THE MEDIEVAL TOWN OF SEMUR EN AUXOIS

Semur-en- Auxois, historic capital of Auxois in Burgundy, has all the charms of a medieval city with turrets and ramparts dating from 13th century. Legend says that Hercules built Semur at the time of his return to Spain. It is a 10-minute (500 metre) walk into the centre of the town where there are restaurants, delicatessens, shops, cafes and most importantly boulangeries for fresh croissants daily.

Semur-en-Auxois is a small welcoming fortress town that sits on a rocky bluff, an extraordinarily beautiful town full of cobbled lanes, medieval gateways and ancient gardens cascading down to the River Armançon.

The inscription above the archway leading to the oldest part of the town was inscribed in 1552 and translates as "The people of Semur take great pleasure in meeting strangers." The people of Semur are just as welcoming today as they were the inscription was done all those years ago.

All roads lead to place Notre-Dame, a handsome square dominated by the large thirteenth-century church of Notre-Dame characterized by its huge entrance porch and the narrowness of its nave.

Further down the street in front of the church and off to the left you come to the four sturdy towers of Semur's once powerful castle, all that is left after the main walls of the fortress was dismantled in 1602. You can then explore the winding streets around the castle – there's scarcely a street in this lovely little town without some building of note – and then continue down to the delightful stretch of river between the Pont des Minimes and the Pont Joly, from where there's a dramatic view of the town.

There is walking in the outstanding countryside of Auxois, tennis courts in the town and a Golf course at the Chateaux de Chailly (Pouilly-en-Auxois) 25 minutes by car.

There is a quaint old theatre, cinema, museum - featuring a library which has a fantastic collection of illuminated manuscripts and early printed books - and a small market in the centre on Sunday mornings.

Many Vineyards, some with wine tasting, are located within an hours drive. There are many interesting Chateaus and villages to visit for example Flavingy, where the film Chocolat was filmed, the local wine is pretty good here too.

We have two bicycles available, which are kept in the cave on the ground floor for use at your own risk.

Eating out: Although the kitchen is fully fitted and the range of fresh food available locally is quite inspirational we do expect guests would like to eat out on occasions.

Decent plats du jour and grills can be had at Le Saint-Vernier, 13 rue Févret, but for something special, it's well worth wandering down to the river and the Pont des Minimes, where the Restaurant Les Minimes (tel 03.80.97.26.86; closed Sun evening & Mon) serves rather refined meals in a warm and familial atmosphere. In the heart of the old town, the patisserie-chocolaterie at 14 rue Buffon (closed Mon) specializes in local semurettes, addictive little nuggets of chocolate made without butter.