Escolives-Sainte-Camille combines visible Gallo-Roman traces with art, religious history and regional destinations. In the village, visitors can explore the remains of a remarkable Gallo-Roman complex with preserved walls, structures and traces of everyday life. During the Gallo-Roman period, an imposing villa and its agricultural outbuildings (pars rustica) extended over more than four hectares here, near the Via Agrippa.
Those who choose Escolives-Sainte-Camille as a travel destination may wish to rent a holiday apartment there.
Archaeology
The combination of the villa, agricultural outbuildings and preserved structural remains describes a place where the Gallo-Roman past remains tangible in several elements.
Art and Local History
The Musée Pierre Merlier presents the works of Pierre Merlier at the Moulin du Saulce in Escolives-Sainte-Camille. The museum is located in a former mill that Pierre Merlier and his wife acquired in 1973; he lived and worked there until 2015. Guided tours are offered at no extra charge at the Musée Pierre Merlier; there is also parking and step-free access.
Church and History
The Church of Saint Peter and Saint Paul in Escolives-Sainte-Camille originated from a 5th-century oratory dedicated to Saint Camille and was converted into a Romanesque church in the 12th century.
The church’s 12th-century Romanesque entrance porch-narthex features a quatrefoil rose window with a relief of the Lamb of God, as well as stone representations of an atlas figure and a griffin. The Romanesque Church of Saint Peter and Saint Paul is known for its crypt, narthex and octagonal bell tower made of red bricks.
Surroundings
Several cultural destinations of different types are located around Escolives-Sainte-Camille: the Artothèque d'Auxerre is a museum, the Abbaye Saint-Julien d'Auxerre is a historical site, the Cathédrale Saint-Étienne d'Auxerre is also a historical site, and the Abbaye Saint-Pierre is a monastery.
The Grottes d'Arcy, a cave, are located in the wider regional surroundings of Escolives-Sainte-Camille.
Wine
At Domaine Borgnat, visitors can tour the wine cellars arranged one above the other and taste red, white and rosé wines from Coulanges-la-Vineuse.
Other destinations: Ligny-Le-Châtel, Courgis, Merry-Sec, Vézelay, Bussy-Le-Repos, Vallery, Saint-Bris-Le-Vineux, Villefargeau
