Pontaubert lies in the Cousin Valley between Avallon and Vézelay. The Cousin flows along part of its course between Avallon and Pontaubert before joining the Cure.
When planning a trip, you may wish to rent a holiday apartment in Pontaubert.
Culture and History
The Church of the Nativity of Our Lady in Pontaubert is a classified Romanesque church dating from the late 12th and early 13th centuries.
In 1167, Jocelin de Vault de Lugny founded a commandery of the Knights Hospitaller of Saint John of Jerusalem in Pontaubert, which existed until 1658. Visible remains of this Hospitaller commandery and the leper colony have been preserved in Pontaubert.
The Pont-Aubert Bridge at the entrance to Pontaubert was rebuilt and restored between the 12th and 19th centuries. Today, it crosses the Cousin with three arches; the bridge is open to the public and can be visited.
The origins of the Moulin des Templiers at the entrance to Pontaubert date back to the 12th century. The mill retains its waterwheel, millrace and half-timbered façade and is now considered a favourite spot for fly-fishing.
The Domaine d’Orbigny in Pontaubert comprises the park with its grounds and enclosure walls, the hydraulic system, as well as the façades and roofs of the château, outbuildings and farm buildings, and the dovecote. These elements were listed as historic monuments by decree of 26 January 2026.
Landscape and Trails
Near Pontaubert, the Chemin Bleu offers a 2.4-kilometre family loop walk lasting around 25 minutes, with the option of continuing on the GR 13.
In the Cousin Valley in Pontaubert, a park covering around ten hectares was created in the 19th century, featuring a bridge, basins, a viewpoint and two grottoes. The paths are lined with around a thousand sandstone rocks extracted from the ground.
