also indicate possible onward routes.
The V56 Saint-Jacques à vélo cycling route offers a different perspective. It passes through the medieval town of Tannay and its vineyards on the way to Varzy. The “Découvrir Tannay” walking loop follows a different route: it passes the Lavoir de la Tannerie before returning to the church square. The two routes can therefore be distinguished by their type: the V56 is a cycling route that goes as far as Varzy, while the walking loop links the washhouse with a return to the church square. This specific route information is more useful when choosing a walk than a general list of sights.
Wine from the Tannay wine-growing region
Wine from the Tannay wine-growing region has been recognised since 2011 under the protected geographical indication (PGI) “Coteaux de Tannay.” This date refers to the recognition of the designation. It is therefore unrelated to the 15th century, which marks the restoration of the choir, chapels and transept of the Collégiale. If you are interested in local history, you can distinguish between these two points in time: the architectural history of a particular church and the recognition of the wine designation. Together, they offer different themes for your stay, from architecture and tanning history to the origins of the wine.
Discover more destinations: Château-Chinon, Chaumard, Druy-Parigny, Mesves-Sur-Loire, Jailly, Magny-Cours, Varennes-Vauzelles, Saint-Seine
For the wider travel guide: Nièvre.
