In Saint-Sauveur-en-Puisaye, Colette’s literary world, medieval architectural history and a themed trail dedicated to her come together. This makes the village appealing to people with a range of cultural interests: you can explore Colette’s biography and work, consider the Donjon in its historical context, or include the Sentier Colette as a marked walking and geocaching route. When choosing a holiday rental, it helps to decide first which of these interests you want to shape your stay.
Colette: Home, Biography and Collection
La Maison de Colette welcomes visitors to a bourgeois home dating from the second half of the 19th century. The rooms are arranged as though the residents still lived there. After an extensive renovation and reconstruction project, the house opened to the public in 2016.
Colette was born at La Maison natale de Colette and grew up there until the age of 17. The house became the setting for many of her novels and bears the French heritage label “Maisons des Illustres.” Here, the focus is on both the writer’s biography and the literary significance of the house.
The Musée Colette, by contrast, is housed in a 17th-century château. Its collection includes manuscripts, photographs and personal belongings of Colette and people in her circle. From the museum, visitors can enjoy a sweeping panoramic view of the surrounding countryside and the writer’s birthplace.
The two sites offer different perspectives: La Maison de Colette conveys the atmosphere of a bourgeois home, while the Musée Colette brings together a collection and a château setting. If you are particularly interested in Colette’s life and work, you can consider these perspectives separately when planning your visit, rather than treating them as interchangeable stops.
The Donjon and Medieval Fortifications
The Donjon of Saint-Sauveur-en-Puisaye, also known as the Tour Sarrasine, is a fortified, oval-shaped defensive tower dating from the late 12th century. It served the Counts of Auxerre-Nevers as an observation and defensive post. The Tour Sarrasine was part of the medieval fortifications that protected the village; it also once served to protect Moutiers Abbey and the priory of Saint-Sauveur.
It is important to check current access before visiting: the Tour Sarrasine is currently closed to the public, but can be viewed from outside. Check its access status before your trip if you would like to include the Donjon in your plans.
The Sentier Colette and an Art Event
The Sentier Colette starts at the car park of the Musée Colette on Place Blanche. It is 5.8 km long and rated as an easy route. This marked trail dedicated to Colette was opened in 1993 by students from Collège Colette in Saint-Sauveur-en-Puisaye. As a cultural walking and geocaching trail, it can be used in spring, summer, autumn and winter. Its length, difficulty rating and starting point give you practical details to consider if you would like to include a route in your stay alongside the cultural sites.
Art dans les Cours & Jardins adds art and crafts to the cultural themes. At this annual event, artists and craftspeople exhibit throughout the village. Dates and the programme may vary. If you would like to plan your stay around the event, check the specific dates in advance.
There are three distinct ways to focus your trip: Colette’s biography and collection, the Donjon’s history of fortifications, or a marked route for walking and geocaching. You can use the theme you would most like to focus on during your stay to guide your search for a holiday rental.
Discover more destinations: Noyers, Pourrain, Maillot, Thory, Charentenay, Appoigny, Champignelles, Épineuil.
For the overview of the wider region: Yonne.
